Summary
The Citroën C3 Aircross is a small SUV/crossover that shares its platform and many components with sister models, the Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Crossland. It was revealed in early 2017 and went on sale at the end of that year.
An updated C3 Aircross arrived in the UK in Summer 2020. It is a facelift of the current car, rather than an all-new model.
The C3 Aircross has received average to good reviews from the UK motoring media, with an Expert Rating of 66% as of June 2022. This has improved by about 3% since the 2020 facelift.
When it was first launched, the Citroën C3 Aircross was good enough to rank towards the top of the small SUV/crossover class, but newer models like the Ford Puma and Volkswagen T-Cross have raised the bar for this market segment, and the C3 Aircross has fallen back into the midfield.
The Citroën C3 Aircross has received praise from reviewers for its versatility and individual styling that distinguishes it from many of its rivals, but has been criticised for a lack of refinement and relatively poor standard specification.
Key specifications
Body style: Small SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £17,320 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2017
Last updated: Spring 2020
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Score: 6.4 / 10
“The C3 Aircross is a notably stylish new entrant to the small SUV market, both outside and in. However, too much is left to the options list rather than being included as standard.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Citroën C3 Aircross is not particularly rewarding to drive, but it does offer relaxed cruising ability and promising fuel efficiency from a strong range of petrol and diesel engines. Ride comfort is decent, too, while the distinctive interior has lots of kit and useful family-friendly touches.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Shine Plus (2021 facelift)
Score: 7 / 10
“Updated version of Citroën’s distinctive compact crossover adds new tech and trim options as well as fresher looks.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Citroen C3 Aircross is a comfortable car, soaking up most lumps and bumps with ease. It’s also extremely airy and spacious, with a funkily-styled interior and a big boot. Overall, it’s a very competent and highly likeable family car.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual
Score: 8 / 10
“More than half of customers go for top-end Shine Plus trim, but the entry-level C3 Aircross is one of the cheapest cars on sale outside of the supermini and city car segments; and at that end of the market, its stand-out styling, generous kit list and impressive cabin flexibility are of far more import than its handling finesse and pace.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 7 / 10
“There aren’t many mainstream cars whose ultimate appeal so strongly rests on the inclinations of the person buying it as the C3 Aircross’s. This little Citroën has a big personality, and if you happen to like that personality it’s sure to take the car a long way in your estimations.”
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Car
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Feel
Score: 8 / 10
“This is an appealing, distinctive and well-equipped little SUV. Good value, too. It’s roomy, versatile and rides well – at least for a modern small car. The supple suspension absorbs nasty bumps and pimpled roads, and – surprisingly – it’s more entertaining to drive than the rather anodyne normal C3 hatch.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The tweaks on this latest Citroen C3 Aircross might not be hugely significant, but they build on what this crossover already excelled on. With even more comfort on offer than before, as well as additional technology, it’s quite capable of challenging some of the best in this class.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Citroen C3 Aircross is a quirky small SUV with cool looks, a cosy interior and plenty to like about the way it drives.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Citroën C3 Aircross is a quirky family SUV with a stylish, spacious and practical interior. It’s a comfortable car, but large blind spots can make it tricky to manoeuvre in town.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Shine Plus (2021 facelift)
“Styling upgrade and spec enhancements to top trim level, in particular, make the Citroën C3 Aircross an even more likeable and practical crossover.”
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Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Feel
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Stand-out design, efficiency and very competitive pricing are among the strong points of a new model worth considering in what is now a rather crowded segment.”
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Evo
Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 6 / 10
“A regular supermini remains a better option if you’re looking for fun, but the Citroën C3 Aircross is a likeable small SUV.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Citroen C3 Aircross is like an East London warehouse conversion – relatively cheap, practical and roomy, but also cool. It doesn’t drive like a tin-roofed storage facility thankfully and the PureTech petrol is peachy if you want a grunty motor that sips fuel.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8 / 10
“There’s a joy about the Citroën C3 Aircross that you don’t get with most of these small SUV things. It’s different. It’s fun. And it is so while being one of the most practical of the lot – possibly the most practical. And for many, that will be a winning and definitive combination.”
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“It’s unremarkable to drive, but the Citroën C3 Aircross is neatly designed, well equipped and competetively priced, while safety equipment across all models is impressive, too.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Citroen C3 Aircross is let down by mediocre dynamics and questionable interior quality, but we love its sense of fun.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“Quirky compact crossover majors on style, space and technology”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Flair
“The Citroën C3 Aircross is a ‘soft-roader’ with chunky styling and some genuine all-terrain tech in case you need to head into the rough stuff.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Flair
Score: 6 / 10
“If you want a crappy little urban crossover MPV car, the Citroën C3 Aircross is good value. And while there’s plenty to annoy you 362 days of the year, it’s brilliant on the three days when we have snow. It is far and away the best off-roader I’ve driven.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Shine Plus
Score: 8 / 10
“There are two big caveats with this facelifted C3 Aircross review. First is that it applies only to this Shine Plus model; lower down the range, the Aircross becomes a less compelling proposition. Second is that you have to buy online to get the benefit of a longer warranty.”
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Model reviewed: 110 petrol manual Feel
Score: 7 / 10
“The Citroën C3 Aircross represents a refreshingly different take on the compact SUV formula that places comfort ahead of a sporty drive. However, the reality is that for a decent level of specification you’ll pay the same or even slightly more than you do with rivals.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Citroen’s little crossover has a very useful cabin, and it’s more individual than many of its ilk. Pity it’s not as comfy as billed.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 6 / 10
“Practical and well priced, but flawed in a number of other areas.”
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Which?
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Citroen C3 Aircross is a decent foray into the compact crossover sector for the brand. While it doesn’t excel in any particular area, its comfort bias and funky styling mean it stands out from its myriad rivals, and will no doubt win it a lot of fans.”
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Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2017
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 85%
Child protection: 82%
Vulnerable road users: 64%
Safety assist: 60%
No eco rating
As of June 2022, the Citroën C3 Aircross has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
As of June 2022, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Citroën C3 Aircross to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusive from extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the C3 Aircross, we’ll publish the score here.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Citroën C3 Aircross has received
2020
- Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best Compact Crossover
2019
- Auto Express Awards – Small SUV of the Year
- Business Motoring Awards – Best Small SUV
- Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best Compact Crossover
2018
- UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Small Crossover
- Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best Compact Crossover
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Citroën C3 Aircross, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Dacia Duster | Fiat 500L | Fiat 500X | Ford EcoSport | Ford Puma | Honda HR-V | Hyundai Bayon | Hyundai Kona | Jeep Renegade | Kia Stonic | Mazda CX-3 | MG ZS | Mitsubishi ASX | Nissan Juke | Peugeot 2008 | Renault Captur | SEAT Arona | Skoda Kamiq | SsangYong Tivoli | Suzuki Vitara | Toyota Yaris Cross | Vauxhall Crossland | Vauxhall Mokka | Volkswagen T-Cross | Volkswagen T-Roc
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