The Citroen C3 Aircross Punches Above Its Price, Not Its Size
Both reviews agree this is a genuine value play against pricier seven-seat SUVs — while being equally clear that the extra two seats come with real compromises attached.
A Small Footprint With Big Ambitions
Squeezing seven seats into a genuinely compact SUV is an ambitious brief, and reviewers keep circling back to the same question: is the flexibility worth what you give up elsewhere? The answer depends heavily on how often those extra seats actually get used.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Small SUV (5 or 7 seats) |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1.2L Turbo 100 petrol, Hybrid 145 mild-hybrid, fully electric ë-C3 Aircross |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual or automatic (hybrid) |
| Boot space | 460 litres (5-seat), 330 litres (7-seat, all rows up) |
| Fuel economy | Up to 53.3mpg claimed (hybrid) |
| Price range (new) | From around £19,670 |
Full Review Summary
What Car?
What Car? recommended the entry-level Turbo 100 petrol as the pick of the range for value, despite being slightly slower than rivals like the Dacia Jogger, while rating the Hybrid 145 as noticeably quicker but not quite matching the pace of the Skoda Kamiq's equivalent engine. They found the firmer-than-typical Citroën suspension setup created a busy ride at low speed with noticeable thuds over sharp bumps, rating the Dacia Duster, Dacia Jogger and Skoda Kamiq as more comfortable alternatives. Interior quality was rated acceptable for the price but behind the Renault Captur and Skoda Kamiq specifically.
Carwow
Carwow was blunt that the seven-seat configuration is genuinely compromised, with the rearmost seats best suited to children or emergency use only given very limited leg, head and shoulder room. They measured a 460-litre boot as a five-seater — competitive with rivals like the Audi Q3 and Cupra Formentor — but noted this drops to just 330 litres with all seven seats in place, and to effectively nothing with six passengers aboard. Their recommendation was the fully electric ë-C3 Aircross specifically for buyers who don't need the third row, citing quieter, more refined day-to-day driving.
Strengths
- Genuinely competitive pricing against pricier seven-seat rivals
- Efficient hybrid and fully electric powertrain options
- Decent boot space as a five-seater
- Comfortable, elevated driving position with good visibility
Weak points
- Third-row seats genuinely cramped for anyone but small children
- Firmer ride than typical for the Citroën badge
- Boot space drops sharply with the third row in use
- Interior quality trails key rivals
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who want occasional seven-seat flexibility on a budget rather than full-time seven-seat capability — think emergency use, not a regular family-of-seven commute. If you rarely need the third row, the electric version is worth prioritising for its quieter, more refined character.