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October 2023 - Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Book?

In this variant explained article, you'll find out which variant of the Citroen C3 Aircross petrol you should book based on the ex-showroom prices, variant-wise features and value for money. Here we compare and objectively analyse the C3 Aircross's petrol variants and the features to figure out which variant is worth booking for a good value for money and ownership experience. Then we will compare the engine specs, dimensions and mileage of the Citroen C3 Aircross with other petrol-powered SUVs like the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun.

Citroen C3 Aircross

Also Read: Kia Carens Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Maruti Nexa XL6 Facelift Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol?

The pros or advantages of Citroen C3 Aircross petrol are:

  • The only 3-row C-segment SUV
  • Very reasonable starting price makes the C3 the only C-SUV under Rs. 10.0 lakh ex-showroom
  • Healthy ground clearance of 200mm
  • Good ride comfort over broken roads
  • 1.2L turbo petrol engine makes it more punchy than base 1.0L turbo and 1.5L normal petrol engines while enjoying 7% lower GST as well as keeping manufacturing costs in check

The Citroen C3 Aircross petrol has the following shortcomings or problems:

  • Several features missing for a car of this price and size; e.g., sliding 2nd row seats and armrest not available in 3-row version, rear AC vents not available in 5-seat version, auto AC, LED/projector headlamps, cruise control and keyless entry also missing
  • No automatic transmission of any kind
  • Limited sales and service network with no track record for long-term reliability
  • 2nd row legroom is less in 3-row variants; moreover, 2nd row seats don’t slide to help with this problem when the 3rd row is not in use

Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol You  - Base Model Standard Features

The You variant of the C3 Aircross is available with 1.2L normal petrol-manual powertrains and it only gets a 5-seat option. It gets the following notable standard features:

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS YOU

BASE VARIANT STANDARD FEATURES

Safety & Infotainment

Functional

Style

Std. safety features

Tilt steering

Body-coloured bumpers

Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

Power mirrors

Body coloured door handles

Front seatbelt pretensioner

Flat folding rear seat

Turn indicator on outside mirror

Day/night inside mirror

Front 12V power outlet

16-inch steel wheels with covers

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Remote central locking

Rear spoiler

Hill Start Assist (HSA)

All power windows

Fabric upholstery

Digital instrument cluster

All windows one touch up-down

Body side sill cladding

Cluster controls on steering wheel

All door pockets 

Brushed silver interior detailing

Personal assistant application 

Luggage hook

Wheel arch cladding 

  • Touchscreen or music system
  • Height-adjustable driver seat
  • Front armrest
  • Steering-mounted control
  • Rear parcel tray

If you’re absolutely budget constrained, you’re comfortable with some aftermarket accessories and you have to pay much higher taxes on cars above Rs. 10.0 lakh, only then the base variant makes sense. For most buyers, it just won’t cut it. Moreover, the next Plus trim adds so many useful features. If our estimations turn out to be true, then it’ll even offer a decent value for money.

Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol You vs Plus Variant - Feature Comparison

The Plus variant of the Citroen C3 Aircross also gets the same powertrain but adds the option of 7-seat layout in addition to the existing 5-seat configuration. It gets the following notable features on top of the You trim’s features:

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS PLUS VARIANT

FEATURES OVER YOU BASE MODEL

Safety & Infotainment

Functional

Style

Rear defogger

Height-adjustable driver seat

Skid plates

LED DRL

Adjustable front headrests

Roof rails

10.24-inch touchscreen

Driver seat armrest

Glossy black exterior-Interior detailing

Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

Passenger vanity mirror

Dual-tone interior

4x speakers

Rear cabin light

Better headliner

Bluetooth connectivity

USB charger - front 1, rear 2 fast chargers 

Bronze interior trim

Steering-mounted controls

Seatback pockets

Chrome interior detailing

Telematics

Rear parcel tray (5-seater only)

Dual-tone exterior w/ black C pillar (O)

ADDITIONAL FEATURES FOR 7-SEATER

60-40 split-folding rear seat backs

50-50 split-folding rear seat backs

Boot lamp

Rear AC vents

Rear seat slide/fold/tumble

3rd row 2x fast chargers 

Adjustable rear headrests

Rear seat recline

3rd row - bottle holder

In this variant, you may miss features like:

  • 2nd row centre armrest
  • Sliding 2nd row seats (typically, 3-row cars in this price range offer this feature)
  • Auto AC
  • Keyless entry with push-button start/stop
  • Rear AC vents (missing in 5-seat layout)

From the features point of view, the mid trim is the most well balanced option as the top variant mostly adds good-to-have features. So, this remains our top recommendation for 5-seater as well as 7-seater buyers.

Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol Plus vs Max Top Model - Features Comparison

The Max top variant of the C3 Aircross also gets the same powertrain and seating options as the mid-spec Plus trim. It adds the following notable features to the mix:

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS TOP MODEL MAX

FEATURES OVER PLUS VARIANT

Safety & Infotainment

Functional

Style

Rear washer wiper

Luggage lamp

17-inch alloy wheels

Rear camera

Rear armrest w/ cupholder (5S)

Shark fin antenna

Fog lamps

Adjustable rear headrests

Leather seat upholstery

+2x tweeters

 

Leather wrap steering

   

Leather front & rear door armrest

Even in the top variant, you don’t get features like:

  • Projector or LED headlamps
  • Cruise control
  • 2nd row centre armrest (missing in 7-seat layout)
  • Sliding 2nd row seats (typically, 3-row cars in this price range offer this feature)
  • Auto AC
  • Keyless entry with push-button start/stop
  • Rear AC vents (missing in 5-seat layout)

Besides the rear washer wiper and rear armrest, most of its features are either good-to-have at best or easy to install from the aftermarket or both. So, we would suggest you wait for the final prices before you decide to go with the top model. You could also book the mid variant and upgrade to the top model if the launch prices are satisfactory.

Which Variant Of The Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol Should You Book?

Whether you’re interested in the 5-seater or the 7-seater versions, the C3’s mid Plus variant makes immense sense. The base model feels too basic for its own good. Although, if you’re comfortable with a few aftermarket accessories and there are considerably higher taxes in your state on cars above Rs. 10.0 lakh ex-showroom, only then the base variant makes some sense. For the top variant, you should hold your booking or book the mid trim and upgrade to Max if the prices are satisfactory.

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS PETROL MANUAL

BOOKING RECOMMENDATION

Variant

Recommendation

You 5-seater

Not recommended.

Plus 5-seater

Top recommended for pre-launch booking.

Plus 7-seater

Top recommended for pre-launch booking.

Max 5-seater

Wait for final prices

Max 7-seater

Wait for final prices

What Is The Expected Price Of Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol Variants?

The Citroen C3 Aircross will come in 3 variants — You, Plus and Max. All 3 variants get the same 1.2L turbo petrol-manual powertrain and 5-seat layout but higher 2 trims also get a 7-seat option. The following table contains our Citroen C3 Aircross price expectations:

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS PRICE

EXPECTED EX-SHOWROOM PRICE (SEPTEMBER 30, 2023)

Variant

5-Seat

Difference

7-Seat

You

Rs. 9.99 lakh*

-

-

Plus

Rs. 11.0 lakh

Rs. 70,000

Rs. 11.70 lakh

Max

Rs. 12.0 lakh

Rs. 70,000

Rs. 12.70 lakh

*Confirmed

While the starting price of the C3 Aircross is confirmed, we expect the higher two 5-seater variants to cost Rs. 11.0 lakh and Rs. 12.0 lakh. Meanwhile, the Plus and Max trims with 7 seats could cost Rs. 11.70 lakh and 12.70 lakh. To find out how we arrived at these numbers, you can go through the following Expected Price With Logic article:

Citroen C3 Aircross Price Expectation - With Logic

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol?

Against the non-turbo C-segment SUVs, the C3 Aircross comes across as a more punchy alternative. While it doesn't have a significantly better power output, its torque output is a few notches above the cars in this comparison. The C3 Aircross also has a decent mileage figure of 18.50kmpl, which is better than all cars except for the Grand Vitara and Hyryder twins. The only weak spot for the C3 Aircross is the lack of an automatic transmission of any kind.

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS PETROL VS RIVALS

NON-TURBO PETROL ENGINE SPEC COMPARISON

 

C3 AC

Elevate

Seltos

Creta

Gr. Vitara/Hyryder

Astor

Engine

1.2L Turbo

1.5L

1.5L

1.5L

1.5L M. Hyb.

1.5L Hyb.

1.5L

Cylinder

3

4

4

4

4

3

4

Displacement

1199cc

1498cc

1495cc

1495cc

1462cc

1490cc

1498cc

Power

110PS @ 5500rpm

121PS @ 6600rpm

115PS @ 6300rpm

115PS @ 6300rpm

103PS @ 6000rpm

115.5PS

110PS @ 6000rpm

Torque

190Nm @ 1750rpm

145Nm @ 4300rpm

144Nm @ 4500rpm

144Nm @ 4500rpm

137Nm @ 4400rpm

141Nm

144Nm @ 4400rpm

Manual

6-speed

6-speed

6-speed

6-speed

5-speed

-

5-speed

Manual FE

18.50kmpl

15.31kmpl

17.0kmpl

16.8kmpl

21.11kmpl

19.38kmpl (4WD)

-

15.43kmpl

Automatic

-

CVT

CVT

CVT

6 TC

CVT

CVT

Auto FE

-

16.92kmpl

17.70kmpl

17.0kmpl*

20.58kmpl

27.97kmpl

14.82kmpl

*Estimated

Find out how you can get the best mileage or fuel efficiency from your car:

10 Tips To Get Better Mileage From Your Petrol, Diesel Or CNG Car

Compared to the cars with a small turbo petrol engine, the C3 Aircross once again gets to flex its muscles with a higher torque output. However, it’s not significantly higher than the Kushaq and Taigun 1.0L turbo. The C3 Aircross is also at a slight disadvantage in terms of mileage when compared to the Kushaq and Taigun 1.0L. The lack of any kind of automatic transmission also hurts the C3 Aircross as there are some buyers who won’t even consider it.

