The C3 Aircross is the direct replacement for the C3 Picasso, which was far more like a people carrier. This new C3 is trying to be seriously cool and funky; this will make it a must-have for some of the buyers and equally make it a no-go area for some of the traditionalists.

You can see that the styling department was given carte blanche with the stubby nose which is all bumper and louvres and just a skinny grille giving away the fact that this is a Citröen. The chunky appearance is carried on along the side pods, with lots of plastic to make this look like a real off-roader.

The accented colours add something to the styling with a choice of four available (black, silver, orange, white). The orange on the test car was striking but probably not for everyone. With the roof, roof rails and mirror covers in the colour chosen, it makes them stand out. The roof rails have a lovely designed overhang on the front which really stands out when painted in a different colour. This colour is also used for the Venetian blind effect on the rear windows on each side.

On the road

Climbing into the C3 you can immediately see that the gurus have been at work here too. The same colour is used inside and out. The accents are on the heater vents, steering wheel and a line across the middle of the seat backs, front and rear.

On the matter of the seats, as you look in they seem to be very bench-like and not very inviting.

But they are surprisingly comfortable and even on a longish run of a couple of hours I felt no ill effects. Once the little 1.2 petrol engine fires up, it is quiet but not a quiet as it should be.

On the move the 110bhp of the test car is ample for a car of this size but again can make a bit of a din when revved. Over the week of the test I was on child moving duties and found that the little Citröen managed two isofix seats and a buggy in the boot with only a small bit of brute force required. It was very capable of doing the crèche run and whatever else I asked of it.

On the motorway, the C3 was composed but suffered from the same annoying engine noise when pushed. This C3 came with lots of technology including cruise control, lane departure warning and forward collision alert. Off the motorway the C3 was adequate but that is all. The steering was a bit numb and the throw of the gearbox was a little too far to get gears in a hurry if needed.

This car came with Grip Control which is a €600 extra. It claims to give the Aircross some off-road ability even though it is only driven by the two front wheels. I drove it out into a greasy stubble field and was amazed by its ability to stay moving in what was really four wheel drive territory.

Verdict

The C3 is a bit of a marmite car – some will love it and some will hate it. I believe that its quirky looks and “young” styling will mean that lots of buyers will take a punt on them but for me it doesn’t do the basics well enough. The noisy engine and throw on the gearbox outweigh the positives that come from the styling, surprising space and amazing off-road trick. The little Citröen will be a great servant for many but with so many other options in the market I would spend my hard earned euros elsewhere.