FIRST DRIVE

The French SUV Coupe has gotten a bit better with the introduction of the X variants and we took it for a spin

- STORY: ANAGH BHASKAR | PHOTOS: HARVINDER SINGH

The French automaker may be down, but it is not out and as part of its strategy overhaul, has launched updated versions of the Basalt, Aircross and the C3, with the suffix X, that denotes a number of changes and additions. So while we got our hands on the C3 X, we also drove the Basalt X.

Visually the Basalt X is nearly the same, but that does not mean that it looks dated. The SUV Coupe design is one of the most distinctive, and Citroen’s design ethos is very strong. The busy grille up front, along with the double chevron theme that continues from the badge all the way to the distinct lighting elements made up of LEDs is really well done. The foglamps have been updated to LEDs with the update.

Over to the sides is where the Basalt X earns its bucks, the silhouette is genuinely attractive, and it has got a fair bit of muscle too, with plenty of plastic cladding and stylish cuts and creases. I do like the way the windows taper into the distinct plastic element, but maybe a quarter window would have accentuated this even further, while adding spaciousness to the cabin. It does look a bit disproportional, with the bulbous proportions and the sloping roofline, but these are the compromises done to ensure spaciousness in the cabin.