The Citroën C3 Aircross I Phase 2 (Facelifted), launched mid-2021, marks the maturity of the small SUV with the chevrons. It abandons its jovial and rounded appearance for a more structured, aggressive, and stately front end. Still based on the old PF1 platform (and not the CMP of its cousins Peugeot 2008 II or Opel Mokka), it compensates with remarkable spaciousness, rare modularity in its category (sliding rear bench seat), and the integration of Advanced Comfort seats. The touchscreen increases to 9 inches on high trim levels. While its family performance is excellent, its end-of-life career is overshadowed by the notorious reputation of its internal combustion engines (PureTech and BlueHDi), requiring absolute vigilance when buying used.
The facelifted Citroën C3 Aircross is an excellent choice for families looking for an ultra-comfortable, practical, and modular small SUV. However, its record is heavily burdened by the chronic fragility of its engines. Buying a 1.2 PureTech or 1.5 BlueHDi version from before 2023 is a risky gamble. If you fall for this model, demand an impeccable service history, prioritize a late-production model (2023-2024) benefiting from the latest factory fixes (10mm chain on BlueHDi, latest generation belt on PureTech), and firmly negotiate the price to anticipate potential costs.