When you can buy the new Citroen C3 Basalt in South Africa

Citroen has confirmed that the new C3 Basalt will arrive in in South Africa in early 2026.

The French automaker’s parent company, Stellantis, previously stated that the Basalt would reach our shores in the first half of 2025.

However, this release window came and went without a word from Citroen, raising the question of whether the Basalt had been quietly delayed or cancelled altogether.

Thankfully, it turned out to be the former, as Stellantis confirmed this week that the crossover is still heading our way, according to Car Magazine.

The early 2026 window means that the Basalt has been delayed by nearly a year, but it should serve to round out Citroen’s local catalogue once it finally makes its debut.

The C3 Basalt is a crossover coupe version of the C3 Aircross, which is one of two products that the manufacturer currently sells here.

Over the last two years, Citroen has repositioned itself as an entry-level brand in South Africa, selling compact SUVs that retail for less than R500,000.

The C3 crossover is one of the most affordable vehicles of its kind, retailing for just R252,900.

It’s a similar story for the larger C3 Aircross, which has the distinction of being the country’s cheapest seven-seater SUV at R379,900.

The incoming Basalt will offer a flashier take on the Aircross with an updated look and a sleek coupe roofline.

The Basalt is therefore expected to slot above the C3 Aircross, but this will only be confirmed once Stellantis announces the model lineup and pricing.

What to expect

The Basalt’s main selling point is its styling, as the two-tone coupe roofline gives the crossover a much sportier side profile.

The curved exterior flows towards the back, where you’ll find a large rear bumper and the brand’s iconic chevron logo on the boot door.

It also has a set of 16-inch alloy wheels, and a gloss-black finish for the side skirts and wheel arches.

The front broadly follows the same look as the Aircross, as the headlights are accentuated by a pair of slim Y-shaped LED daytime running lights.

The rest of the package is nearly identical to the C3 Aircross, as buyers can expect a 1.2-litre petrol engine with and without a turbocharged.

The naturally-aspirated models produce 60kW and 115N, while the turbocharged units generate 81kW and 205Nm.

It should also have a choice of either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox.

Assuming the final spec sheet is the same as the Aircross, the Basalt will come standard with a full-sized spare wheel, a six-speaker stereo, 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, and a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It should also feature driving aids such as electronic stability control, hill assist, ABS, tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.