CITROEN C3, C3 Aircross

The CITROEN C3, C3 Aircross pair sits in the small-car and small-SUV space, so it is aimed at people who want easy parking, light running costs, and a cabin that is a little more forgiving than a bare-bones city hatch. By our assessment, its real strength is comfort and simple, unfussy use rather than hot-hatch sharpness. The trade-off is plain enough: the taller Aircross shape and the C3’s soft tuning give up some handling polish and road feel. In practice these are relaxed cars, not demanding ones, with a high driving position in the Aircross and a more compact feel in the C3. Against rivals, they lean toward comfort and style more than precision. The name itself is also broad enough to cover two closely related models, which can make the range feel a little muddled.