Most affordable 7-seater SUV in South Africa – What you get for R355,000

Citroen has officially launched the new C3 Aircross in South Africa, and it has more than a few interesting details worth talking about.

First and foremost is its price tag, as the new Aircross has managed to slash its sticker by an incredible R105,000 compared to the outgoing units.

This is thanks to an ongoing effort by the French carmaker to reposition itself as an entry-level brand in South Africa in a bid to seize market share for parent company Stellantis.

Consequently, the new C3 asks for a minimum of R344,900 compared to the old version’s R449,900.

What makes it even more compelling is the fact that this makes the Citroen the most affordable seven-seater in South Africa, as it is possible to purchase two additional seats for just R10,000, resulting in what the company calls a “5+2” layout.

All of this makes the new C3 Aircross an intriguing option for motorists, so it’s worth taking a look to see what else is included in the package.

What you get

The core of the Citroen is a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which produces a total of 81kW and 205Nm.

The powertrain is connected to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox, giving it a fuel consumption of 6.3l/100km on a combined cycle.

To accommodate the extra seats in the back, the crossover has grown by approximately 200mm, and it now has a “longest-in-class” wheelbase of 2,671mm, according to the manufacturer.

When the two additional chairs are folded, the boot can swallow up to 511 litres of luggage.

As for its design, the C3 uses slim LED daytime running lights and rides around on 17-inch alloy rims, which also help to give it a ground clearance of 200mm.

Customers can choose from one of four monotone paint options, or six dual-tone colours with a Cosmo Blue, Platinum Grey, or Polar White roof.

Since the Aircross is currently only available in a single “Max” specification (with a more affordable Plus option to be added in the final quarter of 2024), the brochure is appreciably straightforward.

For its price, you can expect a leather multifunction steering wheel, front and rear USB ports, a 12V socket, a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, manual aircon, electrically adjustable side mirrors, a six-speaker stereo, and a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety fittings, meanwhile, comprise electronic stability control, hill assist, ABS, tyre-pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

Every purchase of the C3 Aircross is completed with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and a 4-year/60,000km service plan.