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The C3 Aircross is not new to India. But with the great pricing and a new automatic variant, has this become the SUV we were waiting for?

- KARAN MATHUR 

If you are someone who has not been following the prices of midsize SUVs, you might be in for a shock. Top-end versions of the Seltos, Creta, Grand Vitara, and Taigun now command prices north of Rs 20 lakh, excluding registration costs for on-road use. Call me old fashioned, but in my opinion, if you’re a senior citizen driving a car as large as the S Class, you may benefit from ADAS, or if you think that sticking your head out of a hole in the roof at 60km/h is cool, perhaps you do need a sunroof, the rest of us, however, don’t have time or resources to spend on such luxuries.

What most of us truly require is a premium design, enough space for the family, smartphone connectivity, and a price tag that doesn’t make you want to rob a bank. With that in mind, let me reintroduce you to the Citroën C3 Aircross, now available with a 6-speed automatic transmission. So, is the new C3 Aircross automatic the budget SUV we’ve all been waiting for or just a plain compromise compared to its competitors? Let’s find out.

DESIGN AND FEATURES

Without wasting too much time on its appearance, since you might already be familiar with it, let me just say that the C3 Aircross’ design can simply be described as quirky – it has a distinctively French aesthetic. However, there is no visual difference between the automatic and manual variants – not even a badge to indicate the variance. The only way to identify the new automatic C3 is to look inside. Even here, the design and layout remain identical to the manual version, with the central tunnel housing the tiptronic gear lever being the only distinguishing factor between the two.