Citroen C3-XR SUV launched in China

Reading Time: 3 minutes

News like this to your inbox or phone?

Weekly summary to your inbox

Never miss and important news

Get Instant notification once the news is published.

- Advertisement -

The new Citroen C3-XR SUV has been launched in China, seen here at a Citroen dealer with a single mountain bike on the roof, trying hard to be suburban-cool, but also proving that the roof rack is actually useful, which is a laudable thing. Hello Qoros! Price for the C3-XR starts at 108.800 yuan and ends at 171.800 yuan ($17.500 – 27.700). The C3-XR is a new China-only compact SUV. It debuted as the C-XR concept on the 2014 Beijing Auto Show in April and the production version debuted in May in Paris.

- Advertisement -

Should have another bike, got enough space, and mountain biking ain’t no fun alone. Wheels are tiny but alloys are cool, and I really like how the roof rack morphs into the C-pillar.

- Advertisement -

The Citroen C3-XR is manufactured in China by the Dongfeng-PSA joint venture. There are two four-cylinder petrol engines available: a 1.6 with 115hp and 150nm, and a 1.6 turbo with 163hp and 245nm. The 1.6 will be mated to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, the 1.6 turbo will be mated to a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Power goes to the front wheels only. Size: 4257/1748/1542mm, wheelbase is 2655mm. The C3-XR is based on a stretched variant of the platform that underpins the Peugeot 2008.

citroen-c3xr-launch-2a

Trendy dash with a flat bottomed steering wheel, a gear lever with a giant knob, some subtle chrome detailing, and a reasonable sized LCD touch screen. The only dissonant are the controls for the aircon which don’t really match with the rest of the design, but that was probably intentional. Red-on-black color scheme very kinky, especially these floor mats, fitted with a thick red rim.

citroen-c3xr-launch-2b

More kinkiness in the back where the red-black theme continues. Seats are flat to the max. The inside door handle is impossibly small. Only for kids…

citroen-c3xr-launch-3

The Citroen C3-XR enters the compact SUV segment just at a time when it is booming like there is no tomorrow, with automakers of all kinds scrambling to throw new cars on the market. The C3-XR has a fair chance. It looks trendy, comes with powerful and trendy engines, and the price seems perfectly right. But! There is one thing going against this new Citroen, hard against..:

citroen-c3xr-launch-6

And that is the bumper-exhaust pipe ensemble. On the right a twin-exhaust pipe in a specially spared area. On the left just such an area again, but without any pipes. That is disturbing and ugly. Why cut a bumper for nothing? What else did they cut what we don’t see?

citroen-c3xr-launch-7

Nothing there. The horror! And that plastic looks pretty cheap.

citroen-c3xr-launch-8

At least they managed to keep the muffler in check. Hello Ford!

citroen-c3xr-launch-9

Just plain weird. Let’s hope they change it at the first possible opportunity, like tomorrow.

citroen-c3xr-launch-9a

Fortunately it loox very pretty at the front with a fat-chromed grille, nicely sized lights, and a low-slung spoiler.

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

3 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

- Advertisement -