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS PETROL VS RIVALS

BASE TURBO PETROL ENGINE SPEC COMPARISON

 

C3 Aircross

Kushaq

Taigun

Engine

1.2L Turbo

1.0L Turbo

1.0L Turbo

Cylinder

3

3

3

Displacement

1199cc

999cc

999cc

Power

110PS @ 5500rpm

115PS @ 5000rpm

115PS @ 5000rpm

Torque

190Nm @ 1750rpm

178Nm @ 1750 - 4500rpm

178Nm @ 1750 - 4500rpm

Manual

6-speed

6-speed

6-speed

Manual FE

18.50kmpl

19.76kmpl

19.87kmpl

Auto

-

6-speed TC

6-speed TC

Auto FE

-

18.09kmpl

18.15kmpl

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how much any petrol, diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

V3Cars Fuel Cost Calculator

What Are The Dimensions Of The Citroen C3 Aircross?

In terms of dimensions, the C3 Aircross is about as big as a typical C-segment SUV. Its ground clearance of 200mm is also pretty good and it’s one of the few cars in this segment to offer 17-inch wheels as standard. The boot space of the 5-seat version is also pretty good at 444 litres. In the 7-seat configuration, you get 511 litres of cargo volume with the 3rd row removed.

CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS VS COMPETITION

DIMENSION COMPARISON

 

C3 AC

Elevate

Seltos

Creta

Gr. Vitara

Hyryder

Kushaq

Taigun

Length

4323mm

4312mm

4365mm

4300mm

4345mm

4365mm

4225mm

4221mm

Width

1796mm

1790mm

1800mm

1790mm

1795mm

1795mm

1760mm

1760mm

Height

1654mm

1650mm

1645mm

1654mm

1645mm

1635mm

1612mm

1612mm

Wheelbase

2671mm

2650mm

2610mm

2610mm

2600mm

2600mm

2651mm

2652mm

Ground Clearance

200mm

220mm

190mm*

190mm*

208mm

208mm

188mm

188mm

Boot Space

444L (5-seat)

458L

433L

433L

373L

265L Hyb.

373L

265L Hyb.

385L

385L

Fuel Tank

45L

40L

50L

50L

45L

45L

50L

50L

Tyre Size (Base)

215/60 R17

215/60

R16

205/65 R16

205/65 R16

215/60 R17

215/60 R17

205/60 R16

205/60 R16

Tyre Size (Top)

215/60 R17

215/55 R17

215/55 R18

215/60 R17

215/60 R17

215/60 R17

205/55 R17

205/55 R17

*Estimated

What Are The Colour Options Of The Citroen C3 Aircross Petrol?

The C3 Aircross is available in the following 4 monotone exterior colours:

  • White
  • Silver
  • Grey
  • Blue (not in base model)

With the higher 2 variants, the C3 Aircross also gets the following 6 dual-tone colour options:

  • Silver with white roof
  • Grey with white roof
  • Blue with white roof
  • Silver with blue roof
  • White with blue roof
  • White with grey roof

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we are classifying cars based on their size.

CLASSIFICATION OF CARS

UPDATED: MARCH 2023

SEGMENT

LENGTH

BODY STYLES

EXAMPLE

A Segment

< 3699mm

Hatchback

Alto, Alto K10, Celerio

SUV (Micro)

Exception: Kwid

S-Presso

       

B1 Segment

3700 - 3850mm

Hatchback

Grand i10 Nios, Swift, Tiago

SUV (Mini)

Exter, Punch, Ignis, Tiago NRG

       

B2 Segment

3850 - 3999mm

Hatchback

Altroz, Baleno, i20

Sedan

Dzire, Amaze, Aura

MPV

Triber

SUV (Sub-Compact)

Brezza, Nexon, Venue, Magnite, Fronx, C3, Kiger, Fronx, Sonet, XUV300

Off-Road

Thar, Jimny

       

C1 Segment

4000 - 4399mm

SUV (Compact)

Kushaq, Creta, Seltos, Grand Vitara, XUV400, Hyryder, Taigun, XUV400

MPV

Ertiga

       

C2 Segment

4400 - 4599mm

Sedan

City, Verna, Ciaz, Slavia, Virtus

SUV (Mid-size)

Alcazar, Scorpio Classic

MPV

Carens, XL6

       

D1 Segment

4600 - 4799mm

SUV (Large)

Exception: Harrier (2mm less)

XUV700, Innova Hycross, Hector, Safari, Hector Plus, Scorpio N, Ioniq 5, Kodiaq

Sedan

Octavia

MPV

Innova Crysta

       

D2 Segment

> 4800mm

SUV (Full-size)

Exception: Fortuner (5mm less)

Gloster

MPV

Carnival

Sedan

Superb, Camry

Also Read: Car Segments Explained - With Body Styles And Examples

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mahesh Yadav

Mahesh is a fan of compact, quirky and underrated vehicles that punch above their weight. Multix, Nano and Navi are his favorites.

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