Citroen C3 Aircross 2021: updated small SUV gets an angrier face and comfier seats

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The 2021 Citroen C3 Aircross has been revealed with a bold new look and a host of upgrades to technology and styling inside.

Unlike the C3, which was a blink-and-miss-it facelift, the Aircross is quite different. Gone is the cutesy, smiley face of the original, which has been replaced with a bluffer front grille to amplify the car’s SUV look.

The lighting features have slimmed down too, and the whole look of the Aircross is angrier. It’s possible the new design won’t suit everyone’s taste.

However, the new look is more in line with the direction rivals like the Nissan Juke and Hyundai Kona have taken in their latest iterations.

Inside, the Aircross benefits from a larger nine-inch touchscreen (up from seven-inches), wireless charging pad, updated navigation and Citroen connected services.

A panoramic glass sunroof features and Citroen touts the amount of glazing on the Aircross, saying it offers an airy feel in the cabin.

Mirroring the changes to the C3, the Aircross also gets new seats seen in the C5 Aircross, which increase padding thickness from 2mm to 15mm in the front seats, driving home Citroen’s comfort rhetoric. 

By sliding the second-row seats forward, boot space can be increased from a handy 410L to a class-leading 520L at the expense of passenger legroom. There is also a covered storage compartment that can be accessed by both front and rear occupants.

One of Citroen’s big draw points is the customisation offered with plenty of endearing colours, black or white contrast roof and interior trims offered in the car’s home market.

Three new colours join the now seven-strong palate including the pictured Khaki Grey, while more colour packs are available which add highlights to the front bumper and rear window strakes to give each C3 Aircross a unique appearance on the road.

Powering the C3 Aircross will be a carry-over 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with a turbocharger strapped on for outputs of 81kW of power and 205Nm of torque hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission.

While Australian specifications are not confirmed, it’s likely that the current powertrain will be the only offered down under. 

Europeans will get the option of a more powerful tune with 95kW of power from the same 1.2-litre engine, or the choice of two ‘Blue HDI’ diesel engines. 

Safety remains largely unchanged with city-speed AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear parking sensors and reverse camera.

As for the C3 Aircross’ future in Australia, the light SUV may return for 2021, with Citroen Australia indicaing they are “evaluating the new Citroën C3 Aircross for local introduction”.