A glance at the voting sheets for the category of compact SUV/crossover in CAR’s Top 12 Best Buys programme highlights just how popular this genre has become. This segment had one of the longest contender lists and the voting was nail-bitingly close. In the end, the Ford Kuga clinched the 2014 title.
A car that didn’t feature in the voting was the Citroën C4 Aircross because, at the time of ballot casting in January, we hadn’t been afforded a chance to drive the diesel-powered model. Fast-foward two months and one arrived at our offices for a two-week stint to prove the worth of the Aircross range.
Off to a good start…
Sharing most of its parts with the Mitsubishi ASX and Peugeot 4008, including (disappointingly, as you’ll find out) its cabin, the Citroën does have a unique visual identity thanks to the inclusion of a massive double chevron badge on the nose, vertically stacked daytime-running lamps either side of the lower air intake and hook-shaped rear lamps. It’s a distinctive shape that benefits from the optional (R11 990) 18-inch alloys fitted to our test vehicle (Seduction versions are endowed with 16-inch items). The only incongruent visual cues are the side doors, which are the same ones found on the ASX.
…and then it bombs
Open the driver’s door and, where you’ll expect to find a quirky Citroën cabin with innovative touches (have a look at the inside of a DS5 to see what I mean), you’re confronted with the ASX’s dour cabin. Now, I don’t have too much criticism of the donor car’s perceived build quality or functionality, but my favourite part of any Citroën is its interior. The French carmaker’s vehicles use interesting textures and modern displays to create distinctive environments. Without this unique approach, the Aircross loses quite a lot of its appeal.
That said, standard features are extensive, including auto lights, wipers and rear-view mirror, parking sensors, Bluetooth with USB and climate control; space front to rear is good; and the boot is well shaped and reasonably large.
Under the hood
This version of the Aircross has a modern 1,6-litre turbodiesel controlled via a six-speed manual transmission with a slick shift action. It isn’t especially grunty, taking 12,32 seconds to reach 100 km/h during testing, but refinement is top-notch and there’s just enough poke at higher speeds to make overtaking options plentiful. However, I do wonder whether its displacement won’t be a deterrent… Other vehicles in this class employ engines that have capacities of at least 2,0 litres, and quite a few are far more powerful, such as the Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage.
One major advantage of this powertrain is its exceptionally frugal nature; we recorded an average-consumption figure of just 5,9 litres/100 km.
On-road
We commended the ride quality of the 2,0 Seduction model when we tested it in October last year. Rolling on plump 65-profile tyres, the suspension proved absorbent without feeling soggy. Unfortunately it seems the Aircross is very sensitive to wheel-and-tyre combinations, because on 18-inch wheels the ride is firm, even uncomfortable at times. This characteristic is shared with the ASX and 4008.
The remainder of the dynamic repertoire fares better. The steering is nicely judged in its response and weighting, body roll is reasonably well contained and the brake pedal is firm underfoot.
The competitors?
As I alluded to at the start, the Aircross faces extremely stiff competition, even at this less expensive end of the compact-SUV segment. Matching its list price and specification is the far more powerful, better-riding Kia Sportage, while Volkswagen will sell you a Tiguan with similar power outputs for a lot less (although its spec sheet is more sparse). Toyota, conversely, offers a RAV4 with more power and torque, as well as all-wheel drive, for R18 000 more.
It’s definitely the best Aircross we’ve driven, but when the rest of the range is middling at best, labelling the HDi as such is simply a textbook example of damning with faint praise.
The Aircross faces the following tough rivals (except for the RAV4, all are diesel-powered and front-wheel driven):
GWM H6 2,0 TCI: 105 kW/310 N.m; R369 999
Hyundai ix35 R2,0 Elite 4×2 manual: 130 kW/383 N.m; R389 900
Kia Sportage 2,0 CRDi: 130 kW/382 N.m; R368 995
Nissan X-Trail 2,0 dCi XE: 110 kW/320 N.m; R356 400
SsangYong Korando D20T High: 130 kW/360 N.m; R339 995
Toyota RAV4 2,2D AWD GX: 110 kW/340 N.m; R379 900
VW Tiguan 2,0 TDI Trend&Fun: 81 kW/280 N.m; R333 100
*Specifications
Model: Citroën C4 Aircross HDi 115 2WD Seduction
Price: R361 900
Engine: 1,6-litre, four-cylinder diesel, turbocharged
Power: 84 kW at 3 600 r/min
Torque: 270 N.m at 1 750 r/min
Transmission: 6-speed manual
0-100 km/h: 10,5 seconds
Top speed: 182 km/h
Fuel consumption: 4,6 L/100 km
CO2: 119 g/km
*According to Citroën
Test results:
0-60 km/h: 5,07 seconds
0-100 km/h: 12,32 seconds
40-80 km/h: 5,63 seconds
80-120 km/h: 9,37 seconds
100-0 km/h: 3,14 seconds (average of 10 braking tests)
CAR fuel index: 5,76 L/100 km
CAR fuel run: 5,9 L/100 km
