The new Citroen C3 Aircross distinguishes itself in the crossover market with a number of MPV-like attributes, but is it worth buying over more fashion-forward small SUVs like the Ford Puma and Nissan Juke?

PROS:

+ Spacious and practical

+ Improved infotainment

+ Great value for money

CONS:

- Uninspiring engines 

- Slushy manual gearbox

- Scratchy plastics in the cabin

Verdict: In a world where many crossovers prioritise style over substance, the C3 Aircross offers class-leading practicality at a very reasonable price. Just don’t expect it to blow your mind when behind the wheel. 

2021 Citroen C3 Aircross review: the five-minute read

Despite all of its hyperbole when it comes to marketing itself, Citroen is actually one of the most honest brands out there. Its cars are sold on the things that matter most to a lot of customers: practicality, comfort and value.

While rival brands sell crossovers that look fashionably cool but fall short on things like interior space, this updated version of the C3 Aircross refuses to abandon its MPV origins.

As a result it offers something relatively unique in a crowded and competitive segment which includes cars like the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke and Hyundai Kona. 

If you look at the new C3 Aircross from behind you will struggle to tell it apart from the car it’s replacing, but the front end has been given a makeover to make the car look more “purposeful”. Slimmer headlights and a wider, more aggressive-looking grille achieve this effect but it’s still not what you would consider a head-turning car: it’s far from the best-looking crossover on the market. 

Sitting inside the C3 Aircross feels like being in a living room, with large open space defined by right angles and splashes of carpet material in places like the dashboard. It’s a refreshing break from the cosseting design of rival crossovers and is actually quite visually interesting, although there’s an overreliance on cheap and scratchy materials. 

Citroen is deeply proud of its Advanced Comfort seats which add 15mm of mattress-topper-style padding, and are very kind on your bum and back. They come as standard on the top trim but are well worth adding as an optional extra on the lower rungs of the trim ladder. 

In all trim levels bar the entry C-Series spec buyers are treated to a new 9-inch infotainment system, which not only looks good but has much improved response time over the old system. Even the entry 7-inch system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. 

In many ways the C3 Aircross is closer to a MPV than a crossover, especially when it comes to practicality. Its modular design means the back seats can slide forwards and backward, and the front passenger seat folds flat so you can fit long items. This makes it one of the most practical cars in its class. The Aircross’s 520-litre boot, with back seats pushed forwards, absolutely trounces the competition. But if you need rear legroom maximised it shrinks to a class-average 410-litres. 

The three engines on offer have been around a while, nothing new to see here. A 108bhp turbocharged petrol kicks the range off. It’s joined by a 128bhp turbo petrol unit, or there’s the 108bhp diesel. None of the engines will blow your mind but they all go about their business sensibly and offer enough power for a family-focussed crossover. The six-speed manual gearbox feels a bit flabby, but the six-speed automatic doesn’t throw up many issues, although it’s only available with the more powerful petrol engine and adds £1,500 to the price. 

The C3 Aircross does what it needs to do on the road but nothing more. The steering is light so navigating tight spaces in town is easy, and the suspension does an adequate job of ironing out bumps in the road surface. It’s prone to wallow in the corners but let’s face it, it won’t matter to anyone looking to buy a car like this. Visibility is good around most of the car, but the A-pillars are large and can force you to crane your neck at junctions and roundabouts. 

The C3 Aircross will not make your friends and neighbours jealous, until they need to take their family away for a week or move a bookcase. It might not be cool or pretty but it’s an extremely practical and non-pretentious car. Even better, you can own one for just £17,320. That’s over £1,000 cheaper than the Nissan Juke and £4,465 less than the most affordable Ford Puma. Serious food for thought. 

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Extended read…

2021 Citroen C3 Aircross interior and infotainment 

You won’t be bored of the view inside the C3 Aircross, it’s an interesting vista thanks to its funky air vents, splodges of carpet material here and there and open space design. When fitted with the Advanced Comfort Seats it feels a bit like being in a living room, and light floods in from those large windows adding even more perceived space.

Speaking of the seats: they come as standard on Shine Plus trim but are optional on other trims levels. They really are worth considering if you drive long journeys – the 15mm extra padding is very kind on your bum and back. Think of it like upgrading to those squidgy armchair seats on the back row of the cinema.

Build quality is okay in terms of having no panel gaps or squeaky fittings, but the plastics can feel scratchy to touch. This isn’t the case with the switchgear though, which is what your fingers meet most.

The new 9-inch infotainment is a big improvement over the last system. The screen is clear and the response time is good, and there’s now a home button that takes you to the shortcuts quickly. You can also press the screen with three fingers to do the same thing, but it’s a bit of a pointless gimmick. 

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard even on the smaller 7-inch system, which is only found in the C-Series entry trim. In Shine Plus you get built-in sat nav, but you’re better off downloading Waze and running it from your phone. 

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2021 Citroen C3 Aircross practicality and boot space 

Thanks to a revised centre console storage in the cabin is good, the generous cubby hole can be accessed from both the front and back seats, although folding the driver’s armrest down can make getting your hands on the lid a bit difficult. Door bins can also swallow plenty of stuff - you won’t struggle to keep things tidy.

The rear seats slide forwards and backwards as well recline, which isn’t quite a USP as cars like the Renault Captur also offer this, but it still makes the C3 Aircross one of the most comfortable and practical cars for rear passengers. Rear legroom is good even with the seats pushed forward, which maximises boot space. 

The fact that the front passenger seat folds flat is a huge bonus, it means you can slide long objects in and out easily, and because of the car’s boxy shape headroom is plentiful for all occupants.  

With the back seats raked as far forward as they can go boot space is a very roomy 530-litres which puts it right at the top of the segment, but pushing them back shrinks it to an average 410-litres. 

Neat little touches like built-in window blinds in the back prove that the C3 Aircross has been designed with families in mind. 

2021 Citroen C3 Aircross engines and gearbox 

A choice of three (non-electrified) engines has been lifted straight from the outgoing model without any updates. Customers can choose from two petrol turbocharged units – one good for 108bhp (PureTech 110) and the other 128bhp (PureTech 130). A 108bhp BlueHDi 110 diesel completes the trio. 

The engines feel a bit long in the tooth compared to more refined offerings from other manufacturers, but they do a good enough job of moving what is a fairly large and boxy car. The higher-powered petrol is noticeably more capable, knocking off 0-62mph in 9.2-seconds, but if you only need something to cart the family around town then the 108bhp engine will serve you well enough. It’s a second slower over 0-62mph, while the diesel version is slowest, doing it in 10.8-seconds. 

A six-speed manual gearbox is the only option for the PureTech 110 and BlueHDi engines, and it can feel quite baggy when trying to move through the cogs. The six-speed automatic is up to the job, as long as you’re not trying to get too much of a move on when it can be a little hesitant to downshift.

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2021 Citroen C3 Aircross driving 

Comfort is the name of the game when it comes to handling, the C3 Aircross is soft and soggy over bumpy ground, which is a good thing considering everything else about this car is aimed at making life on the road easy and relaxed. 

The downside is the fact it is prone to wallowing in corners, so if you want a crossover that handles a bit keenly then you’re far better off going for the Ford Puma. 

The only real complaints concern the engines, which are loud and rattly when worked hard, as well as that slightly vague manual gearbox, but it’s difficult to see these things being much of an issue for someone shopping for a small SUV for less than £20K. 

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