The new Citroen C3 Aircross has officially gone on sale in South Africa, and it’s a lot cheaper than before.
The crossover now starts at R344,900, reflecting a R105,000 reduction over the outgoing model’s tag of R449,900.
Citroen is repositioning itself as an entry-level brand in South Africa, and the new Aircross competes in a different price bracket alongside popular models like the Haval Jolion, which also recently saw a change to its lineup.
The regular Jolion series has been reduced to two units denoted by a “City” badge, which start at R345,950.
With only R1,050 separating the two cars, we checked out what each has to offer to see whether Citroen’s market strategy has what it takes to compete with the nation’s favourite models.
Engines
The Citroen is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that puts out 81kW and 205Nm.
This connects to a six-speed automatic gearbox, resulting in an average fuel consumption of 6.3l/100km.
In contrast, the Haval benefits from a larger 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol block, giving it a performance ceiling of 105kW and 210Nm.
The base Jolion City is equipped with a six-speed manual, leading to a fuel tab of 7.8l/100km.
Those who want an automatic will need to pick up the Jolion City Plus, which gets a seven-speed dual-clutch box and consumes 8.1l/100km.
Features
Regardless of whether you get the Haval or the Citroen, the equipment list will include LED daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, electronic stability control, hill assist, ABS, tyre-pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, a multifunction steering wheel, USB ports, manual air conditioning, cloth seats, and an infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Aircross additionally features a six-speaker stereo, a leather steering wheel, a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, a 10-inch touchscreen, and a reverse camera.
The Jolion, on the other hand, includes keyless entry and start, a 3.5-inch TFT driver’s display, a 10.25-inch media system, four speakers, and cruise control.
Also worth noting is that the Jolion City Plus expands its spec sheet with automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an eco-leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, dual-zone climate control, a rearview camera, and hill-descent control.
The Citroen does not have a higher equipment grade, but it does have a unique feature in that it can be bought with an extra two seats for the back, turning the SUV into a “5+2” seven-seater.
When the extra seats aren’t in place, the C3 has a boot capacity of 511 litres, in comparison to the Jolion’s 337 litres.
Pricing
The South African pricing for the new Citroen C3 Aircross is as follows:
This includes a 5-year/100,000km warranty with roadside assistance, and a 4-year/60,000km service plan.
The local pricing for the Haval Jolion City is as follows:
Each purchase comes with 5-year/100,000km warranty, a 5-year/75,000km service plan, and 5-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance.
Citroen C3 Aircross
Haval Jolion City
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