Citroen C3 Aircross : Our observations after a day of driving

Out on the highway, the C3 Aircross' performance remains strong. This is where you can use the mid-range very well.

Driving the Citroen C3 Aircross 1.2L Turbo-Petrol MT

1.2L turbo-petrol engine makes 109 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 190 Nm @ 1,750 rpm:

The C3 Aircross is powered by a 1.2L turbo-petrol engine that belongs to Citroen's EB family of engines. This straight 3-cylinder unit is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and puts out 109 BHP and 190 Nm. The engine is shared with the C3 hatchback, but the C3 Aircross is ~ 290 kg heavier. With a kerb weight of 1,230 kg, the C3 Aircross has a power-to-weight ratio of 89 BHP/ton and torque to weight ratio of 154 Nm/ton.

With a smooth clutch release action, the C3 Aircross moves off the line without much drama. The throttle response is good too. Driving at city speeds, the car feels smooth and the power is adequate to putter around town. Good driveability is the key here and the C3 Aircross clears the second gear speed breaker test easily. At low revs is where you can feel the extra weight of the C3 Aircross compared to the C3. The turbo lag feels a lot more pronounced and the engine takes some time to get in the powerband. It is still manageable, and the bottom end is good enough for a sedate driver. Get past that and you have the punchy mid-range which is where you would want to be in. As mentioned earlier, the driveability of this engine is good and you can even manage to get by from as low as 25 km/h in 3rd gear without bogging down. It does take a little time to get through the bottom end, but once through that at ~ 2,000 rpm is when you can really start to feel the punch of the motor. If you want to extract performance, upwards of 2,000 rpm is where you would want to always keep the motor. What’s missing from the C3 hatchback is the eagerness of the motor when the turbo kicks in. The engine does not revv beyond 6,000 rpm and the maximum speed in first gear is 50 km/h and that in second gear is 88 km/h. You can go beyond 120 km/h pretty easily in third gear. The second and third gears are tall enough for you to nip through the city traffic quickly.

Out on the highway, the C3 Aircross' performance remains strong. This is where you can use the mid-range very well. It’s relatively easy to overtake on the highways with this turbo-petrol engine. However, while the engine has a good mid-range, like most turbo-petrols, the power dies down in the top end. The gear ratios are spread out nicely for you to use the powerband efficiently. You can push the car in 3rd or 4th gears when in the mood for some fun or just slot it into 6th and cruise comfortably at 100-120 km/h. In 6th gear, you will see the motor spinning at a relaxed 2,000 rpm at 100 km/h and 2,500 rpm at 120 km/h. Shift down to 5th for a comfortable overtake or to 4th for a quicker one. Spend some time with the car and you will start to enjoy the engine’s performance. The accelerator pedal needs a special mention for its fine-tuning. It has a progressive feel to it and isn't snappy, which allows you to drive smoothly.

The 6-speed manual transmission is slick to operate and compliments the engine well. The throws are smooth and sure-slotting, however, there is a hint of notchiness. All in all, moving through the gears is a pleasant experience. The clutch is light and the travel range isn't too long, but we found it to be a bit snappy. Which means that you have to make a conscious effort to drive smoothly.

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)

At idle, the turbo petrol is surprisingly silent, and the typical 3-cylinder vibrations are masked quite well. There's not much noise too and the cabin is silent. While driving around calmly, the engine sound doesn't intrude into the cabin. However, revv the engine hard and you'll hear the engine a lot more in the cabin. Unfortunately, the engine note is not something enthusiasts or regular folk will like. It sounds more strained than sporty at high revs. At highway speeds, wind noise is kept at a minimum, but road noise and tyre noise do creep into the cabin.

Mileage & Fuel economy

As we are already aware, turbo-petrols are sensitive to throttle input and you will be visiting the fuel station more often if you have a heavy foot. But drive sedately and you should see some acceptable FE figures. The C3 Aircross turbo-petrol's ARAI-certified fuel efficiency is 18.5 km/l which is slightly lesser than the C3 hatchback. It gets an auto start-stop feature which should help fuel efficiency while driving in the city.

Suspension

Ride Comfort

The C3 Aircross comes with a McPherson strut suspension at the front and a twist-beam suspension with coil springs at the rear. Despite the additional 290 kg on the C3 Aircross compared to the C3, Citroen has managed to match the suspension tune. Right off the bat, this is a very likeable suspension tune. In comparison with the C3, the Aircross feels a tad bit soft, but the setup is very compliant. The ride over small potholes and uneven roads in the city is pretty good. The C3 Aircross dissipates shocks very evenly over the front and rear which gives you a feeling of gliding over bad roads. Moreover, the suspension works silently too when going over bumps. Large potholes do register themselves in the cabin, but the C3 Aircross handles them well. Overall the ride quality is very absorbent.

Handling & Dynamics

This is where the C3 Aircross springs a pleasant surprise. The French sure know a thing or two about tuning the suspension just right. Straight-line stability is good and the passengers probably won't even know that you're cruising at 120 km/h.

While the car may be heavier than the C3, it still is a good handler on its own. The C3 Aircross holds its line nicely in long curves. There is some amount of body roll, but it never gets excessive. Hit an unexpected expansion joint on the curve and the car doesn't get unsettled easily. Start pushing on twisty roads and you will appreciate the balance of the chassis. The turn-in is sharp and there is a hint of understeer. You can also feel the extra bit of weight you are carrying at the rear. With the turbo petrol under the hood, you can really enjoy the car with this suspension. Changing directions from one corner to the other also doesn't unsettle it and the transition is smooth. The 215/60 R17 OEM tyres feel just about adequate for the C3 Aircross and provide decent grip levels.

Steering

The C3 Aircross' electric power steering is a very user-friendly unit. It's light in the city and most owners will appreciate that. While driving the C3 Aircross masks its dimensions well and feels compact. The turning radius of 5.4 metres is slightly higher than expected. The steering weighs up nicely as you gain speed, but we'd have liked it to be more hefty as it still feels a little light while cruising at 100 km/h on the highway. Enthusiasts won't like the disconnected feeling of the steering and the vagueness in the centre.

Braking

The C3 Aircross is equipped with ventilated disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The performance is as expected and the car comes to a halt without much drama. The pedal feel is very progressive and smooth.

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