New Citroën C3 Aircross debuts seven-seat option and 186-mile electric version
Citroën has fully unveiled its C3 Aircross compact SUV, reinvented with up to seven seats and a fully electric version.
Now in its second generation, the Dacia Jogger rival sits on Stellantis’ value-focused Smart Car platform, also shared with the new, smaller C3 supermini and its sister model, the upcoming Vauxhall Frontera.
Redesigned as a “tough and stylish” SUV with a “more assertive, muscular and robust” attitude and Citroën’s new brand identity, the C3 Aircross will also benefit from a “competitive pricing position” that will “shake up the market” according to the brand.
Despite its compact 4.39m length, the Citroën will offer a spacious interior, with claimed class-leading space in row two for the five-seater version and boot capacity of 460 to 1,600 litres.
The seven-seater will only be available with petrol versions and will have just 40 litres of boot capacity with the rearmost seats in situ and 330 litres with them folded.
The “highly affordable” fully electric version features a 113hp motor and a 44kWh battery, giving an expected WLTP range of more than 186 miles along with an 84mph top speed. It’s able to recharge at up to 100kW DC, giving a 20% to 80% top-up in 26 minutes. AC charging from 20% to 80% takes around four hours 10 minutes with a 7kW charger and two hours 50 minutes using an 11kW unit.
A longer-range version featuring a larger battery will arrive in 2026, complete with a WLTP range of over 250 miles.
The launch line-up also includes a petrol version featuring a 100hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech 100 engine coupled with a six-speed manual transmission.
A 136hp mild hybrid version will also be available, incorporating the PureTech engine combined with an electrified dual-clutch automatic transmission. This features a 28hp electric motor that’s powered by a 48V lithium-ion battery housed under the floor. It’s able to deliver 100% electric driving for almost 50% of urban use according to Citroën and has CO2 emissions of 121g/km.
The C3 Aircross also now adopts Citroën’s Advanced Comfort suspension with dual progressive hydraulic bump stops, which is featured on all versions.
Design incorporates Citroën’s new style language, as shown by the Oli concept and also used as the basis for the new C3 and ë-C3.
The interior is based around the C-Zen-Lounge concept with a head-up display and a compact steering wheel, along with new Citroën Advanced Comfort seats redesigned for “optimum support”.
Two trim levels will be available: Plus and Max. Standard equipment on the Max includes a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and two USB-C sockets at the front and two more in row two. It also comes with rear parking sensors and rear parking camera, along with safety features such as active safety braking, active lane departure warning system, driver attention alert, cruise control with speed limiter and speed limit sign recognition.
The range-topping Max versions also feature 3D LED rear lights, a white or black bi-tone roof depending on the body colour, 3D navigation, wireless smartphone charging, exterior mirrors with blind-spot detection, front parking sensors, electrochrome interior mirror, and a winter pack comprising of heated seats, heated steering wheel and heated windscreen.
The new Citroën C3 and ë-C3 Aircross will go on sale in the autumn in the UK with first customer deliveries by the end of the year. Prices are expected to start at under £20,000.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
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