Citroën has ventured into the world of soft-roaders and has launched its C4 Aircross in South Africa. Sharing its platform with the Mitsubishi ASX, Citroën hopes that partnering with a company that has proven its worth when it comes to SUVs will help its new vehicle get traction in a very tough South African market.
Styling
With its quirky design elements, the exterior of the C4 Aircross is very much Citroën. Among the highlights are the large Citroën family grille that flows to connect with the headlamps, vertically stacked LED daytime running light and a strong character line that runs along the side of the car, starting at the nose and terminating just after the C-pillar with its Aircross motif. At the rear there’s the familiar rounded hatch resembling that of the C3 hatchback. This is where the French connection ends, however.
Inside it’s a different story. The cabin is unlike those of any recent Citroën products. The French flair you’d expect to to see in the facia layout or controls makes way for a more straightforward design. There are no kitsch sounds to remind you of keys left in the ignition or headlamps that are still on, etc. . It’s a bit of a relief, really.
Thankfully, the cabin feels solidly built, the seats are supportive and finding a comfortable driving position is a piece of cake thanks to the wide range of adjustment for both the seat and steering column.
On the road
Presently, there’s only one engine option available – a 2,0-litre petrol unit developing 113 kW and 198 N.m – but it can be paired with a choice of five-speed manual or CVT transmissions, and customers can choose between different specification derivatives.
I was able to sample the 2WD 2,0i Seduction model with manual transmission. At motorway speeds, the engine showed a tendency to rev highly and become loud enough to give the C4 Aircross an almost diesel-like soundtrack. Even so, it pulled strongly and didn’t bog down when confronted with the sand driving part of our launch route in Mozambique – usually a rev-sapping exercise that demands momentum to be kept so as not to get stuck.
The C4 Aircross is suspended on a MacPherson strut type set-up at the front and a coil-spring multi-link system at the rear. I was surprised at how comfortable and well damped the ride was, even off the beaten track. The vehicles has been in the hands of journalists the day before and was now at the mercy of more motoring scribes, but the C4 Aircross felt as composed as ever and with no trim rattles or squeaks permeating the cabin. Although the vehicle lost traction on some of the more demanding parts of the sandy route, it was easy to get it in line again and, despite the frequently broken surfaces our launch route presented, there was seldom a time when the ride felt too harsh.
Specification and prices
The C4 Aircross range has standard features galore. This includes a multi-function steering wheel, MP3-compatible audio system, electric windows all around, air-conditioning (climate control for higher-spec models), alloy wheels and a full-sized alloy spare. Safety features include ABD with EBD and brake assist, dual front airbags, Isofix child seat anchorages and central locking. Models higher up in the range gain more airbags and ESP with hill assist.
Model: 2,0i 2WD manual Attraction (Seduction)
Engine: 2,0-litre naturally aspirated petrol
Power: 113 kW
Torque: 198 N.m
Fuel consumption: 7,5 litres/100 km
CO2: 178 g/km
Top speed: 200 km/h
0-100 km: 9,3 secs
Price: R269 900 (R294 900)
Service plan: 5 year/100 000 km
Model: 2,0i 2WD CVT
Engine: 2,0-litre naturally aspirated petrol
Power: 113 kW
Torque: 198 N.m
Fuel consumption: 7,6 litres/100 km
CO2: 180 g/km
Top speed: 190 km/h
0-100 km: 10,2 secs
Price: R309 900
Service plan: 5 year/100 000 km
Model: 2,0i 4WD CVT
Engine: 2,0-litre naturally aspirated petrol
Power: 113 kW
Torque: 198 N.m
Fuel consumption: 8,1 litres/100 km
CO2: 191 g/km
Top speed: 188 km/h
0-100 km: 10,9 secs
Price: R369 900
Service plan: 5 year/100 000 km
For a full list of features and technical information, you can download the specification sheet by clicking on the documents tab in the top right hand corner of the image block.
Summary
Citroën, as a fist-time player in this rapidly growing segment, has given the Korean favourites (read Kia Sportage/Hyundai ix35) and Nissan’s Qashqai some good competition with the C4 Aircross. Its lack of Gallic quirkiness may not gain it much favour with Citroën lovers, but this might be exactly what sways new buyers into showrooms. It’s a strong offering and something those in the market for this type of vehicle should consider.
