New Citroën C3 Aircross: as a five- and seven-seater for growth markets

The Citroën C3 and C3 Aircross are interesting models within the Stellantis family, but not because they are so technically progressive. On the contrary. The C3 and C3 Aircross you know in Europe, unlike their generally younger sister models within Stellantis, are not on the modern CMP platform, but are still driving around on the PF1 base of cars such as the previous generation Peugeot 208. In India Citroën has now presented a brand new C3 Aircross, but we do not expect it in Europe in that form. That’s special.

Citroën previously helped India and various countries in South America and South-East Asia with a brand new C3. Unlike the Citroën C3 that you can buy in the Netherlands, the new C3 is on a CMP basis. There is even a fully electric version of it. The European market will later be served by a completely new – and also electric – C3. The next Citroën C3 destined for Europe is probably not the same as the variant intended for the growth markets. With the new Citroën C3 Aircross, the French are now following the same strategy. The model that plays the leading role in this article is also intended for the Indian market and that of South-East Asia and South America and is also available on the much more up-to-date CMP platform.

Although this new C3 Aircross is not intended for the European market, it is immediately recognizable as Citroën. The front is very similar to that of the non-European C3, but there are clear differences. For example, Citroën splits the large cooling opening in the bumper with a piece of plastic in the body color and the headlights also differ slightly from its smaller brother. How big is this exotic Citroën C3 Aircross? It extends over a distance of 4.32 meters and is therefore more than 15 centimeters longer than ‘our C3 Aircross’. The wheelbase is 2.67 meters and is 13 centimeters longer than that of the non-European C3 and even slightly longer than that of ‘our’ C3 Aircross. Under the hood is at least a 110 hp 1.2 Puretech machine. More powertrains may follow later.

It is striking that it is also sold in that format in India, as car manufacturers often keep compact models below 4 meters so that the cars fall into a more favorable tax category. Still, about 10 percent (366,432 units) of the cars sold in India last year were longer than 4 meters, 32 percent more than a year earlier. So there is certainly a market for this C3 Aircross.

The electric Citroen e-C3 not intended for Europe as it appeared this year.

Why the C3 Aircross is relatively long? Well, it will not only be available as a five-seater, but also as a seven-seater with a third row of seats. In any case, seven-seater MPVs and SUVs are extremely popular in Indonesia. Almost 70 percent of the cars sold there are MPV or SUV-like with seven seats. The interior of the Citroën C3 Aircross corresponds almost entirely to that of the non-European C3. Higher-positioned versions get a 7-inch digital instrument panel and a 10-inch infotainment screen. The two separate seats in the back of the seven-seat version can be folded away, but they can also be removed. Those who sit at the very back of that seven-seater can regulate the ‘local climate’ via outlets and rotary knobs in the roof. Cup holders, USB ports and handy storage compartments: according to Citroën, the C3 Aircross lacks nothing at all.

Citroen C3 Aircross

Hope for success

This new Citroën C3 Aircross has been fine-tuned in Brazil for the South American market and the Asian variant has also been scrutinized for the local markets. The model will also be built locally, in Thiruvallur in India and Porto Real in Brazil. The model will be launched in India and Brazil at the end of this year. In 2024, Citroën will also put it in showrooms in Indonesia.

Citroen C3

Why does Citroën focus so much attention on growth markets? Citroën has set a target for 2025 to sell 30 percent of the cars it sells worldwide outside Europe. In 2022, Citroën saw its sales in Southeast Asia increase by 57 percent compared to 2021. In South America, Citroën sales increased by 21.2 percent. Citroën is a new player in India, so sales increased by 873 percent last year, but to a modest 6,588 units. If we look at the most important South American markets for Citroën, we also see significant growth figures there. In Brazil, Citroën saw its sales increase by 38 percent to more than 32,000 cars last year. In Argentina, more than 11 percent more cars of the brand found an owner last year than in 2021.

We do not yet have more information about the next generation Citroën C3 Aircross that will eventually come to Europe, but we aim for it to be a derivative of cars such as the Peugeot 2008, Opel Mokka and DS 3.