New Citroen C3 Aircross: full details, prices and pics

Citroen's new C3 Aircross is on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show ahead of its release in November. The compact crossover rival to the Nissan Juke will cost from £13,995, rising to £19,720 for top spec models.

The supermini SUV's base price will get you an 81bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, the only engine choice in Touch trim. The same motor in mid-spec Feel trim is £15,100, while top-spec Flair cars start at £16,900.

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Upgrading to the 108bhp turbocharged 1.2 Puretech petrol adds £1,100 to Flair spec, with an automatic gearbox adding £1,200. The most powerful 128bhp version costs from £16,600. Two 1.6-litre diesels are also available, with the 98bhp version starting from £17,220 and the 118bhp version commanding another £700. 

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Citroen hasn't announced full equipment details for the C3 Aircross yet, but we can expect similar kit levels to the C3 supermini. The carmaker mentions available kit such as wireless phone charging - a Citroen first - voice controlled sat-nav with Android Auto and Apple Carplay connectivity, and a panoramic sunroof.

Further safety systems available include lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, active braking and speed sign recognition. Customisation is a key part of the C3 Aircross's appeal, too, with 85 combinations of colours and trim, five interior ambiences and a two-tone roof as standard on Flair models. 

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The C3 Aircross is the latest in a line of French cars to make the transition from MPV to SUV, indirectly replacing the ageing and unfashionable C3 Picasso.

Following the lead of the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, both of which started life as MPVs, the new C3 Aircross ditches the Picasso’s MPV styling for a more desirable SUV body. Citroen insists it will not lose its spacious and modular interior, claiming the new Aircross is a “people-minded SUV” inspired by customers. It’ll rival cars like the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.

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First seen in C-Aircross guise at the Geneva Motor Show this year, the concept car has remained almost entirely intact. In fact, the only notable change to the exterior appears to be the removal of Citroen’s Airbumps, which debuted on the C4 Cactus in 2014. The front end, split lights, grille and scuff plates are unaltered, while even the four-spoke wheels are similar. It’s the same story at the rear, where the 3D-effect tail-lights are near enough unchanged. These pictures also give us our first look at the new badge, while contrasting door mirrors, roof bars and C-pillars complete the look.

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Inside, there are flashes of colour on the wheel, dash and centre console. Buyers will be able to spec these to their taste, in everything from Metropolitan Grey to Urban Red, as well as ‘Hype Colorado’ – a premium spec with more soft-touch materials and half-leather seats.

A large seven-inch central screen sits within the dash, with a row of chunky buttons below. The air-con, phone and media controls are buried within the infotainment’s sub-menus, just as they are in the Cactus. A rotary Grip Control dial is optional on high-spec cars for added traction, while all-season tyres are also included on these trims.

Practicality remains key, and Citroen says the Aircross is the most spacious car in its class. The rear bench slides back and forth, allowing passengers to prioritise boot space or interior room, boosting the load area from 410 litres to 520 litres. Fold them down and the 1,289-litre boot trumps the Juke’s volume by 100 litres. The front passenger seat folds flat, too, to help carry longer items.

What do you think of the new Citroen C3 Aircross? Let us know in the comments section below…