Citroen C3 EV

Citroen, the French automotive brand, has been blowing the wind in the Indian automotive market with style statements and innovative features. But when it comes to reliability, how do Citroen Cars really fare? In this guide, we show the factors affecting the reliability of Citroen vehicles in India and paint a clear picture for you to know what to expect.  Overview of Citroen Citroen serves the Indian market with a blend of the luxury available in the European market and practical Indian features. A model range consisting of the Citroen C5 Aircross, Citroen C3, and Citroen Basalt adds class and comfort to the car in terms of design. Many people are thinking and want to know: How reliable can these cars be in India? Build Quality and Design Citroen received huge criticism for its build quality, even receiving a safety rating of zero from Global NCAP. While the company has announced the inclusion of changes in the new Citroen Basalt to improve the build quality, several questions remain regarding the durability and safety of the car.  Generally, the design philosophy of Citroen is comfort and durability, so models like Citroen C5 Aircross have a suspension system that would be well-suited to rough roads. How well the Basalt lives up to them in terms of build quality with local manufacturing and adaptation to Indian conditions remains to be seen. Engine and Performance Citroen provides a set of engines tuned to accommodate various driving requirements. Generally, the tuning of the engines is good, so they provide result-oriented performance along with frugality. For instance, in the Citroen C3, a 1.2-litre engine has an ideal balance of power and fuel economy and hence is quite practical for both the urban drive as well as for the highways. However, these engines may show varied performances concerning driving conditions and their maintenance. Serving properly and timely changing of oil is highly essential to make them run smoothly and consistently over time. Service and Maintenance One important factor affecting reliability is maintenance. Citroen has set up its service network in India to extend service support to its cars. Prompt availability of spare parts and a pool of trained technicians are the key ways of ensuring high long-term reliability in a car. Generally speaking, most Citroen cars are easy to maintain, but again, recommended service intervals must be taken seriously. Also, for maximum assurance against troubles, maintenance, and repairs should be done through authorized service centers. Common Problems and Owner's Reviews While the cars designed by Citroen have been reliably produced, there have been a few common issues reported about this brand of car. These include issues with the electronics from time to time and minor mechanical problems. However, a fair view is that all these problems are not specific to Citroen but may be found in any car brand. User feedback also points out that Citroen cars may develop certain problems once in a while; still, they generally earn high approval for comfort and road performance. In the case of most owners, the plus points outweigh the minus ones, especially when the cars receive proper service and upkeep. Read Also: Citroen Basalt Variants-Wise Features Explained Resale Value For resale value, Citroen cars do hold their worth fairly well. The brand is considered to be full of comfort and innovations, which help keep resale values good. That said, various factors like mileage, condition, and demand in the market have effects on units' resale values. Conclusion To wrap it up, Citroen cars in India are a good blend of style and comfort, plus unbeatable performance. Of course, there may be some common problems the cars go through; however, their rescues are pretty strong, especially when the car is taken good care of. The reliability and enjoyment of a Citroen car lie in regular servicing and taking off a minor fault as soon as possible. So, if you indeed wish to buy a Citroen in India, with due care, you may bank upon dependability and good driving. Whether it is the French elegance of the C5 Aircross or the compact practicality of the C3, there's so much going right for Citroen cars. Read Also: Citroen Cars to Offer 6 Airbags as Standard

