Citroën has been trying for years to grab market share from Dacia, which has become one of the most popular brands in Europe. We remember the C4 Cactus and C-Elysée, which never really worried the Dacia Logan.
But Citroën may have found the recipe for its success in the low-cost car market. For the fourth generation of its C3, the brand has based itself on the version produced in India and Brazil of its city car. The European version uses the Smart Car platform first developed for emerging markets. However, Citroën has thoroughly revised its copy to adapt it to European standards and the European version of the new C3 will be produced in Slovakia.
Furthermore, the new C3 offers a new electric version ë-C3. The latter, like the thermal model, is available at very competitive prices. Citroën could therefore finally achieve its ambitions of competing with Dacia. We will still have to try these new C3 and ë-C3 to check if they really have the means.
A larger C3 Aircross and seven seats
Although the fourth generation C3 displays raised lines, Citroën has also developed a new C3 Aircross in parallel. The second generation of the city SUV uses the same recipe as its little sister and is therefore derived from the C3 Aircross produced in India and Brazil.
Furthermore, this new version grows a lot to reach 4.39 m in length, or 23 cm more than the previous generation. The C3 Aircross is now larger than a Dacia Duster, 4.34 m long, for example.
Styling receives a similar treatment to the C3, starting with the brand’s new logo. If the proportions remain the same as the version produced in India and Brazil, almost all the visible parts are specific. The most observant will notice similarities with the new Opel Frontera, which is none other than the technical cousin of this new C3 Aircross.
Citroën does not yet show the interior of its SUV, which we imagine to be close to that of the new C3 for the front part. However, we know that it will offer a new seven-seater version, which should allow it to compete with the Dacia Jogger. On the other hand, the many practical aspects of the previous C3 Aircross, such as its sliding bench seat and its reclining backrests, may not all be carried over.
Engines, gasoline, hybrid or electric
Under the hood of the second generation of C3 Aircross, we will find gasoline and hybrid engines that have not yet been detailed. It should logically be the 1.2 PureTech block, with and without 48 V hybridization. A 100% electric version will also be offered, but again without further detail on its technical configuration. The ë-C3 has a 44 kWh LFP battery, which powers an 83 kW (113 hp) electric motor, for a range of up to 326 km in the WLTP cycle at the wheel of the electric city car. It remains to be seen whether the same will be true for the SUV.
The new C3 Aircross has not yet announced its prices, but they should be very competitive. The new C3 actually starts from €14,990 (plus €230 penalty) in the PureTech 100 hp petrol version, a price close to that of an equivalent Dacia Sandero, and the electric ë-C3 starts at €23,300 (less €4,000 bonus). The C3 Aircross will challenge the Dacia Jogger and Duster, sold from €17,990 (plus €50 penalty) and €19,690 (plus €230 penalty) respectively. Citroën will detail the characteristics of the new C3 Aircross in more depth before the summer, ahead of its commercial launch.