The new Citroën C3 Aircross arrives in Portugal with highly competitive prices.

The “C3 offensive” shows no sign of easing up, with the new Citroën C3 Aircross arriving in Portugal with aggressively low pricing: under €20,000 for the combustion version and under €30,000 for the electric version.

We travelled to Paris to see the new-generation B-SUV, which has grown in every direction, gained a seven-seat option, and added new electrified powertrains.

Bigger dimensions, more cabin space

In terms of size, the new French compact SUV stretches to 4.39 m in length, 1.79 m in width and 1.66 m in height - increases of 235 mm, 60 mm and 30 mm, respectively. The wheelbase also grows by 60 mm, now measuring 2.67 m.

That extra footprint is meaningful: the new C3 Aircross offers more generous interior room and, in the five-seat version, a sizeable boot of 460 l, expandable to 1600 l with the seats folded.

Choose the seven-seat layout and some of that added space is partially sacrificed to the third row (a two-seat bench with 50/50 foldable backrests). Boot capacity drops to just 40 l, rising to 330 l when the third row is folded.

On top of that, the second row also loses 65 mm of knee room, ending up on a par with the smaller C3.

Seeing the car in person made it clear that access to the third row is far from the easiest, because the second row does not slide. You have to fold the second-row backrest and rotate the seat towards the front row.

Once in the third row, space is very tight, especially for legs. It is better suited to children or shorter passengers, and is best reserved for occasional use or short journeys.

Citroën points to the Dacia Duster as one of the new C3 Aircross’s rivals, even though the Romanian option does not offer a seven-seat configuration or a 100% electric variant. In Dacia’s line-up, seven seats are only available in the Jogger - and it provides a roomier, more usable third row.

Electrification for everyone in the Citroën C3 Aircross range

The new C3 Aircross broadens its engine line-up, now including fresh electrified choices. Even so, the entry point to the range remains the 1.2 Turbo petrol engine with 100 cv.

The first major addition is the 48 V mild-hybrid powertrain - or Hybrid 136 - making its debut in the C3 Aircross. It pairs the 1.2 PureTech engine delivering 100 kW (136 cv) with a 21 kW (28 cv) electric motor integrated into the e-DCT six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The biggest headline, however, is the arrival of a 100% electric powertrain, offered only with the five-seat layout - making it Citroën’s first compact SUV available in this form.

The new all-electric C3 Aircross uses the motor and battery from the ë-C3: an 83 kW (113 cv) motor matched with a 44 kWh battery (43.7 kWh usable).

It promises a range of more than 300 km (type approval pending). For those needing more, a version offering more than 400 km of range is due in 2025.

Two AC charging options are available, 7 kW and 11 kW. Charging from 20% to 80% takes 4 h 10 min with the first and around 2 h 50 min with the second. DC fast charging is rated at 100 kW, cutting the 20% to 80% top-up time to 26 minutes.

C3 DNA throughout

Beyond that, the C3 Aircross’s key attributes come straight from the C3 and ë-C3 we already know, sharing the Smart Car platform - and much more besides.

That influence runs from the exterior design through to the cabin, with its horizontal dashboard and a 10.25" touchscreen.

As with the other C3 models, the 2024 Aircross is offered in two trim levels: You and Max. The latter adds two-tone paint, 17" wheels, a reversing camera, and automatic air conditioning.

How much does it cost?

The first Citroën C3 Aircross units will only reach the market at the end of the last quarter for the five-seat version, and at the start of next year for the seven-seat version. Even so, orders open from this Friday, 21 June.

Pricing for Citroën’s compact SUV is therefore structured as follows: