It has been almost a year since the new Citroën C3 Aircross was unveiled for the Indian and South American markets, although its marketing is much more recent. This new compact SUV is preparing to take over from the first C3 Aircross in Europe in a style close to that of the latest generation C3.
After the fourth generation of the C3, Citroën is therefore preparing to lift the veil on the replacement for the C3 Aircross on the European market, thus marking its first major novelty of the year 2024. If the differences between the European C3 and the one sold outside Europe are important, they will be much less so for the future C3 Aircross, which should adopt much of the style of the version recently marketed in India or even in Latin America.
Pure family SUV
The C3 Aircross in Europe should therefore have the same general lines, with very voluminous lines that maximise the interior space and present it as a true compact SUV. The only difference would be at the front, which would be completely modified to adopt the brand's new style, introduced by the Oli concept and the new C3. From the latter, the new C3 Aircross would use the same headlights, made up of two horizontal bars and one vertical bar, linked by a black striped grille in the centre of which the new brand logo would be placed.
The central part of the car should therefore be essentially identical to that currently sold in India or Brazil, even if no body part would be common, as evidenced by the presence of real door handles instead of the paddles that equip the Indian versions by way of example. The same door handles would be black, as on the new European C3, on all versions of the C3 Aircross, which would have to adopt the principles of the last generation of the versatile saloon in Europe in order to offer much more accessible prices.
The rear end would be completely different from the versions sold outside Europe, with lights that would follow the principle of those of the new C3, namely a rather black block that would officiate the new visual signature of the brand.
Spacious and comfortable interior
This second generation of the Citroën C3 Aircross should therefore be positioned as a true family SUV with up to 7 seats, as officially announced by the brand at the presentation of the new C3, where the C3 Aircross played the role of surprise guest.
The interior will also play the family card, with a dashboard based on the C-Zen Lounge concept of the new C3, offering a style radically different from that of the non-European versions. The new C3 Aircross will also feature double-action hydraulic suspension and Advanced Comfort seats as standard, making it the benchmark in its segment and an extension of the home where comfort and softness reign supreme.
With these 7 seats, the new C3 Aircross will clearly stand out in its segment, being the only one to offer them, even if Renault will soon arrive with the Symbioz. It is towards Dacia that we must turn to have competition, since the Romanian brand sells the Jogger, a station wagon derivative of the Sandero offering up to 7 seats, even if the latter will be much larger than the C3 Aircross, whose length should be common to the versions sold in India or Brazil, namely around 4m30 compared to 4m55 for its Romanian competitor.
As a pure family SUV, the new C3 Aircross will be Citroën's most important new product in 2024 and will quickly complete the brand's range as it will be marketed from the start of the school year. Its unveiling should therefore be rather quick and could be only partial in order to prolong the pleasure, but all indications are that the second generation C3 Aircross will be fully unveiled before the end of the first half of the year. If the differences between our European version and the Indian versions are expected to be smaller than on the C3, the new C3 Aircross will confirm the brand's new style in the B-segment with an offer that will be liveable, comfortable and accessible.