Tips for the second-hand buyer
It is quite special that the quirky Citroën brand has continued to follow its own course to this day. Quirky and distinctive and that is the first plus of a Citroën C3 Aircross in this day and age. This car is from 2019 and we are going to see if its distinctive character is enough to purchase it.
What are the competitors for the Citroën C3 Aircross?
Not normal how large the range is in the compact segment of SUVs. Take a seat: Seat Arona, Skoda Kamiq, Renault Captur, Hyundai Kona, Kia Stonic, Volkswagen T-Cross, Opel Crossland X, Peugeot 2008. They are all also available as a young occasion. Just choose from there. One thing is certain: with the C3 Aircross you choose the most striking of them all.
Is the C3 Aircross an SUV?
The predecessor of the C3 Aircross was the C3 Picasso and that was an MPV. The Aircross is rounder, more cuddly and yet a bit tougher at the same time. That appearance, well, it may be an ounce more or less. Take in the lines and ask yourself: does this make me happy?
What engines are there for the C3 Aircross?
The C3 Aircross of this generation, the one before the facelift, so from 2017 to 2021, is available with three petrol engines and two diesels. The petrol engines are all three variants of the 1.2-litre three-cylinder, which is used in many PSA models. The basic version delivers 60 kW/82 hp and that is very scrappy, but it also lacks a turbo compared to the versions with 81 kW/110 hp and 96 kW/130 hp. The diesels are both 1.5-litre four-cylinder. Our advice: go for the 110 hp manual gearbox, or the 130 hp automatic transmission.
How economical is a Citroën C3 Aircross Puretech 110 hp?
That 110 hp is just fine for this car. With manual gearbox it appears that a consumption of 1 in 14 is always feasible, but 1 in 16 is also a regular occurrence. The strokes of the box may be a bit shorter, but all in all, the drivetrain is fine. Also fine are our previous experiences with the machine. If you’re talking about comfort, then an automatic gearbox fits in perfectly with that. Well, with this Aircross generation, Citroen left the SensoDrive behind and put in a normal box, which is recommended. For when you want to spoil yourself a little more and are willing to spend a little more money. And there is an offer on the used car market.
What is the equipment of the C3 Aircross?
Distinctive, that word has been used many times in this video. The C3 Aircross is a surprisingly practical and spacious car and it is well equipped. Lane assist, for example, is not self-evident with a B-segmenter.
That is missing on the basic Live version, but you rarely encounter it. The Feel is the version that walks the golden mean. Not the most expensive but quite complete. The Shine offers the most extensive equipment. Fortunately, the offer in Shines is also large.
How spacious is the C3 Aircross?
Behind the back seat, on which you sit comfortably, you will find a luggage space of 410 liters. That is the minimum and that is a wonderful figure for this class. And where is it going? 1,289 liters when you fold down the sofa! That has to do with its MPV roots of the C3 Picasso of course.
How does the C3 Aircross drive?
There is no B-segment SUV that has as smooth suspension as an Aircross, the name already gives it away a bit. Entire tribes will find this suspension too weak. There’s only one way to find out and that’s to drive it yourself. Because note: the chassis is soft, but the front seats are too and they reinforce that. By the way, from 2021, when the facelifted C3 Aircross arrives, those seats have been addressed and are firmer.
What else has changed after the facelift?
A frequently heard complaint of too little storage space inside is also solved. And perhaps the biggest flaw, the operation of the multimedia system, has also been addressed. With this first series you have to make do with a slow and unnecessarily complicated system.
Are there known problems?
That engine then. Wasn’t there something about that? Of course. The C3 Aircross with the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine has an oil-lubricated timing belt. As that belt wears out, small pieces of rubber that come off can clog the oil lines.
This can get out of hand, from a poorly running engine to severe engine damage. If it is not clear whether the belt has been replaced, replace it anyway as a precaution. For the rest, the C3 Aircross does not drop anything and that is pretty good.
What are the tips if you want to buy a used C3 Aircross?
Practical, striking and comfortable; those are the pluses of a first-generation C3 Aircross. But this is a car that you should try out in advance to check whether so much idiosyncrasy suits you. Because there is quite a bit for sale in this segment and none of them are cheap.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl