C3 is UK's best small crossover

Test Drive by Graham Breeze

The new Citroën C3 Aircross Compact SUV has been crowned the UK’s the best small crossover so it was time to take a test drive.

The C3 Aircross has been praised for its unique personality, competitive pricing and overall comfort and now goes on to challenge the 13 other category winners for the overall UK Car of the Year Award, which will be announced at the end of February.

There’s no hiding place once you are behind the wheel of the Citroen C3 because despite its size it’s as distinctive as it gets – a point emphasised by the Aircross Flair Pure Tech version on test which came in soft sand colour with an ink black roof.

This C3 falls into the funky class with masses of attention grabbing character, competitive pricing, surprisingly impressive comfort levels and a five star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Wheel arch extensions, 17inch alloys, a style pack, front and rear aluminium effect bumper protectors contribute to the stand-out features.

The C3 Aircross is a new generation SUV with plenty of space for a vehicle of its type, modular design and a massive opening panoramic glass sunroof and represents an important milestone for Citroen.

The car is more at home in the city than the country, and the test car came equipped with Grip Control, Hill Descent Assist, 12 driver assistance systems, including Colour Head-up Display and four connectivity technologies along with Wireless smartphone charging.

If personalisation is your bag then this Citroen is right up your street with no less than 90 exterior colour combinations including four roof colour options for two-tone models and four colour packs.

There are also five very distinctive interior design schemes and a spacious eye-catching cabin. Splt-sliding rear seats and a fold-flat front passenger seat mean this Citroen leads the way in versatility terms in the B SUV sector.

So, how does it drive? Well pretty well really, in fact better than anticipated. It’s a little gem in the town centre and holds on well enough in the country – though there’s a bit too much body roll for my liking.

Plenty of consideration has been given to safety and the C3 Aircross range has seen Active Safety Brake with Forward Collision Warning added to Flair versions as standard equipment from January production.

This announcement follows the new car’s five star Euro NCAP safety rating and delivers new Insurance Group ratings on all Flair versions. Active Safety Brake was previously available as a cost option.

The system reduces the risk of collision by braking in place of the driver. The multi-purpose camera at the top of the windscreen detects obstacles, such as a stationary vehicle or a car moving in the same direction at a slower speed. The system brakes automatically when a risk of collision is detected, from 3mph to 52mph

On test was the Flair Pure Tech 110 Auto with an on-the-road price of £19,200, though metallic paint, the sunroof, park assist, grey ambiance, grip control, a hifi pack and family pack added £4,000 to the price.

The three-cylinder 1200cc petrol engine gave a top speed of 114mph and 0-62mph in 11.8seconds through an automatic box producing C02 emissions of 126g/km. Combined fuel economy figures of 50mpg are claimed.

The guys at Citroen are confident the new C3 will become a big success for the company and all the signs so far suggest they know just what they are taking about.