After 9 years with beloved Fiat Punto, we now choose the Citroen Basalt

For the last two years, I had been eyeing the Skoda Kushaq and Slavia. Apart from that, I was looking at the Jeep Compass AT.

BHPian Puntoo recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Why a New Car?

I bought my first car, a Fiat Punto Evo Sport (Pearl White), back in November 2015, around the time of my marriage. I managed to get a great deal at True Sai Fiat, Salem, for an on-road price of ₹8.15 lakhs. At the time, I was also considering the Chevrolet Sail U-VA, Honda Jazz, and Ford Figo Aspire. After test-driving all except the Figo Aspire, the Punto clearly stood out for me. It wasn’t just a car—it was an emotional connect. The drive, the feel, the handling—everything felt right.

Over the years, I drove the Punto for more than 91,000 km. It gave me an incredible connection to the road, something I haven't felt with any other car.

But over time, a few factors started nudging me toward an upgrade:

• The urge for a more comfortable and modern drive.
• My wife's reluctance to drive a manual transmission car.
• The growing restrictions and RTO checks in Karnataka for out-of-state (TN) registered vehicles.

Initially, I explored used car options, but my wife and a close friend were quite clear: it was either a new car or no car at all. That pushed me to shift my search toward new vehicles—specifically within the VW and Stellantis groups. Had Fiat still been present in India, I wouldn’t have looked beyond them. That’s how strong my brand loyalty was.

Which Car?

For the last two years, I had been eyeing the Skoda Kushaq and Slavia. I personally leaned toward the Slavia for its sedan form, while my wife preferred a higher seating position and was firm on a sub-₹20 lakh budget. Meanwhile, I also explored the Jeep Compass AT and even took a test drive at KHT Domlur, where Mr. Sandeep from sales diligently followed up with me.

Although I drove the Kushaq 1.0 TSI AT extensively—thanks to a close friend who owned one—my heart was set on the 1.5 DSG. I almost booked it during the 2024 year-end discounts but held back, factoring in finances and our daughter’s upcoming schooling in June 2025 (we’ve secured her admission to Bishop Cotton Girls’ School, LKG).

We also moved our base from Yelahanka to Cox Town, Bengaluru. My existing Fiat Punto, being TN-registered, was at risk of attracting RTO attention, even though most of my long-distance drives (Karur to Bengaluru) are within Tamil Nadu. However, with the shift to Cox Town and limited monthly driving within Bengaluru, it made sense to consider a KA-registered car now.

During one of our trips from Karur to Bengaluru in November 2024, we test-drove the Citroën Basalt AT at True Sai, Salem—the same dealership where I bought my Punto. That test drive made our return journey in the Punto feel increasingly tiring. This sense only intensified over the next three hometown trips. While I was more drawn toward the Aircross, my wife loved the Basalt.

On March 22, 2025, we test-drove both the Citroën C3 AT and the Basalt AT at KHT Prime, Yeshwanthpur. We decided to go ahead with the Basalt, which struck a great balance between comfort, looks, and features.

We were offered:

• A ₹1.7 lakh discount on 2024 models
• A scratch card discount ranging from ₹5K to ₹50K (I got ₹10K)

KHT offered the car at ₹15.5L on-road. I then contacted True Sai in Salem again, and they offered ₹15L with TN registration. However, I decided to stick with a KA registration. That led me to Akira Automobilia L'Atelier Citroën, located on Hosur Road, Electronic City, Bengaluru.

The Buying Process

Dealership Selection

At Akira, I interacted with Mr. Hithesh—a no-nonsense, professional sales rep who sealed the deal in just two phone calls. He agreed to ₹15L on-road for the Basalt Max AT (Single Tone) and quoted ₹20K extra for the dual-tone variant, valid until the end of March.

Since I was busy shifting houses on March 29, I couldn’t visit the dealership in time. I requested photos and the VIN number, which Hithesh promptly shared with full transparency. However, I didn’t want to book the car without seeing it in person.

Finalizing the Car

On April 6, 2025, the following weekend, I finally visited the dealership, inspected the car at their yard, and confirmed the booking the same day. Since the scratch card offer had expired in April, the final price came to ₹15.1L on-road.

Delivery

We took delivery of the Citroën Basalt Max AT on 16th April 2025 at Akira Automobilia L'Atelier Citroën, Bengaluru. It was a special moment, made even more memorable by the presence of my family—my wife, daughter, mother-in-law, co-brother’s daughter, and a close friend’s family.

As part of the on-road package, the dealership included the following accessories:

• 3D Floor Mats
• Seatbelt Cushions
• Mud Flaps
• Puncture Repair Kit

While these essentials were covered, I still plan to add a few more accessories to complete the setup:

• Engine Protection Cover
• Sunblinds for the windows

Unfortunately, these Citroën accessories weren’t available at the time of delivery, but I’m planning to purchase them separately once they’re back in stock.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.