Citroen India has recently launched Basalt at Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The coupe SUV is available in three variants - You, Plus, and Max, offering a range of tech and safety features. If you are confused about which variant is best to buy, here is the list of features provided in each variant along with their engine and price details. Citroen Basalt You Variant The base variant of Basalt, the You takes power from a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to 5-speed manual transmission. It can generate 80bhp of power and 115 Nm of torque. Price for this variant stands at Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom). Here is the list of the exterior and interior features provided in the base variant: EXTERIOR Body Coloured Bumpers Front Panel: Brand Emblems - Chevron - Chrome Front Panel: Chrome moustache Sash Tape - A/B Pillar Body Side Sill Cladding INTERIOR Manual AC Knobs - Satin Chrome Accents Parking Brake Lever Tip - Satin Chrome TECH FEATURES Front & Rear Power Windows (Front Only) One-Touch Auto Down - All 4 Power Windows (Front Only) 12V Socket - Front Front Windscreen Wipers - Intermittent Bottle Holder on Doors - 1 Litre (Front & Rear) Bag Support Hooks in Boot (3KGs) Manual AC with Heater Smartphone Charger Wired Low Fuel Warning Lamp Gear Shift Indicator Interior Room Lamps (Front Only) SAFETY 6 Airbags ABS with EBD ESP Hill Hold 3-Point Seat Belts (All Seats) ISOFIX Child Seat Anchorage with Top Tether Seat Belt Reminder & Buzzer (All Seats) Reverse Parking Sensors High-Speed Alert System Citroen Basalt Plus Variant The mid-spec Plus variant gets a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated and turbo petrol engine. Mated with a 5-speed manual transmission, the naturally aspirated engine can produce 80 bhp/115 Nm. Meanwhile, its turbo unit, paired with both a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic, can send 109 bhp/190 Nm and 109 bhp/205Nm, respectively. Price for these variants are Rs 9.99 lakh (Naturally-aspirated petrol - MT), Rs 11.49 lakh (Turbo Petrol - MT), and Rs 12.79 lakh (Turbo Petrol - AT). All prices are ex-showroom. Here are the features available on the Plus variant over the base variant: EXTERIOR Front Signature Grill: High Gloss Black Colour Touch: Front Bumper & C-Pillar Body Colour Outside Door Handles Outside Door Mirror: High Gloss Black Wheel Arch Cladding Trio Full Wheel Cover Side Turn Indicators on Outside Mirrors Signature LED DRLs LED Vision Projector Headlamps Front Fog Lamps Skid Plate - Front & Rear INTERIOR Dual-tone Black & Great dashboard Manual AC knobs - Satin Chrome Accents Parking Brake Lever Tip - Satin Chrome Premium Printed Roofliner Instrument Panel - Deco Pyrite Inside Door Handles - Satin Chrome Satin Chrome Accents - Steering Wheel, Gear Lever Surround, AC Vents Inner Part Glossy Black Accents - Door Armrest, Central AC Vents, AC Vents, Steering Wheel Controls Front and Rear Door Armrests TECH FEATURES 10.2-inch touchscreen Infotainment Bluetooth Connectivity Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 4 Speakers Steering Wheel with Audio, Phone & Cluster Controls Front & Rear Power Windows One-Touch Auto Down - All 4 Power Windows Automatic AC Electric Adjustable ORVM Electric & Auto Folding ORVM Day/Night IRVM Tilt Steering Remote Keyless Entry Driver Seat - Manual Height Adjustable Parcel Shelf Driver and Front Passenger Seat: Back Pocket Rear AC Vents Rear Defogger Rear Sear Centre Armrest with Cup Holder Co-driver side Sun Visor with Vanity Mirror Engine Auto Stop/Start Front Console Armrest with Storage USB Charger - Front 1, Rear 2 Fast Charger 7-inch Colour Digital TFT Cluster Door Ajar Warning Outside Temperature Indicator in Cluster SAFETY Tyre Pressure Monitoring System Citroen Basalt Max Variant The top-spec Max variant is powered by only a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine (109 bhp/190 Nm and 109 bhp/205Nm). This engine is paired with both manual and automatic transmission. It is priced at Rs 12.28 lakh for the turbo manual and Rs 13.62 lakh for the turbo automatic variant. All prices are ex-showroom. EXTERIOR Urban Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels Shark Fin Antenna Dual Tone Roof Body Side Door Mounding & Chrome Insert Front Grill Embellisher (Gloss Black + Painted) INTERIOR Instrument Panel - Deco Ash Soft Touch Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel Seat Upholstery Metropolitan Beige - Leatherette/Fabric 6 Speakers MyCitroen Connect with 40 Smart Features Wireless Charger Rear Seat Smart Tilt Cushion Boot Lamp SAFETY Rear View Camera Which One is Best to Buy? Out of three variants, the mid-spec Plus Turbo variant is the best to buy. It comes with both naturally aspirated and turbo petrol engines, however, the turbo unit is the most value for money. The turbo petrol mill offers both manual transmission at Rs 11.49 lakh and automatic gearbox with a price tag of Rs 12.79 lakh (ex-showroom). Moreover, the mid-spec trim offers a wide variety of features including TPMS, a 10.2-inch touchscreen, rear AC vents, and more. Also Read: Mahindra Thar Roxx Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

At the 2024 Paris Motor Show, Citroen previewed an all-new C5 Aircoss Concept. It will be based on the Stellantis's STLA Medium platform which is shared by the Next-Gen Jeep Compass which is likely to debut in 2025. The concept of C5 Aircross looks quite sharp with sleek design language. New-Gen Citroen C5 Aircross From the design perspective, the concept avatar of the new C5 Aircross highlights LED headlamps, LED DRLs, floating roofline, 20-inch alloy wheels, and split wrap-around tail lamps. The concept suggests that it is 150 mm longer and 39 mm shorter than the current C5 Aircross as it measures 4,650 mm in length and 1,660 mm in height. It could also have 580 litres of boot space. The brand has not previewed the interior of the next-gen C5 Aircross. However, it is expected to feature similar features seen in Euro-Spec C3 and C4 Aircross including a powered front row, a sunroof, rear AC vents, and 2-rows of seating. Specifications Based on the STLA M platform, the new C5 Aircross will offer a wide range of engine choices including petrol, hybrid, diesel, and electric variants. More details are yet to be revealed. Also Read: Kia Set to Electrify 2025 with Syros and EV2 e-SUVs: Spotted Recently

Citroen’s latest offering, the Basalt Coupe SUV, recently underwent Bharat NCAP’s crash safety tests, scoring 4 stars. While a 4-star score is great, what sets this result apart is the fact that the Basalt became the first car to narrowly miss a 5-star rating in the BNCAP assessments.  The SUV was tested for both adult and child occupant protection, receiving 26.19 points out of 32 for adults and 35.9 out of 49 for child safety. The key tests involved a Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test and a Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test, where the Basalt performed well in side-impact scenarios but provided only marginal protection in the frontal test, particularly for the driver's chest, pelvis, and legs. This is likely where the SUV lost points, preventing it from reaching a 5-star rating. The Basalt does come equipped with an array of safety features that are standard across all variants, including six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), ISOFIX child seat anchors and seatbelt reminders for all passengers. These features contributed to its strong performance in the crash tests, but the 4-star rating highlights that there is still room for improvement. Notably, the Citroen Basalt is built on the Citroen C3-derived Common Moduar Platform (CMP), which received poor scores in Latin NCAP, so the Basalt's 4-star rating in Bharat NCAP shows significant improvement. However, it couldn’t quite achieve the stellar results of other recent test vehicles, such as Tata's lineup, which includes models like the Punch EV and Safari that secured 5-star ratings. Also, read Mitsubishi Teases 7-Seater SUV