Citroen C-Crosser Range : VIVE LE 4x4

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CitroÃ«n makes a tentative and rather overdue entry into the compact 4x4 market with the C-Crosser. Andy Enright reports

For all their history of developing cars that can drive across ploughed fields while wearing a hat, the French haven't actually achieved too much when it comes to building 4x4s. Those with long memories will remember the CitroÃ«n Mehari while in more recent years there have been cars like the Renault Scenic RX4 and Kangoo Trekka. When it comes to capitalising on the phenomenal growth of lifestyle 4x4s, however, it's fair to say that the French have comprehensively missed the bateau.

Things are changing though. CitroÃ«n and partners Peugeot have teamed up with Mitsubishi to share the costs of a joint venture that has resulted in a product platform that has spawned Mitsubishi's Outlander, Peugeot's 4007 and the vehicle we look at here, the CitroÃ«n C-Crosser. Although building a 4x4 with no real heritage to fall back on might represent something of a gamble for CitroÃ«n, the way that the company has dipped its toe into the water is really very smart. Naturally we'll have to wait and see how the public takes to this vehicle but if CitroÃ«n can count on one thing, it's a very strong dealer network that consistently comes up with clever ways to incentivise sales. The C-Crosser is being offered in three trim levels - VTR, VTR+ and Exclusive - with a long list of standard features including six airbags, an alarm, automatic headlamps, sliding and reclining second row seats, ABS, ESP, cruise control and automatic air conditioning. Recommended retail prices start from around the £20,000 mark. Two engines are available with the C-Crosser, the 2.2-litre diesel that's good for 156bhp, or the more powerful 2.4i petrol powerplant that produces 170bhp and comes as standard with a CVT gearbox. The combustion chamber on the diesel engine has been redesigned with a reduced compression ratio and a larger diameter, as Peugeot realised that fuel in contact with the walls of the cylinder was difficult to burn efficiently. Increase the volume and the efficiency increases, helped by a redesigned piston crown. A third generation Bosch common rail system uses piezo electronic injectors to raise injection pressure to 1,800bar. Compare that to 1,350 bar for the first generation common rail units and you'll see the precision at work here. This fuel is squirted through apertures that measure just 135 microns. Dad with his wire brush won't even be able to see them. The average human hair is 90 microns in diameter.

"A well-styled, decently built modern compact 4x4 that's offered at competitive priceâ€¦."

Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the engine will satisfy most customers and is shared with the Peugeot 4007. To ensure an optimum blend of comfort, road holding and off-road capability, drivers have a choice of three transmission settings that can be changed depending on road conditions and driving style. Drivers can switch between two-wheel drive, electronically controlled four-wheel drive and a lock setting for low-grip conditions, all of which can be selected using a control mounted on the central console. Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder but this beholder can't help but think that CitroÃ«n has done a much better job than sister company Peugeot in draping their version of this car in the respective corporate clothes. Where the 4007 looks rather ungainly around the front end, the C-Crosser works very well, the low-profile CitroÃ«n grille looking a lot more at home than the Cayenne-like maw of the 4007. There's only so much that CitroÃ«n could do with a piece of engineering with firmly established `hard points' and the rear three quarter view looks decidedly Japanese, the tapered C-pillars and bold wheelarches betraying the car's Oriental origins. Likewise, the interior has a distinctly Eastern feel to it as well. There's none of the trademark CitroÃ«n lateral thinking, the fascia being rather conventional. Two cowled dials house the major instruments and the centre console is sparse and rather plasticky it has to be said. Despite this, there isn't too much you can finger as being wrong with the ergonomics. The ventilation controls are easy to fathom and the multifunction controls on the steering wheel are a nice touch. CitroÃ«n's penchant for functionality and innovation is clearly visible in the C-Crosser, with its flexible 5+2 seating configuration. For ease of use when exiting the third row seats, or when reconfiguring the boot lay-out, the second row seats can be electronically folded forwards using the buttons located internally next to the rear wheel arches. The two occasional use seats in the rear can be simply folded away under the floor, while the second row of seating also slides and reclines for greater comfort. The C-Crosser also offers plenty of stowage space throughout, with over 20 individual storage compartments. All five rear seats can be folded away easily to provide a flat floor and vast load space of up to 1,686 litres, while the boot capacity is up to 510 litres when the second row of seats are in use. To help loading items into the huge boot space, there's a split two-piece tailgate. Folded down, the lower section drops the sill by 64mm allowing heavy goods to be easily loaded, while doubling as a handy bench, capable of supporting up to 200kg. Whether or not you take to the CitroÃ«n C-Crosser will depend largely on how committed you are to the CitroÃ«n marque. The thing is with this car that brand loyalty may well be inversely significant. Dyed in the wool CitroÃ«nophiles may well see this car as a sell-out, something that despite its undoubted inherent qualities rather sullies the tradition of the company. Not having any particular interest in that debate, I rather like the idea of the C-Crosser. Pragmatists will take it for what it is - a well-styled, decently built modern compact 4x4 that's offered at competitive price. As with many such things, thinking too much can prove detrimental. The C-Crosser represents a toe in the water by CitroÃ«n and it makes a lot of sense to adopt this approach. It's not going to revolutionise the 4x4 market in the UK but it should do enough to prompt CitroÃ«n to a bolder move next time.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: CitroÃ«n C-Crosser range
PRICES: £20,295-£25,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 191-225g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.2 HDi] Max Speed 124mph / 0-60mph 9.5s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.4] (combined) 30.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4645/1805/1670