Facelifted Citroen C3 Aircross now on sale from £17,320

• New front design shared with latest C3 hatchback
• Latest nine-inch touchscreen
• Costs less than many rivals

The facelifted Citroen C3 Aircross SUV is now on sale. The new car features an updated nose. a revised interior and improved technology. Prices start at £17,320 for the C-Series trim, which is less than most small SUVs.

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The facelift is the biggest update to the C3 Aircross since it was launched, and is aimed at keeping it competitive against small SUV rivals like the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.

2021 Citroen C3 Aircross: prices, trim levels and specifications

Entry-level C3 Aircross C-Series versions come with new LED headlights, rear parking sensors, alloy wheels and a carried-over seven-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The C-Series is exclusively available online, helping Citroen make it more affordable. Upgrading to Shine trim brings the new, larger nine-inch touchscreen with sat nav, plus additional trim inside and out and automatic emergency braking.

Shine Plus adds bigger wheels, a rear-view camera, front parking sensors, keyless entry and start, a folding front passenger seat and an upgraded interior pack with more comfortable seats. Shine starts at £19,890 and you’ll need to spend at least £21,500 to get the Shine Plus trim.

Design

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When it was launched in 2017, much was said about the friendly face of the C3 Aircross. It now has quite an angry look, thanks to a more pronounced ledge between the two rows of lights and much bigger grilles. The headlight cluster has been made much smaller as Citroen introduces more LED elements, and they’re connected by a new grille with an interesting geometric pattern. That continues below the number plate, making the car look like it has sharp teeth on show.

Its rugged looks are echoed by new skid plates front and rear, which jut out from the bumpers. There’s not too much change at the back, although the quarter-light rear windows have a new paint design.

Three of the seven available colours - Khaki Grey, Voltaic Blue and Polar White - are new, and buyers have a completely different selection of alloy wheels to choose from. These are available in a two-tone diamond-cut finish and in black. Two new exterior colour packs are also offered.

Interior and practicality

Comfort is another important aspect of the car’s identity, and the updated C3 Aircross gets the ‘Advanced Comfort’ seats from the bigger C5 Aircross. We’re told there’s an extra 15mm of foam in the seats, which look more suited to a living room than a car.

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The centre console has also been rejigged to offer more storage cubbies, and the Citroen C3 Aircross remains a very versatile small SUV. Sliding rear seats allow between 410-520 litres of boot space - the latter figure is more than many bigger SUVs - and the front passenger seat can fold forwards to allow you to carry items measuring up to 2.4m in length.

Engines

There are a choice of three carried-over engines: two petrols and a diesel. The turbocharged PureTech petrols offer 108 and 128bhp with a six-speed manual and automatic gearbox respectively. Claimed fuel economy for the petrol engines ranges from 44.8-47.8mpg across the range, with CO2 emissions of between 134g/km to 142g/km.

A single 108bhp BlueHDi diesel engine is available for high mileage drivers, and is fitted with a manual gearbox. It’s capable of 58.8mpg and emits 123-125g/km of CO2.

For 2021, Citroen has dropped the entry-level 82bhp naturally aspirated petrol engine, but the PureTech 110 (108bhp) is a much better fit for the car, so few buyers are likely to miss it.

Check out our list of the most economical 4x4s and SUVs, or read about its rivals in our guide to the best small SUVs.