Citröen gets its mojo back with the impressive Aircross
There is a certain delicious irony that the revival we’re seeing at Citroën these days as a British woman is leading the company back to a position where this awfully French company is making cars of distinction and élan once more.
And they are not just pretty unique and stylish, they’re good too.
Once noted for its advanced engineering and singular styling, Citroën has latterly been something of a reactionary element in the French automotive industry, shedding a skin — chameleon-like — which had served its time and, in truth, did little for the company’s well-being.
Citroën lost its way a little in the late 1990s and into the new millennium with a host of dull cars which were made even more boring by the sad truth the company appeared to have lost its design and engineering mojo.
But, under the guidance of Briton Linda Jackson, it has a confidence back in its step again. Citroën is back with an intent and a unity of purpose which we have not seen from the firm in many a year.
It may be we will never again see the levels of individual engineering endeavour with which the company made its name, what with the Traction Avant, the DS, the GS or the CX; but, what we are seeing is a level of design bravura which has been largely absent from Citroën products for the bones of 30 years.
It might be argued that a silly strip of plastic was the single item which propelled it back to the fore in the eyes of motoring Fashionistas — you know that thing astride the sides of the C4 Cactus which is supposed to prevent supermarket car park dings — but the confidence that single piece of design has imbued in the Citroën design department has been amazing.
Obviously, Ms Jackson has had a lot to do with putting the spring back in the step of her design people
because they have suddenly got a lot more daring in their output.
Sure the company engineers are constrained by the ‘synergies’ necessitated by the sharing of so many components (engines, gearboxes and so forth) with sister company Peugeot, but the designers are now making their mark by producing cars that all too many would be terrified to make.
Equally, it has to be said that if the French initially largely shied away from the whole SUV thing, they have now embraced it entirely and stepped away from the largely terrible crossovers with which they tried to shore themselves up against the onrushing tsunami.
But now they have kissed the SUV — on both cheeks, of course — and embraced it fully and they are making some really good ones.
Look at what Peugeot has done with the 3008 and the 5008 and you will see that even if the French were a little late to the banquet, they’re now gorging themselves with the best of them.
That fact is highlighted by the Citroën C3 Aircross. Like the C4 Cactus, the Aircross truly stands out from the pack.
Stuff such as the fancy-dan roof-rails, which are as much of a fashion statement as functioning things, the one-up, one-down front lighting arrangement, brightly coloured air vents, and a very unusual handbrake design, make for a very individual look. Although I felt they could possibly have done without the ‘Venetian’ blind effect on the rear quarter windows.
It is a little depressing when manufacturers crow about stuff like providing as many as 90 different exterior colour combinations, but that’s a sign of the times.
What is pleasing though is the level of kit on offer: the Aircross will self-park, has cruise control, auto wipers and lights, a 7” colour touchscreen incorporating all that Android Auto and Apple Car Play stuff as well as controlling the infotainment, navigation and climate controls.
The optional panoramic opening roof (€1,500) is an excellent addition, albeit a tad expensive.
And, aside from being so technically competent, it is also wildly practical, what with acres of interior space, 60:40 sliding and reclining rear bench, a massive boot, a truly airy demeanour and wireless phone charging. Being French, of course, it is also seriously comfortable with great chairs front and rear.
We’ve been banging on in these columns for quite some time now about the re-emergence of small capacity petrol engines and the 1.2 ‘Pure Tech’ three cylinder on offer here is a good example of one.
With, in this case, 110 bhp on tap, it has plenty of get up and go without being a boy racer and yet will return 5.0 l/100 km or 56.5 mpg.
Ride and handling are nothing, in particular, to write home about, but not terribly bad either — a bit like most SUVs — and the Aircross does have a ‘Grip Control’ electronic system which allows you cope with a muddy field rather than full-blown 4x4 terrain, which is just as well as 4WD will not be offered with the car.
I really liked the Aircross, not least for the fact that it has the aura of a proper Citroën-engineered car and it is quite different from the rest of the pack, as all good Citroën’s should be.
