Hot In The City (sponsored)

SUVs are designed to take on harsh environments, but usually fail to impress in the harshest place of all – the city. Forget deserts and mud – it’s the traffic, tight parking spaces and terrible roads of a city that make them a tough test for any car.

You can trust Citroën to take a different approach to SUVs and create a car that is at home in the town as in the countryside. The New C3 Aircross is compact enough to slot into tight spaces, stylish enough to stand out and packed with technology to make life easier.

And despite its city-friendly dimensions it is big enough inside to make a larger car unnecessary. When you want to escape the city limits, The New C3 Aircross is tough – and clever – enough to cope with your lifestyle.

Let’s start with those dimensions. At 4155mm long, the New C3 Aircross is only slightly longer than a supermini, and more compact than a traditional small family hatch. It means those tight urban parking spaces will now become an option while traditional SUVs and big family cars will have to drive on by.

Those spaces will be even more accessible thanks to some clever Citroën technology. Activate Park Assist while scanning for a space and the car will measure the gap and then guide you into the slot without any risk of bumps and scrapes.

The New C3 Aircross is also available with a reversing camera with Top Rear Vision, to provide a 180° rear view behind the vehicle on the 7’’ touch screen – a great feature which allows you to leave enough room to open the boot or park snugly according to your needs.

As you might expect from a car born in Paris, the undisputed ‘bump park’ capital of the world, the New C3 Aircross is tough enough to take the odd knock from less-well equipped cars. It has shock-resistant wheel arches extensions and self-coloured lower sill panels for protection from minor impacts.

Besides being practical, these add to the rugged SUV looks of the New C3 Aircross. Every cityscape is a riot of colour and melting pot of styles, and the New C3 Aircross allows owners to stand out for all the right reasons.

To make sure you can find a look to suit your personality, the New C3 Aircross is available with eight body colours, three roof shades and an additional four Colour Packs, making a total of 85 combinations.

The customisation concept doesn’t end there. Tough polycarbonate quarterlights have a shutter effect to mimic studio windows and can be matched in colour to the roof bars and door mirrors. Even the headlamp surrounds can be coordinated and matched to the centre caps of the 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels of some models.

It’s not just the onlookers who get the visual treats – everyone inside the car can enjoy the New C3 Aircross’ unique style too. The interior can also be personalised with a choice of trims to suit your style.

Five ‘ambiances’ are available, each with features inspired by fashion or furnishings. There’s Standard for those who like to keep it simple, plus the more daring Metropolitan Grey, Urban Red, Hype Mistral and Hype Colorado.

It all means that, even among the city crowds, you’re unlikely to find another New C3 Aircross wearing the same outfit.

That interior is just as practical and comfortable as it’s stylish. Clever packaging and Citroën’s commitment to Advanced Comfort means there’s ample room for four adults to sit on large, comfortable seats that will be a revelation to anyone used to rock hard chairs fitted to some SUVs.

There’s plenty of space for luggage too, with a 410 litre boot. If you need even more space, the rear seats can be pushed back or moved in two parts to increase capacity to up to 520 litres.

For those times when you’re off to the furniture store or loading up the bikes, rear seats can be folded completely to give an estate-like 1,289 litres.

Citroën’s ingenious designers recognize that not all loads are the same though, so the interior can be moved around to suit the shape and size of whatever you need to carry.

To shift these loads – and people – efficiently, the New C3 Aircross is available with a wide choice of engines, all designed to give you confident performance and refinement in town and when you venture away from the city limits.

Each has been designed to be as efficient and clean as possible too. A petrol-powered 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit uses a turbo to deliver efficient power, while two BlueHDi 1.6-litre four-cylinders give bigger pulling power combined with the latest in clean diesel technology.

For buyers who spend a lot of time on urban roads, the auto gearbox option will make traffic crawls an easier proposition, even if the manual has a light clutch and smooth change.

It all adds up to a car that’s perfect for the city. Tough, good looking and individual, packed with useful technology and yet compact enough to fit into town life perfectly.

For more information on the New Citroën C3 Aircross, please click here

Some features available on selected versions only