Citroën C-Crosser (07 on) - Review

The C-Crosser is a big, roomy, car and can comfortably seat five with lots of head and legroom. The two seats in the third row are designed for children only - no surprise then than Citroen describes the C-Crosser as a 5+2 rather than a fully-blown seven-seater. Leg room in the final row is incredibly cramped and although head room is better the extra seats seem like an afterthought. Passengers in the middle row get well catered for however and the leather seats here are comfortable and supportive. All models come with climate control, electric windows and a reclining row of second seats. Unfortunately the C-Crosser lacks the usual Citroen ride finesse and the suspension feels too stiff over bumpy roads.

When in five-seat mode, there's a decent amount of luggage space in the C-Crosser. The second row of seats folds quickly and easily to create a car with impressive load carrying ability (they also slide forward for extra room). However with seven seats in use the boot is tiny and the seats are incredibly fiddly to put up and fold down again – the system is far from intuitive and even with instructions it’s a long-winded affair, with three straps and an awkward folding mechanism. On the plus side the the tailgate opening is split, allowing a flat loading area with the lower portion open. This means there is no sill to lift heavy items over, and the lower tailgate can support a load of 200kg. There is a split level glove compartment, as well as generous door bins and front centre armrest. The tailgate opening is split, allowing a flat loading area with the lower portion open. This means there is no sill to lift heavy items over, and the lower tailgate portion can also support a load of 200kg.

The interior is simple, functional and easy to use, which makes it ideally suited to family life. The large dials and buttons are intuitive and the plastics should be easy to keep clean. One of the few downsides is that the steering wheel adjusts for height only (not reach), although the driver's seat is height adjustable. All-round visibility is good, aided in part by the commanding high driving position.