Citroen C3 Aircross arrives as Citroen turn the C3 Picasso in to an Urban SUV

The Citroen C3 Aircross arrives as Citroen join the trend for turning MPVs in to SUVs to capture the market, replacing the C3 Picasso with a funky SUV.

Citroen has been getting its funk back of late with cars like the C4 Cactus and new Citroen C3, and now it’s combined some of that funk with the old C3 Picasso to create this – the new Citroen C3 Picasso.

Effectively the Urban SUV sibling to the new C3, Citroen is clearly going after the market still dominated by the Nissan Juke with a new compact urban SUV which, despite not being much bigger than the Juke, conspires to offer a chunk more practicality and accommodation.

Following the lead of Peugeot, which turned the 3008 in to a desirable SUV, the C3 Aircross was previewed earlier this year by the C-Aircross, and it looks to have survived pretty much intact, although Citroen’s Airbumps have gone. Which is a bit odd.

Keen to get to a younger market, the new C3 Picasso looks set to have an enormous range of customisation options including lots of interior colour schemes. Unfortunately, that come mean some truly hideous combinations if the buyers go a bit daft.

Still, the starting point is pretty good, and the spec looks to be too with a decent-sized central infotainment screen in a much more appealing interior which includes sliding backs seats and a fold flat front passenger seat.

Engine options are fairly predictable including the PureTech 82 petrol and more powerful PureTech 110 as well as BlueHDi 100 and a BlueHDi 120 diesels.

There are no prices for the new C3 Aircross, but they will be competitive and we’re bound to find out well before the new C3 Aircross arrives at Citroen’s UK dealers before the end of the year.