By Jonathan Crouch
Introduction
Just because a car is fashionable doesn't mean it can't also be practical. For proof of that, in 2012 Citroen brought us a revitalised version of its first generation C3 Aircross small SUV. Square-shaped but well-rounded, this comfort-focused and highly personalisable package was in the 2021-2024 period their idea of what a little SUV should be.
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? Back in 2021, it was a combination of virtues that many brands had promised. But which this car strove to deliver - the Citroën C3 Aircross, the first generation version of which was revitalised and redesigned early in 2021 to create the model we're going to look at here.
The French like practical, rational cars. Which is why brands from this nation were first to popularise the MPV, a most logical type of motor vehicle. They were early hatchback innovators, too, appreciating their extra practicality and functionality. And amongst the last to embrace the contradictory charms of the modern affordable family SUV. Why, French folk asked 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? Yet, usually, no more spacious or versatile? What though, if those downsides could be minimised and the SUV in question could offer all the interior versatility you used to only find in small supermini-based People Carriers? Well, that was always the thinking behind the C3 Aircross, first launched in 2017, then four years on refreshed with a new face, new tech and an easier-to-understand model range, creating the little crossover we look at here.
This, we were reminded at launch, was a car 'full of innovation'. Before you get too excited, perhaps expecting an old-school Citroën that follows the DS, GS and CX models of the Sixties and Seventies with ground-breaking drive systems and quirky suspension set-ups, we should set the record straight by making it clear that the 'technical innovations' being offered here were rather less revolutionary, really just distinctions of the modern-era Citroën kind, most of them cosmetic. Things like a bewilderingly large number of paint combinations, customisable exterior colour inserts, a class-leadingly large sunroof and, more usefully, 'modular' rear seats that recline and slide. All this is the sort of thing the modern SUV crowd wants and Citroën felt compelled to play to it - understandably so as it was a formula that had clearly worked with the original version of this car, over 340,000 C3 Aircross models having been sold prior to this updated version's introduction.
If you're familiar with the company's 2021-era model range, you can probably tell at a glance where the C3 Aircross fitted in. It was a smaller brother to the company's C5 Aircross model, but where that family hatchback-based contender targeted the likes of the Kia Sportage, Peugeot 3008 and Nissan Qashqai 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. Especially in this revitalised form, in which guise the car gained smarter looks, plump 'Advanced Comfort' seats, upgraded interior technology and more advanced driving aids. It sold until mid-2024, when it was replaced by a second generation model.
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. This improved version of the MK1 design looks a bit more purposeful than its predecessor, but it's pitched at the same segment, sized halfway between the supermini and family hatch sectors, an SUV sweet-spot that back in 2021 every mainstream brand was fighting increasingly hard to compete in.
Inside, as part of the 2021 update, this C3 Aircross gained a larger 9-inch centre screen and, with the top-spec trim level that most customers wanted, a pair of unusual over-stuffed front 'Advanced Comfort' seats. As with the original model, what you ultimately get with this car depends quite a lot on whether you've been able to stretch up to one of the pricier trim levels and therefore open up access to one of the three nicer interior design packs. But even without extra trimming tinsel, there are plenty of unique design touches to be found around a cabin - like the quirky little upright air vents, the retro-style instrument dial graphics, a curiously stylised handbrake lever, a squarical flat-bottomed steering wheel and even an indented 'reverse Airbump' theme on the door cards. There's a reasonable amount of cabin storage space too - and decent build quality from the Spanish factory.
Go for a top 'Shine Plus' variant 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. It's a great feature to have on a car of this class, but it's really annoying that you can't have it on more affordable versions of this model. The seat back reclines too, for greater comfort on longer journeys. Another feature of note that requires a plushly-specced variant is the panoramic glass roof, which opens, has a powered blind and, occupying a glazed area of nearly 1-metre in length, was supposed to be the largest in the segment.
Last but not least, let's consider the boot. Raise the rear hatch when the back seat is set for maximum legroom and there's 410-litres of capacity on offer. Push forward the entire rear seat and you'll reveal an (almost) flat loading floor with as much as 1,289-litres of total fresh air if you load to the roof.
What to Look For
As with other small SUVs, check for child damage inside and alloy wheel scuffs outside. And of course you'll want a fully stamped up service record. If the model in question is a diesel, ask how it has been used. If only for local work, the 'DPF' 'Diesel Particulate Filter' may have got clogged up, as these need frequent highway journeys in order to self-clean. Other possible problems with the DPF-equipped cars come if the DPF has been shut off part way through its self-cleaning process. That results in contamination of the oil system with fuel, which leads to the oil level rising gradually over time.
What else? Well examine for flaking of paint on the bumpers and check that the air conditioning works and that the pixels on the centre display are all good. Also check for rear bumper scrapes. Finally check that the Bluetooth pairs reliably with your phone handset. Electrical glitches are relatively common, so make sure everything electrical in the car works and double-check that there are no unexplained warning lights on the dashboard. Citroen's infotainment touchscreen software can sometimes cause the monitor to freeze or fail completely. A software reset may solve the problem, but some owners have had to replace the entire unit, which is not a cheap operation.
Replacement Parts
(approx based on a 2021 C3 Aircross 1.2 110hp excl. VAT - autopartspro.co.uk) A pair of front brake pads are between £15-£23 depending on brand. A pair of rear brake pads are between £14-£22. A pair of front brake discs start in the £22-£42 bracket. Oil filters cost around £4-£18, air filters cost around £6-£15 and fuel filters cost £3-£19. A starter motor starts from £82 upwards.
On the Road
This improved version of the first generation C3 Aircross gained a bit of attitude but inevitably remained about as comfortable in the rough stuff as the average upper class Parisian would be in a tent - which of course won't bother potential buyers one jot. Instead, this car is destined for the urban jungle, an environment well suited to its beautifully supple suspension and easy manoeuvrability. Go beyond the city limits and start to push through the bends a bit and you'll have to contend with a bit of body roll but in compensation, there's plenty of grip and it's usually pretty straightforward to place the nose of the car where you want it. The steering helps in that regard, the power assistance being a bit more progressive in its input than it is in the conventional C3 model.
This Aircross model gets the higher-end engine options you'd find with that car, with the core range based around Citroen's usual 1.2-litre PureTech turbocharged petrol unit offered with 110hp in 6-speed manual form or with 130hp as an EAT6 6-speed automatic - which is capable of up to 47.3mpg on the combined cycle and up to 140g/km of CO2. If you want to do better, you'll be interested to know that a manual-only 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel model was available. Performance in the two petrol variants is acceptable, with 62mph coming up in just over 9 seconds, if you can get all the power down through the front wheels; as usual in this class, there's no 4WD option. Optional to new buyers was an extra cost '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
If the automotive market was sensible and rational, this would have been a small MPV - like the old C3 Picasso. And in many ways it was: just one with an SUV mindset. We like that combination and there's no reason why potential used buyers shouldn't too.
When it all comes down to it, this is an appealing, distinctive and nicely equipped little SUV. Unlike most cars in this class from this era, it's actually feels better on the road than the supermini it's based on and offers an awful lot more than the ordinary C3 hatch in return for the reasonable premium in price being asked. It was Citroën's idea of what a small SUV of this kind should be - and that makes it a little different from your other choices in this class from this period. Which might mean you'll end up liking this car a lot more than you thought you were going to.
