Citroen has finally shown off the Basalt in its built-up form. This is the fourth model from the company that is built on the C-Cubed program, which was made just for India. There is definitely no other car which looks that sporty in an SUV-like body style. The car is similar to the concept car which was showcased earlier.
A Good Looker Indeed
The Basalt is a very cool and stylish-looking car. It is currently the only Coupe SUV present in the budget market of India. It looks a lot like the C3 Aircross SUV which it is heavily based on. The only thing that looks a little different is the grille inserts in the front. The SUV, on the other hand, has projector headlights (which will now be available in the C3 Aircross as well) and LED daytime running lights. The shape is definitely a coupe, with the roofline sloping down and stopping at the trunk lid. 17-inch alloy wheels which come with the top-of-the-line Basalt are stylish and set it apart from its sibling. The back has a chunky bumper and LED taillights.
Powertrain Pulling The Citroen Basalt
There will be an option of two Powertrain and Gearbox which will be available at the time of launch.
- 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine
Power: 110hp
Torque: 205Nm(AT),190Nm(MT)
Gearbox options: 6-speed MT / 6-speed torque converter automatic
- 1.2-litre Naturally Aspirated petrol engine
Power: 82hp
Torque: 115Nm
Gearbox: 5-speed MT
Dimensional Aspects of Citroen Basalt With Respect to C3 Aircross
| Dimensions | Basalt | C3 Aircross |
| Length | 4352mm | 4323mm |
| Width | 1765mm | 1796mm |
| Height | 1593mm | 1669mm |
| Wheelbase | 2651mm | 2671mm |
| Ground Clearance | 180mm | 200mm |
The Basalt is longer than the C3 Aircross however, it is smaller in all other aspects. The Basal will not be available as a 7-seater option unlike the C3 Aircross, which means it will have a good amount of boot space and back seat room.
Some New Features to the Citroen Basalt
The Basalt has got some necessary features which were lacking in the older versions of the C3 Aircross.
- Projector Headlights
- Ergonomically better front Centre console with storage
- Climate control AC
- Power window for the rear seats installed on the doors
Some of the other important features in Basalt include:
- 6 airbags
- ESP, Hill hold
- TPMS standard
- 10.25-inch infotainment unit with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
- 7-inch digital instrument cluster
- 15W wireless charging with an anti-slip mat
- Adjustable thigh support for rear seats
The Basalt’s cabin has been taken off the C3 Aircross. A new HVAC panel with digital readouts and automatic climate control are some of the changes that have been made to it. The front seat is bigger, and the headrests are new. Only on the Basalt do you find flexible squabs for your thighs in the back seats.
The new Citroen is expected to be priced above Rs. 10 Lakhs and hence it will be a premium price tag. When it comes out in a few weeks, the Citroen Basalt will be go up against the Tata Curvv. The Basalt will also go up against the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Grand Vitara, and other cars of the same size or bigger.
