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By Jonathan Crouch

Could this second generation Citroen C3 Aircross be a small family's ideal second car? Jonathan Crouch decides.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 55

On paper, Citroen's revitalised C3 Aircross ticks almost every box for families looking for a small, versatile and stylish B-segment SUV. There's trendy looks, a versatile cabin space for up to seven and the choice of conventional, Hybrid or full-electric drivetrains. It's a car that'll really put its brand on the map in this sector.

Backgroundword count: 195

What if you could have the style and adventurous feel of a small SUV. Combined with the interior space and flexibility of a small MPV People Carrier? It's a combination of virtues that many brands have promised. But which possibly this car actually delivers - the Citroën C3 Aircross, in full second generation form completely redesigned around the latest Stellantis Group 'Smart Car' platform. That chassis is this European conglomerate's base for the compact models it hopes will be able to compete in value terms with cars produced in lands with cheaper labour. We've already seen it introduced in a Citroen that shares much with this SUV, the fourth generation C3 supermini. This is a very different kind of C3 Aircross to the car that back in 2017 launched Citroen's presence in the crossover segment for supermini SUVs and was substantially refreshed in 2021. Primarily, it's bigger, which means you can now have the seven-seat option that's unusual in this class. And there's also now a full-electric version - plus a full-Hybrid to compensate for the deletion of diesel. For a family in search perhaps of a second car, this is a very complete-looking contender.

Driving Experienceword count: 282

As expected, this C3 Aircross fronts up with the usual portfolio of Stellantis Group powertrains for a car in this class. If affordability is everything, you'll stick with the conventional option, 1.2-litre turbocharged three cylinder PureTech petrol engine with 100hp, mated to that fast-disappearing kind of transmission, a manual gearbox (this one with 6 speeds). For this second generation C3 Aircross, there's no diesel alternative. Instead, Citroen wants you to consider its 48V Hybrid powerplant, which will primarily sell in 100hp form. Here, much the same 1.2-litre petrol engine is based around a unique 6-speed e-DSC6 auto transmission with an electric motor built into it, powered by a tiny battery. This motor can take over driving duties for up to 50% of the time in urban traffic. If that still not quite enough electrification for you, then you'll be directed to the priciest E-C3 Aircross, which uses the same drivetrain as its E-C3 supermini sibling. It uses a 44kWh battery with an EV range not too far short of 200 miles, that battery energising a 111hp electric motor on the front axle, propelling the car to 62mph in around 12s en route to 84mph. Ride comfort is a traditional Citroen attribute, so the Advanced Comfort shock absorber hydraulic bump stops from larger models are carried over to this one. The remainder of the damping set-up is conventional, with MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear end. What's differs the C3 Aircross from the C3 supermini is this SUV model's slightly raised driving position. That's due to greater ground clearance, though there's not enough of that to facilitate the off-road adventures the chunky styling suggests this Citroen might be up for.

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