A few months after the new C3, Citroën presented the new C3 Aircross, which completely renews the brand's offer in the B segment, the largest in Europe. Alongside its little sister, with which it shares many elements, the C3 Aircross establishes Citroën's repositioning as an accessible brand, allowing it to enter directly into the territory of the Dacia Duster as well as Chinese brands such as MG with the ZS. This second generation of the C3 Aircross is also a counter-proposal in the urban SUV segment, focusing on the off-road side and a very voluminous aspect. So what is the value of this new generation? Find out in this second part of the test dedicated to driving.
On the road: an amazing hybrid engine
The new C3 Aircross shares the dashboard of the C3 and the same ease of handling and driving. It's really nice to get into a car where everything is easy to understand and use. Citroën has been working for many years to reduce the mental load on the driver's mind, and their efforts have paid off: the essentials are in front of the driver's eyes, the screen has few menus and sub-menus, the air conditioning controls are physical, everything is simple, straightforward and easy... which is essential.
This version is equipped with the 136 bhp hybrid engine, which should be the best seller and, it must be said, is perfectly suited to the C3 Aircross. Powerful enough to drive at cruising speeds or for overtaking, the C3 Aircross offers a particularly pleasant and smooth ride, perfectly matching the level of comfort offered by the brand's latest urban SUV. The transition from thermal to electric is imperceptible, except for the noise of the engine when it starts. I could have thought that with 28 hp under the bonnet, the electric motor would have had difficulty moving this C3 Aircross, but the whole thing works wonders with frequent opportunities to drive several hundred metres in 100% electric mode up to 2 kilometres in one go at 70 kph. In fact, the electric engine takes over from the thermal engine as soon as the speed limit is reached, between 30 and 70, and when the pressure on the accelerator is constant or low, which inevitably happens a lot in city traffic, so the consumption works wonders. On a 95-kilometre test drive, alternating between motorway, national/regional road and city, I averaged 5.1 litres, 6.1 on the motorway, 4.4 on the national road and 4.0 in the city, dropping to 2.9 in some places, a level of consumption I have never achieved with any car.
Compared to the C5 Aircross tested previously, the hybrid engine has been further improved, offering a smoother ride with more 100% electric driving, even when temperatures were not optimal. It offers a very smooth ride with an imperceptible transition between the two electric motors, allowing you to work wonders in terms of consumption, but above all it is perfectly adapted to the comfort level of the C3 Aircross. The brand's latest urban SUV offers a level of comfort that is on a par with the C4, although it is higher. This, together with the comfort, is the main advantage of the C3 Aircross! As much as I found the new C3 too firm for my taste, the C3 Aircross surprised me with the softness I appreciate so much and which is worthy of the greatest Citroëns. In all configurations, the C3 Aircross filters the road, smoothing out the imperfections, giving you the feeling that you're driving on a magic carpet, with even more controlled bumps than on the C4, thanks to the generous sidewalls of the tyres. Surprisingly, however, the C3 Aircross is able to bounce back sharply from potholes or large gullies in the road. But without a doubt this is the most comfortable SUV in its segment, if not the most comfortable SUV at all.
The double hydraulic stops give the C3 Aircross a high level of comfort but perfect stability when the road is rough or during unexpected manoeuvres. I happened to take a tight corner at a sustained speed and when the C3 Aircross understeered, it didn't flinch and didn't move as if it was stuck on rails.
The C3 Aircross is also easy to manoeuvre in town, with a small turning circle that makes it easy to find a parking space and a very light power steering, even if the electric assistance is not as effective as the hydraulic one.
Finally, the C3 Aircross can be a little noisy on the motorway from 110 km/h, with noise in the mirrors that increases with speed, although it remains perfectly acceptable at 120 km/h.
The driving results of this C3 Aircross are therefore extremely positive, with an engine powerful enough to blend into traffic and wait for the speed limit without fear, whatever the state of charge of the vehicle. Above all, it is particularly economical, with numerous electric runs allowing you to drive hundreds of metres or even several kilometres in 100% electric mode, thus ensuring controlled consumption. The C3 Aircross is a pleasure to drive, with a level of comfort similar to that of the C4, which is impressive for such an accessible vehicle. The only criticism will be a slightly high noise level, especially on the motorway from 110 km/h, but overall this new C3 Aircross is an excellent proposition that keeps its promise of optimal comfort.
In conclusion, the mission of this new C3 Aircross was not easy to fulfil, it comes to hunt on the lands of a Dacia Duster, alone in its kingdom for a few years. However, the new urban SUV from Citroën fulfils its mission successfully, showing real qualities of comfort, habitability and brightness visibility which provides a real pleasure to travel on board. Of course, not everything is perfect and the C3 Aircross has its shortcomings, starting with its retractable key that takes us back years, a shame for a vehicle that does not suffer from its accessible prices. Likewise, it can be noisy on the motorway beyond 110 km / h while offering a steering assistance, certainly soft, but which makes feel too much the electric assistance. In any case, Citroën has done well with this hybrid C3 Aircross, full of qualities that it has the good sense to charge reasonably, starting at €25,500 in the Plus version and €27,600 in the higher Max version, i.e. €1,000 cheaper than the equivalent Dacia Duster. For once, a brand that has drastically reduced prices between two model generations without compromising deserves recognition and a lot of success.
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