THE SUV FOR LEISURE

Models Covered

5dr Small SUV (Petrol – 1.2 [110hp, 130hp] / Diesel – 1.6 & 1.5 BlueHDi [100hp,120hp])

Introduction

Just because a car is fashionable doesn’t mean it can’t also be practical too. For proof of that, Citroen brought us this C3 Aircross in 2017. This complete and highly personalisable package was their idea of what a little SUV should be. Here we look at the original 2017-2020-era versions of this model.

The History

What if you could have the style and adventurous feel of a small SUV, combined with the interior space and flexibility of a small MPV People Carrier? It’s a combination of virtues that many brands have promised. But which possibly this car actually delivers – the Citroen C3 Aircross.

The French like practical, rational cars. Which is why brands from this nation were first to popularise the MPV. And amongst the last to embrace the contradictory charms of the modern affordable family SUV. Why, they ask quite reasonably, would you want to take a supermini or family hatchback and, in pursuit of some mythical lifestyle orientation, make it heavier, clunkier, less efficient and less practical? What though, if those downsides could be minimised and the SUV in question could offer all the interior versatility you used to need one of those small supermini-MPVs to get if you required it in a really compact little car? Well that was the thinking behind this C3 Aircross at its launch in 2017.

This, we were told, was a car ‘full of technical innovation’. Just like the Citroens of old then, those old DS, GS and CX models of the Sixties and Seventies with their ground-breaking drive systems and quirky suspension set-ups. Well not quite. The ‘technical innovations’ here turned out to be largely items of rather less substance; 85 different exterior paint combinations, brightly coloured air vents, a class-leadingly large sunroof, wireless ‘phone charging and modular rear seats that could recline and slide. That’s what the modern SUV crowd wants and Citroen here felt compelled to play to it.

This C3 Aircross was positioned as a smaller brother to the company’s C5 Aircross model, but where that family hatchback-based contender targeted Kia Sportage, Peugeot 3008 and Qashqai-class cars in the C-segment part of the SUV market, this smaller design had its sights set on supermini-based rivals like Nissan’s Juke and Renault’s Captur. You might, as we initially did, make the mistake of assuming this contender to be little more than a dressed-up C3 supermini in a pair of hiking boots, but actually, there’s a lot more to it than that. Not least the fact that this Aircross variant sits on a wheelbase that’s 60mm longer than a standard C3, which makes it significantly more spacious inside. In short, it’s a small SUV with big ideas. The car sold in this form until early 2021, when it was significantly updated. It’s the early pre-facelift 2017-2020-era models we look at here.

What You Get

This car feels like it’s up for a bit of fun doesn’t it, it’s styling all jaunty bulges, contrasting colours and tonka toy-like looks. Shy and retiring folk won’t see the point but the fashionistas should love it. From the side, two things stand out. Firstly, you appreciate the way that the large 16 or 17-inch wheels and the extra 50mm of ground clearance make this model stand so much taller than its C3 supermini stablemate. But just as quickly, your eye is also drawn to the signature profile styling flourish, a ‘venetian blind’-effect rear quarterlight, made from polycarbonate and layered with coloured film.

Inside, there are plenty of unique design touches to be found around a cabin that differentiates itself from that of a normal C3 by a wider, deeper soft-touch fascia panel and quirky little upright air vents at either end of the dash. Not many B-segment SUV buyers regularly carry adults in the rear but for those that do, it’s hard to think of many better choices than this Citroen in this class. Go for a top ‘Flair’ variant or choose a model whose original owner specified the optional ‘Family pack’ and you get the flexibility of a sliding rear bench that features a 60:40-split and moves back and forth over a 150mm range. Out back, there’s a 410-litre capacity available.

What To Look For

We found plenty of satisfied C3 Aircross customers in our ownership survey but inevitably, there were a few issues reported. In our survey, the auto gearbox wasn't generally liked. Otherwise, most of the problems tended to centre on electrical issues with things like the sat-nav and air-con. One owner noticed an engine sounding rough and nearly stalling at the same time as a gearbox that started crashing gears. This was traced to a fault with the Dual Mass Flywheel.

There were various product recalls you need to be aware of. One concerned an engine component not to specification, which may cause a loss of performance – and potentially, even engine failure. Another issue concerned the locking nut of the rear wheel hub bearings being not to correct specification, which may cause a failure. There was also an issue with the tightening torques of the anti-theft wheel bolts; and the wires in the connectors of the seats position sensor. Ensure that all these issues have been addressed in the car you’re looking at.

On The Road

Basically, there were two engine options from launch, a 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel offered with either 100 or 120bhp (later replaced by a similar 1.5-litre BlueHDi unit). And the 1.2-litre Pure Tech petrol unit most original customers chose, available in normally aspirated form with 82bhp, or in turbocharged guise with either 110bhp or 130bhp. Most selected the 110bhp variant, the only derivative in the range to offer buyers the option of Citroen’s ‘EAT6’ automatic gearbox. In order to keep efficiency at these kinds of levels, the French brand chose not to engineer in the possibility of adding 4WD to this car. Instead, with most variants, there was the option of a ‘Grip Control’ system which tweaks the ESP stability control set-up so that there’s extra front wheel traction when you need it most.

Overall

It’s Citroen’s idea of what a small Crossover of this kind should be – and that makes it a little different from your other choices in this class. Which might mean you’ll end up liking this car a lot more than you thought you were going to. We did.