Citroen Aircross X

The 2025 update’s cabin feels more complete than the previous version, with several features being added to boost passenger convenience.

Cabin Layout and Quality

The dashboard uses better soft-touch materials now. The 10.25-inch sharp touchscreen takes centre stage and looks great. However, the hard plastic panels and basic cabin lights are still there, constantly reminding you why the car’s price tag is so inviting. The AC vents also feel a bit flimsy when you adjust them, and a sunroof is notably missing from the equipment list. Even though Citroen was generous with a 360-degree camera, the image quality from this one is average.

Seating Comfort

Front Row

The driver and co-driver get three levels of seat ventilation. These seats are wide and comfortable, and since they have a high position, visibility out the front window is clear and excellent.

Second Row

Passengers get roof-mounted AC vents in the second row to cool down quickly, while independent blower controls help keep the cabin comfortable. There are also two Type-C ports within this section.

Third Row

The third row is honestly not spacious enough for adults; it’s a place mostly for children, and that too for short trips. Cheap materials are also used on the inner walls here. But thankfully, you can remove these seats to increase the boot space if needed.

Features That Improve Daily Use

• A high-quality touchscreen that responds to your inputs quickly
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
• Three levels of seat ventilation for the front passengers
• Roof-mounted rear AC vents that come with separate controls
• The CARA voice assistant helps with basic commands

Pricing is the main draw for this particular SUV, with buyers effectively getting a Creta-sized SUV for subcompact money. It starts at Rs. 8.29 lakh and goes up to Rs. 13.69 lakh, and this aggressive cost strategy undercuts most of its rivals in the current Indian market.

Ex-Showroom Prices (India)

Note: There are approximately four to five more variants for the ‘Max’ variant. All of them are mechanically the same; they are segregated mostly by paint schemes.

Fuel efficiency is not the strongest point of the 1.2-litre turbo engine. Running costs will keep going up if you cover a lot of kilometres every month. The base trim gets the naturally aspirated engine, but this one feels underpowered instead.

Citroen could have really made the experience better by giving the audience a diesel option, one that would cover long highway stretches without buyers having to worry about fuel efficiency. Regardless, in the present setup, you will have to drive with a very light foot to get double digits.

Observed Fuel Efficiency During Testing

The car recently pulled off a five-star safety rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests, and for the most part, it covers the core fundamentals of a good safety package.

Passive Safety and Crash Protection

The robust platform has a strong shell on offer. There are six airbags fitted to all the variants, while ISOFIX child seat mounts are at the back for keeping kids safe. Meanwhile, even though the doors don’t make the visual cut, they shut with a reassuring sound, hinting that Citroen has used higher build quality materials for them.

Active Safety and Stability Systems

The Electronic Stability Program feature keeps the car composed, while hill-hold assistance prevents the SUV from rolling back on challenging slopes. There is also a tyre pressure monitoring system, a handy addition to keep a constant watch on the rubber. The 360-degree camera is not quite clear enough with its image quality, and the car also misses out on a proper ADAS suite.

Safety Verdict

The Aircross X focuses more on the passive safety side rather than putting more effort into electronic aids. Without a doubt, its five-star rating is its biggest asset.

The latest update has made the car more driver-friendly. Previously, the cabin felt a bit barebones, but the brand has listened actively to the loudest complaints and made all the necessary changes. But despite the rework, the layout is still clean like before, with physical buttons for key climate control functions, which is always a welcome sight.

Seshan mentions,

“The company nails the space, comfort, and ride quality while backing it up with the features that were missing earlier.”

Infotainment and Interface

• The centrepiece ahead is a crisp 10.25-inch touchscreen that does not lag at all.
• It keeps support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on standby.
• The newly added CARA AI voice assistant understands multiple Indian accents (52, presumably).
• The driver gets a seven-inch digital instrument cluster that shows speed and trip details clearly.
• But it’s not as customisable as the ones we see from its rivals.

Cabin Convenience and Practical Features

• Front seats now get three levels of ventilation, a decision that is nothing less than a lifesaver for Indian summers.
• Roof-mounted rear AC vents come with independent blower controls that keep the cabin at optimal temperatures.
• Citroen has also fitted the car with cruise control, which makes highway drives less taxing.
• There are two additional Type-C charging ports in the rear to keep devices powered on.

In its standard five-seater layout, the Citroen Aircross X gives you 444 litres of cargo capacity, a space that easily invites two large suitcases alongside a couple of soft bags. The loading lip is relatively low, so sliding heavy boxes inside requires minimal effort, making you worry less during weekend family trips.

If you want to check out the seven-seater version instead, expect the boot space to be much larger, since the third-row seats are completely removable. Plucking them out takes the total volume to a massive 511 litres. But despite such convenience, if all three rows are up, luggage space practically vanishes, leaving room for just a couple of laptop bags.

Citroen’s reputation for brilliant suspension tuning is fully intact here. The Aircross X simply glides over broken tarmac. It uses a MacPherson strut setup at the front and a twist-beam at the rear, but the calibration is what makes the magic happen.

Seshan observes,

“The Aircross X is tuned for comfort, soaking up bumps and undulations with minimal harshness felt inside the cabin.”

City Driving

The steering is light at parking speeds, making U-turns completely stress-free. Combined with the 200 mm ground clearance, you can confidently take on those odd massive speed breakers without scraping the underbelly, so expect the car to be a decent performer inside the city.

Highway Driving

Out on the open road, the Aircross X maintains excellent straight-line stability. The steering weighs up nicely, meaning you don’t often have to stay busy correcting its course. However, push it past 120 kmph, and the three-cylinder engine note becomes fairly loud inside the cabin. And wind noise also creeps in around the A-pillars when the car is zooming at high speeds.

The 2026 Aircross X line-up has three main trims, with the ‘Max’ variant giving different colour options in retail. Engine-wise, you can either go for the naturally aspirated engine on the base model or the punchy turbo-petrol on the higher variants.

The Essentials That You Don’t Get

• No factory-fitted CNG or diesel engine option
• Poor resolution of the 360-degree camera
• Old-school flap-style door handles
• No panoramic or single-pane sunroof

As Seshan specifies,

“To achieve that aggressive pricing, Citroen had to cut some corners, and they are quite apparent.”

Depending on whether you’re travelling interstate or doing your weekend grocery runs, it’s mostly down between the engines, and which one will suit your driving goals the best.

Best for the City Commuter: X Plus AT

If you have to face heavy traffic every single day, the Aircross X Plus AT in a five-seat configuration makes sense. The six-speed automatic takes the pain out of driving, and this mid-spec trim gets all the necessary tech you could want, without blowing the budget.

Best for Large Families: X Max

For buyers who frequently travel with kids or extra relatives, the Aircross X Max 7-Seater AT is the logical variant. You get the flexibility of the removable third row, and there is also the comfort of ventilated front seats and dedicated roof-mounted air conditioning for those inside the car’s back.

Best for Budget Buyers: X Plus MT

The Aircross X Plus MT balances performance and price well. You get the strong 1.2-litre turbo engine and manual gearbox, which feels eager on the highway, all while keeping the on-road price attractive. Note that we have asked you to skip the base 'You' trim from our side because of its weaker naturally aspirated engine.