Citroen has shown off the new C3 Aircross, effectively now a stretched version of the C3 and electric e-C3 hatchback which is due on sale here in Ireland in the autumn. The C3 Aircross will follow on at a later date, and will be offered with seats for seven, giving Citroen a rival for the likes of the Dacia Jogger in the affordable family car market.
This isn’t the only new compact crossover, is it?
Definitely not. The C3 Aircross shares its PFA1 platform with the likes of the new Opel Frontera and the just-shown new Fiat Grande Panda, and while that platform is actually something of an old one (bits of it date back to the Peugeot 206) it is very adaptable, able to offer not just seats for seven but a fully-electric version too.
That will make the eC3 Aircross should be one of the most affordable electric crossovers, as the electric eC3 hatchback is expected to have a starting price of as little as €20,000, possibly slightly less. However the catch is that you won’t be able to mix electric power and seven seats. Only petrol and hybrid powered versions of the C3 Aircross will get the option of seven seat, the electric eC3 Aircross making do with just the five.
What kind of performance does the electric version have?
The electric model will get a 115hp electric motor, and a 44kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery which won’t give you lots and lots of range - 300km is the official figure - but which is cheaper to make (and therefore to buy), and which should be more robust than a traditional lithium-ion battery when it comes to constant charging, especially rapid charging.
According to Citroen, rapid DC charging runs at a peak speed of 100kW, taking 26 minutes to go from 20 per cent to 80 per cent charge. If you want more range, there will be a pricier version - most likely using a lithium-ion battery - which will stretch the official figure to 400km.
What about petrol options?
In terms of petrol power, the C3 Aircross will come with the familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine in 100hp tune with a six-speed manual gearbox, or a 136hp mild-hybrid version of the same engine, using a six-speed automatic gearbox, giving the Aircross emissions of 121g/km.
Inside, Citroen says that the C3 Aircross uses its new ‘C-Zen Lounge concept’ which means it gets extra-comfy seats and a clean, simple dashboard layout with a head-up-style driver’s instrument display. While it’s a low-cost car, the C3 Aircross will get Citroen’s patented hydraulic bump-stops for the suspension, which should ensure a comfortable and pliant ride quality. There’s also a 10.25-inch touchscreen with connected services, and that’s standard even on the cheapest version.
How practical will the C3 Aircross be?
Although the C3 Aircross is pretty compact - just 4.39 metres long - it does have a decent boot for its size, with 460 litres of boot space for the five-seat version (that falls to 330 litres for the seven-seater, with the rear-most seats folded away). The relatively long wheelbase - 2.97 metres - means that the rear doors a huge, which will make life easier for families, and if you want space in the back seats it’s worth noting that five-seat versions get more rear legroom than the seven-seater, thanks to the rear bench being moved further back.