Half a century ago, when Citroën was still assembling cars in South Africa, the GS 1220 model, known affectionately as “the little Citroën”, began production at the French manufacturer’s facility in Pretoria. At the time, there was some doubt over the GS’s somewhat obfuscated design, as it was a far cry from what was generally on offer in the country.
According to a report in The Motorist of May 1974, the doubts were unfounded, as the smaller Citroën model (the bigger DS model was still offered) sold like hotcakes almost from the day they were introduced. So popular was the GS that around 19,382 units were assembled locally, the last being sold in 1980.
Since then, Citroën has left the country twice, the last time in 2016, but returned three years later under the PSA Group banner before the French company and FCA merged in 2021 to form Stellantis. Originally known as an innovative brand with quirky designs and pioneering technical ideas, Citroën’s strategy has now changed completely, and it is now positioned as an entry-level brand within the Stellantis family.
This shift in focus forms part of the C-Cubed programme that started with the new C3 launched last year. The C3 Aircross, as the second model in this programme for the local market, was created with regional input to meet the specific needs of customers in South Africa.
The new SUV represents another key step in Citroën’s international growth strategy, under which the brand is targeting 30% of its global vehicle sales to be in the regions and markets outside of Europe by 2025. As such, the newcomer competes in the highly popular and strongly contested small crossover segment and is priced more keenly than its predecessor.
LARGER, WITH BOLD PACKAGING
At 4.32 m in length, the family-oriented B-SUV contender is markedly larger than its rivals (such as the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Haval Jolion, Kia Sonet, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Nissan Magnite, and Renault Kiger) and is available in five-seat configuration as standard with the option of a seven-seat version.
The 5+2 seating configuration (the additional seats can be removed) offers increased versatility, but the rear-most seats are fit for smaller children only. As before, the exterior design of the C3 Aircross is expressive yet somewhat convoluted, and you will either love it, or hate it.
It has an assertive front face with a double grille, a high bonnet and Citroën’s Y-shaped lighting signature. In silhouette, it stands out with 200mm of ground clearance, muscular wheel arches with 17” alloy wheels and tyres, and resilient protective cladding. A wide C-pillar adds to the muscular look, and extended rear doors allow easy access to the rear row of seats.
The C3 Aircross is available in Plus (a 61 kW version available later this year), Max and Max7 trim with four colour options and six eye-catching dual-tone roof combinations. Both metallic paint and the dual-tone roof option are included in the recommended retail price.
Inside, the neat, eye-catching instrument panel features a unique soft-touch grain across the middle, and an easy-to-operate centrally mounted 10” touchscreen – among the largest in this class – provides access to key infotainment and connected services, including mirroring capability for access to apps using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
A 7” TFT (colour thin-film transistor) instrument cluster for the driver is standard, and the tactile feel of the interior appointments and trim overall was surprisingly good. The five-seat version offers generous knee-room for rear seat passengers and up to 444 litres of luggage space. The seven-seater version includes a third row of two individual seats that can be folded down or removed to free up to 511 litres of boot capacity.
OUTSTANDING RIDE QUALITY
The combination of the 1.2-litre turbocharged PureTech three-cylinder engine (delivering a punchy 81 kW at 5,500 rpm and 205 Nm of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm) and six-speed auto transmission with torque converter proved ideal, and made the C3 Aircross a breeze to drive on the test route north of Pretoria. Citroën claims a combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.3 l/100km for the C3 Aircross, but we achieved 6.8 l/100 km on the shortish route.
The comfortable seats added to the overall experience, and the air-conditioner (with a unique ventilation module mounted into the roof panel of the seven-set version to ensure rear passenger comfort) proved very effective – bore testimony to its Indian manufacturing roots.
However, the standout attribute of the newcomer – and a Citroën trademark since the days of the DS and GS –was its ride quality on the undulating and sometimes potholed roads, underlining its development for warm climates and harsh roads, including extensive testing in South Africa.
The underbody structure and approach angles have been engineered to ensure that B-SUV can easily tackle rough and uneven road surfaces. Standard safety specification includes front airbags, ABS, EBD, a tyre pressure monitoring system, hill-hold assist, a rearview camera and PDC, with an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) only on the turbocharged versions.
LAST WORD
The new C3 Aircross is a surprise package from Citroën with a class-leading drivetrain, a practical and versatile cabin and exemplary ride quality. At current pricing, it presents a compelling value proposition within the highly competitive B-SUV market.
Like the GS before it that built on the legacy of the DS, the new C3 Aircross can complement the latest C3 in establishing the new Citroën strategy in South Africa and contribute to the marque regaining some of its former glory in the local market.
Report by FERDI DE VOS | Images © STELLANTIS SOUTH AFRICA
