I can’t think of a car segment that’s being contested as hotly; that’s because including the Citroën C3 Aircross you see here, there will be as many as nine SUVs in the midsize SUV segment that compete with each other directly! Need a list? Here you go: Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Škoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor and the soon-to-be-launched Honda Elevate! That’s over half a dozen manufacturers in the fray already. You see, the midsize SUV segment has been the most lucrative pie out there for car makers in India for nearly a decade now, because you look at the volumes, the segment is bigger than quite a few other ‘mass market’ segments!
So, you will agree, that’s enough and more reason for Citroën to dip its toes in! But as we saw a couple of months ago when the C3 Aircross broke cover, the French carmaker isn’t following the norm – it hasn’t packed the SUV to the gills with features or isn’t offering multiple powertrain options and instead is keeping things simple. Interestingly, the C3 Aircross is based on the same platform as the C3 hatchback launched last year but is a Creta-sized SUV. So clearly the C3 Aircross has its task cut out, as it enters what is the most hotly contested segment in the country. We spent half a day driving it up and down the East Coast Road to find out if the C3 Aircross is the automotive equivalent of the Quiche Lorraine!
This story is from the August 2023 edition of TURBOCHARGED.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 edition of TURBOCHARGED.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe
A middle ground between the GLE SUV and the manic GLE 63 AMG, does the GLE impress?
HYUNDAI EXTER
Rediscovering why the Exter is the 2024 ICOTY winner
MARUTI SUZUKI JIMNY MT
Falling in love with the Jimny's imperfections
DIRT MANIA
A promising. season one of Ceat Indian Supercross Racing League comes to a thrilling end
ADVENTURE CALLING
We sample TVS Eurogrip's new range of adventure touring tyres on a road trip in South India
TVS APACHE RTR 310
The most powerful Apache yet impresses on most fronts, except one.
MATTER AERA 5000
Almost feels like a conventional motorcycle. In a good way!
ROYAL ENFIELD SHOTGUN 650
How does the latest '650 twin' feel to ride in Indian conditions?
HUSQVARNA SVARTPILEN 401
A Swedish remedy to the Orange fever
HERO MAVERICK
Hero's biggest offering yet is more than just a retro-cool motorcycle