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By Jonathan Crouch

Could this second generation Citroen C3 Aircross be a small family's ideal second car? Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 55

On paper, Citroen's revitalised C3 Aircross ticks almost every box for families looking for a small, versatile and stylish B-segment SUV. There's trendy looks, versatile cabin space (potentially for up to seven) and the choice of conventional, Hybrid or full-electric drivetrains. It's a car that'll really put its brand on the map in this sector.

Backgroundword count: 195

What if you could have the style and adventurous feel of a small SUV. Combined with the interior space and flexibility of a small MPV People Carrier? It's a combination of virtues that many brands have promised. But which possibly this car actually delivers - the Citroën C3 Aircross, in this second generation form completely redesigned around the latest Stellantis Group 'Smart Car' platform. That chassis is this European conglomerate's base for the compact models it hopes will be able to compete in value terms with cars produced in lands with cheaper labour. We've already seen it introduced in a Citroen that shares much with this SUV, the fourth generation C3 supermini. This is a very different kind of C3 Aircross to the car that back in 2017 launched Citroen's presence in the crossover segment for supermini SUVs and was substantially refreshed in 2021. Primarily, it's bigger, which means you can now have the seven-seat option that's unusual in this class. And there's also now a full-electric version - plus a full-Hybrid to compensate for the deletion of diesel. For a family in search perhaps of a second car, this is a very complete-looking contender.

Driving Experienceword count: 307

As expected, this C3 Aircross SUV fronts up with the usual portfolio of Stellantis Group powertrains for a car in this class - and of course they're all basically the same as those used by this model's C3 supermini sibling. If affordability is everything, you'll stick with the conventional option, 1.2-litre turbocharged three cylinder Turbo 100 petrol engine with 100hp, mated to that fast-disappearing kind of transmission, a manual gearbox (this one with 6 speeds). For this second generation C3 Aircross, there's no diesel alternative. Instead, Citroen wants you to consider its 48V Hybrid powerplant, which is offered in 136hp form. Here, much the same 1.2-litre petrol engine is based around a unique 6-speed e-DSC6 auto transmission with an electric motor built into it, powered by a tiny battery. This motor can take over driving duties for up to 50% of the time in urban traffic. If that's still not quite enough electrification for you, then you'll be directed to the all-electric e-C3 Aircross. This car was launched with the option of an entry-level 44kWh 'Standard range' battery but for our market, Citroen is focusing primarily on the larger 'Extended Range' 54kWh battery pack, which is capable of up to 249 miles between charges. It's paired to the 113hp front axle-mounted motor that usually features on small Stellantis EVs, propelling the car to 62mph in 13s en route to just 89mph flat out. Whatever kind of powertrain you choose in your Aircross, you'll find that ride comfort is prioritised, a traditional Citroen attribute, thanks to the fact that the Advanced Comfort shock absorber hydraulic bump stops from larger models have been carried over to this one. Is it 'magic carpet-like', as Citroen suggests? No, not really; but it's certainly better than the class norm (and noticeably better than the equivalent - and otherwise identically-engineered - Vauxhall Frontera).

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