New Citroen C-Crosser review

Like Peugeot and their 4007, Citroen will have around 2,000 C-Crosser vehicles available for sale in its first year in the UK.

Citroen say all their vehicles are already allocated to dealers so keen are their sales outlets to have their first ever SUV 4x4 model to compete in a sector that has grown by 55 per cent in the last six years.

The introduction of C-Crosser will further enhance Citroen’s plans to move the brand up-market and improve profitability.

Whilst their C1, C2, C3, C4 and Xsara Picasso ‘value’ models will still be marketed with either ‘cashback’, 0 per cent finance, no deposit or VAT free offers in keeping with their value for money and low CO2 campaigns, the C-Crosser, together with their popular new C4 Picasso MPVs allows Citroen and their dealers to compete for sales in more up-market vehicle segments.

The C-Crosser is a well styled, practical, robust and spacious five plus two seater SUV with 2WD, 4WD and 4WD Lock traction options available at the turn of a dial.

The vehicle is available with two levels of trim and specification, VTR+ at £22,790 and Exclusive at £25,490. So far 80 per cent of orders for the C-Crosser have been for Exclusive models.

Both models feature automatic air conditioning, six airbags, an alarm, cruise control, automatic headlights, anti-lock braking, Electronic Stability Programme, traction control and alloy wheels as standard. Exclusive models have in addition, leather upholstery, heated front seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights and a six CD autochanger.

In addition to those there is the usual array of extra cost options which include a colour satellite navigation system with reversing camera at £1,600, or the same but with a superb upgraded audio system costing £2,150.

Citroen are not forsaking their ‘green’ credentials. The PSA 2.2-litre HDi common rail turbodiesel engine is lean and green with low CO2 emissions and a DPFS diesel particulate filter. The engine will also run on 30 per cent bio-diesel if it eventually becomes widely available.

The engine produces 156bhp with 380Nm (280lb ft) of torque from 1,500rpm so there is plenty of power and low-down ‘grunt’ to move the C-Crosser along very swiftly on the open road or with very little effort in heavy urban traffic or indeed in off-road mud and on-road snow.

Having the easily selectable two or four wheel drive traction available makes driving child’s play. Top speed is 124mph and 0-62mpg is covered in just 9.9 seconds.

The official average fuel economy is 38.7mpg and my test car returned almost that at 37.4mpg during a week of motoring largely in heavy traffic on motorways. For the record the CO2 emissions are 194g/km which means the annual road tax is £205.

Insurance will not cost a fortune either as the C-Crosser has been given a group 13E rating. If you want a SUV as a towing vehicle the C-Crosser has a maximum braked towing capacity of 2,000kg.

The vehicle is covered by a three year, 60,000 mile warranty which is not as long as the Mitsubishi Outlander’s three years unlimited mileage cover.

The C-Crosser proved to be a very relaxing, comfortable and accomplished vehicle to drive. More importantly it was easy to drive with excellent roadholding and only the minimum amount of body roll for a higher than average vehicle.

The road grip is excellent and the ability to select four-wheel drive on the move in really heavy rain was a real bonus. It sharpened up the steering and the vehicle felt very secure in really bad weather.

The C-Crosser may come from Mitsubishi and be virtually identical in all but styling to the Peugeot 4007, but from the front end the vehicle is pure Citroen, it cannot be mistaken for any other brand. In my view it is the best of the three for styling.

It is not as aggressive as the huge front grille of the Peugeot 4007 and has more character than the round and bulbous look for the Outlander.

At the rear there is a large tailgate with a split lower section which gives easy access to the load area. This load section can offer as little as 184-litres of space with the third row of occasional seats in position. This increases to 510-litres with the rear row folded and then up to a very useful 1,686 litres with only the two front seats in use.

I feel the occasional rear seats, and the legroom available, is so limited they can only be used by two small children for a short period of time. In reality treat the C-Crosser and the 4007/Outlander as a five-seater.

Ease of use and adaptability are the two main reasons people buy these mid range SUVs or MPVs. The C-Crosser has those two requirements. The build quality, being a Mitsubishi under the skin, is first class and the interior styling is good, although the surfaces look a bit plasticky in places.

Overall the C-Crosser is a good all-round SUV and there is nothing to choose between it and the Peugeot 4007. They are both currently better than the Mitsubishi Outlander until the Japanese make gets the same PSA engine next month.

Like the rest of the family the C-Crosser will sell against the popular and best selling Honda CR-V and Land Rover Freelander. I view the C-Crosser/Peugeot 4007 as being better suited to the real-life needs of more people.

The Freelander will be the vehicle of choice for customers looking for a thoroughbred 4x4 or perhaps the Nissan X-Trail will fit that requirement as well. But for most people wanting a reasonably priced, easy to drive, versatile SUV, the C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 will fit the bill comfortably.

MILESTONES

Citroen C-Crosser Exclusive 2.2 HDi

Price: £25,490 (£27,640 as tested)

Engine/transmission: 2.2-litre, four-cylinder, common rail direct injection diesel with turbocharger and diesel particulate filter, 156hp, 380Nm from 1,500rpm, six-speed manual gearbox with traction control, 2WD, 4WD and 4WD Lock settings

Performance: 124mph, 0-62mph 9.9 seconds, 38.7mpg (37.4mpg actual), CO2 194g/km, VED Group F £205

Benefit in Kind tax: 28 per cent

Towing capacity: 2,000kg

Insurance group: 13E

For: Non aggressive styling, sharp handling, powerful and flexible engine, easy to use 4x4 system, practical interior layout, good quality, competitive pricing

Against: Some trim items lack the quality of a Freelander, very small rear row seating

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