Citroen C3 Aircross review

This is the all-new, second-generation Citroen C3 Aircross. Like the car it replaces, it’s essentially a slightly larger, raised version of the standard C3 supermini. It’s based on the same Stellantis Smart Car platform as the bargain new C3, which means it’s available with petrol, hybrid or all-electric power.

It also means that it’s a sibling to cars like the excellent new Fiat Grande Panda and the reborn Vauxhall Frontera, although the former is more a standard C3 rival where the latter could be directly compared with the Aircross. 

So, how big actually is it?

Looks like quite a large car in pictures, doesn’t it? That’ll be the super boxy shape, the tall and straight roofline, and the squared-off arches. It’s actually not a bad looking thing for a crossover – particularly in that Montana Green paint with a contrasting white roof. The new C3 was inspired by the clever Oli concept, and the Aircross hasn’t strayed from the blocky brief.

In reality though, it’s not actually that large. The C3 Aircross is almost 4.4m long, 1.85m wide and 1.66m tall.

But hang on, isn’t there a seven-seat option?

There is! Like the Frontera, petrol and hybrid versions of the C3 Aircross can be specced with seven seats for an extra £765. You can only have the EV with five seats, boo. Anyway, ticking the box will mean you get slightly less boot space when the rearmost seats are folded flat, but they could be handy for occasional use and it’s certainly a bit of a USP for a car with supermini underpinnings. Interested? We’ll go into more detail on the Interior tab of this review. 

What powertrains can I have, then?

Well, you’ve got three options. First up is a 1.2-litre turbo three-cylinder petrol engine that makes a heady 99bhp and 151lb ft of torque. That’s paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and takes 10.6 seconds to get from 0-62mph. Not exactly rapid. It’ll max out at 114mph, too.

For a bit more pep, there’s also a 48V mild-hybrid that pairs the three-cylinder petrol engine (which is now chain driven, rather than the old unreliable wet belt setup) with a small electric motor for a total system output of 134bhp. That’s also your way of stepping up into an auto gearbox, because it’s only available with a six-speed DCT. 

The all-electric version is badged e-C3 Aircross and uses a small 44kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a front-mounted 111bhp electric motor. Headline stats are a WLTP claimed range of 188 miles, 100kW DC rapid charging and a 0-62mph time of… wait for it… 12.9 seconds. We’re told that another version with a range of over 250 miles will be available later in 2025, although there’s no word on whether that’ll be sold here in the UK. 

Eagle-eyed readers will note that those powertrains are exactly the same as the ones offered in the smaller C3, the Grande Panda and the Frontera. It’s all about cost saving for Stellantis but also means the C3 Aircross entry price is very sensible for consumers.

Go on then, how much is it?

In the UK, prices start at £20,240 for petrol power, £23,740 for the hybrid and a surprisingly reasonable £22,990 for the EV. Very reasonable. For more detail click through to the Buying tab.

We like the C3 Aircross. It fulfils its brief as a slightly roomier C3 without becoming too posh or too expensive. In fact, it’s only around £2,500 more than the equivalent C3 hatchback, and look at all of that extra room inside!

It’s hardly the most dynamic thing to drive, but with a rather refreshing approach it majors on ride comfort instead of trying to be overly sporty. There’s a good spread of powertrain options, a simple range structure and the EV is actually cheaper to buy outright than the hybrid. Perhaps there’s not quite as much character as you’ll find in the Fiat Grande Panda, but it’s a commendable effort.