Citroën C3 Aircross verdict

12 July 2021 by Alan Taylor-Jones

Parkers overall rating: 3.2 out of 5 3.2

Should you buy a Citroen C3 Aircross?

The C3 Aircross isn’t the best small SUV out there although it certainly has price and practicality on its side. However, it’s not particularly good to drive and could be comfier, so we’d point you towards the Skoda Kamiq if rear space and comfort is of importance, or the Ford Puma if you want a big boot and something fun to drive.

Grip Control models help you go a bit further off the beaten track, but aren’t as capable as a four-wheel drive SUV like the Volkswagen T-Roc.

What we like

The sliding rear bench fitted to Shine Plus models is a handy feature that boosts interior flexibility, as does the two-level boot floor fitted from Shine trim. Although the boot itself isn’t the biggest in the class, it’s still usefully larger than many other similarly priced cars and SUVs.

What we don’t like

For an SUV that’s supposed to be all about comfort, the way it deals with potholes and pimples isn’t particularly impressive. It’s also disappointing that entry-level C-Series cars don’t get automatic emergency braking, and that the sliding rear bench isn’t an option on lesser trims.

Which version is best for you?

We’d recommend sticking with the entry-level Puretech 110 engine and a manual gearbox to keep things affordable on the engine front unless you really must have an automatic. The diesel is too pricey to recommend, but we’d definitely upgrade to at least Shine trim to get automatic emergency braking.