Citroën C3 Aircross offers utilitarian new face
After a mid-life overhaul, the Citroën C3 Aircross offers a new face for everyday automotive functionalism

The chunky Citroën C3 Aircross has been given a mid-life overhaul to keep it current and competitive in the increasingly crowded ‘B-SUV’ segment. This is the realm of compact crossover-type vehicles, a typology that has become the most commonplace car on European roads in recent years. Inspired by the high driving position of SUVs and their solid, go-anywhere image, the B-SUV is the modern baseline of what an ordinary, everyday car should look like.
The C3 Aircross offers up plenty of pseudo-utilitarian design cues
Regardless of whether or not you think this is a good thing, the C3 Aircross does its job admirably. Larger than the conventional hatchback form of the basic C3, the Aircross has a few nice design touches, inside and out. These hark back to the proto-industrial forms of early Citroën classics like the H Van and the 2CV, especially in the slightly devil-may-care approach to conventional beauty.
However, the strict functionality and economy of those classics doesn’t really apply here, because the C3 Aircross’ visual utility is purely cosmetic. For example, the multi-layered front grille is in no way elegant, but it does impart a certain no-nonsense spirit. In short, this car doesn’t try too hard to be lovable, in the manner of a Fiat 500 or a MINI. There’s plenty of scope for personalisation, some very comfortable seats and a well-equipped dashboard, and the car is spacious and safe, with the added bonus of that jacked-up SUV ride height.
The interior is light, well equipped and comfortable
We’re living through the protracted death throes of the internal combustion engine. Right now, small capacity engines are a more economical and efficient way of propelling this kind of car, so it’s unsurprising to find that there are no hybrid options.
There’s even a couple of diesel options available, both using Citroën’s extremely economic BlueHDi engine. Given all this, we’d consider the C3 Aircross to be a fine example of a soon-to-be-extinct genre, an evolutionary dead end that will be obliterated by the EV asteroid.
It’s unlikely that C3 Aircrosses will still be scuttling about our roads in a couple of decades’ time, unlike the hardy survivor that is the original 2CV. The company’s future lies with the newly electrified C4 range and bold experiments like the Ami city car.
Although the C3 Aircross might not make a cultural splash, it shows that the simple, straightforward, and rather traditional automobile is still in demand for now.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
INFORMATION
Citroën C3 Aircross, from £18,180
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Oscar Niemeyer: a guide to the Brazilian modernist, from big hits to lesser-known gems
Architecture master Oscar Niemeyer defined 20th-century architecture and is synonymous with Brazilian modernism; our ultimate guide explores his work, from lesser-known schemes to his big hits; and we revisit a check-in with the man himself
-
French skincare brand PERS doesn’t believe in overcomplicated routines
French skincare brand PERS – an acronym for ‘protect, enhance, repair, and stimulate’ – has recently arrived in the UK. The mastermind behind it, Dr Anthony Calmon, tells Wallpaper* about his protocol
-
Wallpaper* checks in at The Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter: ‘a lush restaurant with rooms’
In Sydney’s Paddington, pioneering chef Josh Niland opens the 14-bedroom luxury hotel alongside his pioneering restaurant
-
SM Tribute by DS Automobiles marks ten years of the brand and signals bold things to come
This spectacular concept car pays homage to one of the most iconic Citroën designs of all time, the 1970 SM by Robert Opron
-
Carrosserie Caselani’s Fourgonnette is a retro van for bold businesses
This updated Fourgonnette, inspired by the legendary Citroën 2CV, cloaks a conventional Citroën commercial vehicle in a stylish retro skin
-
Coming soon: a curated collection of all the new EVs and hybrids that matter
We've rounded up new and updated offerings from Audi, Porsche, Ineos, Mini and more to keep tabs on the shifting sands of the mainstream car market
-
Microcar madness: three new ultra-compact electric city cars
These two-seater electric microcars are the ultimate errand machines, designed for short hops and small spaces, all with a minimal footprint
-
24 transportation design innovations for 2024
From electric cars to new airports and sports boats, here’s a non-exhaustive list of 24 of the most interesting transportation design innovations to expect in the coming year
-
Four new compact camper vans showcase the best in modest mobile home design
Volkswagen, Citroën, Ford and Mercedes-Benz showcase their latest takes on contemporary van living
-
The DS 4 exemplifies mass-market luxury, cramming features and frivolity into an excellent all-rounder
DS Automobiles finds its form with the DS 4, a mid-range hybrid with a smart mix of driving refinement and design eccentricity
-
All hail the small scale: Wallpaper* takes a trip inside Citroën’s diminutive new Ami
The Citroën Ami is small but perfectly formed, albeit a little rough around the edges. For short city hops, it’s hard to beat