What they said when the Citroen C-Crosser was new... (2007)
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NO manufacturer can afford to be without a sports utility vehicle these days and Citroen has enlisted its first soft-roader in the C-Crosser.
I choose my words carefully, because (1) the car is basically bought-in not created, being at heart the Outlander which Mitsubishi builds in Japan, and (2) it is a 4x4 but not a proper off-roader.
There's more to it than that, of course. Citroen has dressed the car up in house style (lashings of chrome), played with the suspension to give it a more European feel and, most importantly, installed one of the Peugeot/Citroen PSA group's excellent diesel engines. The outcome is a car that takes the best of both worlds and consequently becomes one of the most driveable 4x4s around, as well as being one of the most practical.
The C-Crosser is a generously-sized 5+2, with fine flexibility. A pair of child-size seats can be popped out of the boot floor to form a third row if required, while the second-row seats slide, fold and stack. With seven seats in use, luggage capacity is virtually wiped out, but in every other configuration there's super space for both people and things.
That's a good start for the car's comfort offerings and there's plenty more. The C-Crosser provides a supple and bump-absorbent ride, courtesy of the suspension rejigging, yet there is still satisfying body control. With moderate ground clearance and a sloping roof, the centre of gravity is low enough to bring some agility to the handling, with just a little lean through bends in evidence. I would have liked more feel through the steering but, all-in-all, this is a car-like performance in road manners, aided by stability and traction control programmes.
Some security of drive is down to you. A dial gives the choice of two-wheel or four-wheel drive, with lock-up mode for really difficult road conditions. The AWD does mean you can take on a grass track with confidence but keep off rugged territory.
The accomplishment of the ride is teamed with a most rewarding performance from the engine. The 156bhp turbocharged common rail diesel, mated with a six-speed manual gearbox, produces a hefty 280lb ft of pull, available at a very low 1,500 revs, so effortless acceleration is on tap at all times. Despite this verve, the C-Crosser gives you more than 47mpg on the open road, healthy economics but dented by the fact that CO2 emissions are higher than you would like.
There's no disguising that the engine is a diesel, but the rumble is distant enough and the noise-suppression generally is very good. Through-car chat is easy enough without voices having to be raised, even at speed.
In fact, the cabin is a pretty good place to be, especially in this Exclusive trim. Plastics may be ordinary but abundant metallic highlights brighten things up and the leather upholstered seats, heated at the front and with electric multi-adjustment, head some up-market fittings. Among these are climate control, leather grips, cruise control, front and rear electric windows, automatic lights, Xenon headlights with washers, front foglights, rear parking sensors, 18in alloys and a six-speaker sound system incorporating a six-CD autochanger and MP3 player, with remote controls on the steering wheel. It's a disappointment, though, that the steering wheel adjusts only for height and not for reach.
Drinks holders abound, as do stowage areas (including an air-conditioned glove box) and I must give a word of praise to the two-part-opening rear hatch, in which the lower section drops down level with the floor to facilitate easy loading (it can also double as a picnic table).
Delve into the options and you can have items such as satnav and a reversing camera.
It all adds up to an attractive package and one of the most appealing SUVs around.
FAST FACTS
Citroen C-Crosser 2.2 HDi Exclusive
Price: £25,490
Mechanical: 156bhp, 2,179cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving all four wheels via a 6spd manual gearbox
Top speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 9.9 seconds
Combined mpg: 39
Insurance group: 13
CO2 emissions: 191g/km
BiK rating: 28%
Warranty: 3 yrs/60,000 miles; 3yrs paint, 12 yrs anti-rust
Words: John Scantlbury
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