Bucket Seat: Citroen C3 Aircross - 7 Seater

When it comes to French cars that are made in India, lets just say that I am not the biggest fan of them. So when the Citroën C3 Aircross 7-seater rolled into my driveway for testing, I didn't have much hope for it. While from the outside it looks fantastic, sitting inside the car gave me flash backs of the cheap and nasty materials, lack of insulation and general irks that I found with other cars that come from the sub continent. It’s positioned as a compact SUV designed to accommodate larger families, with a focus on maximizing space in a relatively small footprint and it probably works well in India as the people are generally smaller built than as South Africans. I on the other hand was not going to load it up with 7 people and drive around town but I had some interesting routes planned for the C3 which involved all types of terrain and all sorts of climates and I must say, this car surprised me a lot. In fact, it changed my view on French cars made in India, suffice to say humble pie was had. Here are my thoughts on the C3 Aircross:

DESIGN

The Citroën C3 Aircross features a distinctive design, with a bold front grille, large headlights, and unique Airbump panels that give it a rugged yet quirky appearance. It has an elevated stance and muscular wheel arches, contributing to its SUV-like appearance. The C3 Aircross has roof rails that add to its practicality, offering additional storage options. Having drive the launch model 5-seater, the 7-seater version extends the rear of the vehicle to accommodate the extra seats, and the vehicle looks more extended than the standard C3 Aircross. It maintains the brand's modern yet playful approach to design, with contrasting roof colors and options for custom color packs. The large 17-inch diamond cut 4-spoke alloy wheels give it distinct look and adds to the charm of the overall design. I must say, the C3 Aircross is a looker and at first glance doesn't give you a budget look at all but a rather very Euro-Premium feel.

PERFORMANCE

I was quite surprised that the same 1.2-liter PureTech petrol engine which is in the standard C3  remained frugal to my demands, paired with a 6-speed automatic gearbox the engine produces 81kW, which is sufficient for city driving and moderate highway speeds, but it may feel slightly underpowered when the vehicle is fully loaded but like I said, I never had to carry a load so the engine was more than capable for what I had drive. The gearbox is smooth for the most part, though it may hesitate at times, especially during quick overtakes or sharp accelerations. The suspension is tuned for comfort, absorbing most bumps and road imperfections easily, which is one of Citroën's strong suits, the call it the "magic carpet feel" which I must admit, did its part when navigating soft beach sand and cushioned most of the harsh bumps on the gravel surfances. The driving experience is relaxed, and it's a good vehicle for families prioritizing comfort over sharp handling. However, because of its taller design, body roll is noticeable during cornering, and it doesn't feel as sporty or agile as some rivals in its class. The 1.2-liter engine, when mated to the automatic transmission, offers fuel consumption of around 6.0-7.0 liters per 100 km. These figures are typical for a vehicle in this class, but they may increase if the car is heavily loaded with passengers and luggage.

COMFORT

The interior is designed with a focus on comfort and modularity. The second row seats slide and recline, allowing flexible use of space for passengers or cargo. While the third row adds seating for up to seven, it's important to note that the rear-most seats are best suited for children or shorter trips, as legroom can be limited for adults. With all seven seats in use, the boot space is relatively small, around 165 liters. However, when the third row is folded down, the capacity increases significantly to around 520 liters, making it ideal for luggage on family trips. The Citroën C3 Aircross comes equipped with a range of tech features aimed at making the driving experience more convenient and enjoyable, most notable is the 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for easy smartphone integration. The graphics are clear, though the system can sometimes lag in response, also I did find it often disconnected from the wireless connection while driving quite  a few times. The car has a multi-function steering wheel with buttons for car info on the instrument cluster and to control media, but these were also buggy with the volume buttons sometimes ending controlling the skip function and then only making the volume lower not increasing no matter which button you pressed. The car came with standard manual aircon controls and no climate control but it did offer a sperate duct for the rear passengers which I thought was cool. The C3 Aircross has a ground clearance of 200mm which is good in its class and managed a host of terrains with is, included soft beach sand even though its not a 4-wheel drive car!

VERDICT

The Citroën C3 Aircross 7-seater automatic is ideal for families prioritizing comfort, flexibility, and a distinctive design. It offers a soft, easygoing ride, with good fuel efficiency and plenty of tech for the price. However, if you need to frequently transport seven adults or want a more dynamic driving experience, you might want to explore alternatives, as the third row is more suitable for occasional use, and the engine may feel underpowered with a full load. The C3 Aircross 7-seater typically offers good value for money, with its base models priced competitively compared to other SUVs in the segment. Prices can increase with additional features, trims, and technology packs, but even higher-spec models tend to be more affordable than some of its rivals. This makes it a solid option for families looking for a budget-friendly, comfortable SUV with seating flexibility. I spent a solid 9-hours driving it for an entire day and normally one would be quite fatigued from all the driving but the C3 managed to keep me comfortable through the experience, even while navigating some harsh terrain and for that, I must say kudos to it. 

 SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.2L Turbo Petro
Gear Box	6-Speed Automatic
Torque	205Nm
Power	81kW
Fuel Consumption	6.3L per 100km
Price	R354,900

Bucket Seat: Toyota Aygo X-Cite

Today's review is going to be a bit different because the car in question, is a bit different. I've driven a fair share of budget hatch backs and this one was probably one of the most impressive ones I've had yet, not because it had a cool trick up it's sleeve either. The Toyota Aygo is the smallest passenger offering by the Japanese motor manufacturer, it was developed in a joint venture with Peugeot and Citroen and assembled in the Czech Republic, each of the other brands had the same car under a different guise and name, Peugeot with the 107 and Citroen with the C1. The cars started out as city cars for the European market, with CO2 emission tax coming into play, developed smaller cars, with less emission was the goal. While the French cars did well in the Northern hemisphere,  they failed to catch the local markets attention as well as the Aygo. Could be because of brand loyalty or probably just the reliable legacy that Toyota has built in South Africa over the years, which is why we see the new Aygo on the roads today but not the C1 or 107. 

Now while the Aygo start off as a budget hatch back, it certainly isn't just that anymore and with this new X-Cite model its bound to get the attraction of much of the younger crowds and it won't brake your bank account to get one. The X-Cite comes with the standard Aygo 1L engine, I'll admit, not the best engine Toyota has made and it really makes you work to maintain speed. I often found myself needing to down change to maintain or pick up speed on a regular occurrence, especially on highway driving which annoyed me because Toyota has a perfect good 1.5L engine in the Etios Sprint, why not chuck that in here? It would make a world of a difference! Then I sat at the robot, opened the roof...yes, that's the trick up the sleeve (but more about that later) and cruised off the line, down to the office and thought, this is what this car is for, city driving!

Forgetting the fundamentals of the car can be very easy, the car is meant for the city, or the burbs, not flying up and down the highway and when doing that, its probably one of the best things out there. Lets start with the looks, it's striking, it has a big X on the front which makes it all that more X-Citing, the overall design is quite funky, and the utilization of space is very clever. The front doors are quite long which made me thinking it was a 3 door at first until I realised there are actually doors at the back. Getting to the back, the seats are pretty decent, not some wooden bench places there just to say it can seat people at the back. In front, the cockpit is pretty cool, although, granted there is a lot of plastic which isn't unexpected for the price tag, I wasn't expecting imbuya. I quite like how everything is designed though, it really does appeal to the young side in you, which you hope that won't die. There's lots of lights and even section on the side of the speedo that tells you when to change up or down a gear. The space in the front is great, I'm a big guy and had no issue driving around in the car. 

Now, for the crowd pleaser, not quite sure what Toyota were thinking when they decided to add a fold-able roof to the Aygo, but I'm glad they did! When I first saw pics of it, I thought someone was taking the mickey out of the car and I even compared it to the likes of the Mayback Landaulet but I tell you what, it is genius! The roof folds up in a matter of seconds, quietly and neatly, it will have everyone in traffic confused as hell, as to whats going on here. Since the roof stacks up, it opens up practically just over 80% of the roof, which is a lot compared to most sunroofs. With the fresh air and added scenery to the drive, it really makes for a fun ride. No need to worry about drag or wind noise since with the roof open, you're cruising and its perfect. The large touch screen display connects to your phone in seconds, with bluetooth audio streaming coming through the decent sound system, it just adds to the experience.

While this car might be aimed at the youth, I found it quite practical as my daily run around. It sips fuel, at 4.4L per 100km, the tank size is 35L! After getting just over 450km on a tank, I was pleasantly surprised that R200 of petrol got me over half a tank! Many might look at the car and think of the safety aspects of it, I mean guys, sure it's small, sure its light but they got 4 out of 5 stars in the last safety rating for the car, so if that doesn't give it the thumbs up, I don't know what will. I got many comments while driving this car, one of them being cute, which I don't really mind, the Aygo  is a cute car and there's no denying that, the X-Cite just takes the cuteness level up a notch with the folding roof. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1L 3 cylinder
Gear Box	5 Speed Manual
Power	51kW
Torque	95Nm
Fuel Comsumption	4.4L/100km
Fuel Tank Size	35L
Price	R189,500