Read Caroline’s Citroen C3 Aircross Hybrid review for everything you need to know about buying Citroen’s new compact SUV in Ireland.
The Citroen C3 Aircross first arrived in Ireland in 2018. It was Citroen’s answer to the burgeoning small SUV trend and became very popular with its fun, chunky design.
Now Citroen has completely reinvented the C3 Aircross for its second generation, which is on sale in Ireland now.
Built on a new platform, it brings lots of colour and SUV style, along with the choice of new power options including full electric and hybrid, as well as a 1.2-litre petrol manual.
What’s even more interesting, is that it’s now available with five or seven seats. In this review I test the C3 Aircross Hybrid seven-seater to see how it fares as a budget-friendly option for families seeking extra seats.
The 2026 Citroen C3 Aircross2026 Citroen C3 Aircross Design
The C3 Aircross is based on the C3 supermini but larger. It’s a joyful-looking SUV with colour and charm in abundance, friendly face bearing the new Citroen logo and three-point lighting signature. The upright bonnet gives it plenty of presence and character, while cladding and roof rails boost its SUV appeal.
It shares a platform with the Opel Frontera and there are similarities between the two, however different colour and wheel options, as well as unique front and rear styling help them to stand apart from one another.
The C3 Aircross is offered in Plus and Max trim lines. LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels are included as standard, as are roof rails and grey skid plates.
Inside the new Citroen C3 Aircross2026 Citroen C3 Aircross Interior
The friendly vibes continue inside with a classic lounge-style design that sees the Citroen clothed in plenty of soft furnishings. These help to disguise the hard plastics that are used to keep costs down. It’s not the last word in luxury, but it’s bright, pleasant and comfortable. The seats are a highlight, being Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort Seats’ with thicker padding and cushy upholsteries.
The dashboard layout itself is simple with a basic driver’s display in front of you and a touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Andoid Auto.
Standard features include reversing camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control and automatic air conditioning. Max versions add a heated windscreen, heated front seats, blind spot monitor, wireless smartphone charger, heated steering wheel and cloth/synthetic leather upholstery.
The C3 Aircross is available in electric (5-seat) or petrol and hybrid (5/7-seat)Practicality
Like the Frontera, the focus is on offering buyers plenty of boot and passenger space at sub-€30,000 prices – rare enough these days. The rear doors open wide to make access in and out much easier for passengers or fixing child seats. While the car is not especially wide so fitting three might be an issue, the legroom for those on the outer seats is very generous, as is headroom. Isofix points are also included on the the outer seats in the second row.
The boot offers 460 litres of space in five-seat versions, which is excellent for the class and makes this car a great option for families.
However, this is reduced to 330 litres with the third row seats folded in the 7-seater, which is not as impressive. When the two extra seats are in use, there’s virtually no space left at all. The two extra seats are only really suitable for small children and a Dacia Jogger does feel roomier overall.
The Citroen does have a clever access system, with the second row of seats tumbling forward to make it easier to get in the back.
The extra two seats in the Citroen C3 Aircross 7-seaterDriving the Citroen C3 Aircross Hybrid
The Citroen C3 Aircross Hybrid is pleasant to drive with light steering and a soft ride quality that makes it great for driving, whether that’s town, motorway or rural. However, it does get noisier out on the motorway and can be susceptible to cross winds. That doesn’t feel like its natural environment and upgrading to a C4 or C5 Aircross would be better for frequent high-speed driving.
The hybrid gives good efficiency values and motor tax is €200 per year. It’s automatic so it’s really easy to drive. It has a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 145hp that can run up to 50% of the time in electric mode at low speeds in town for instance. However, it can be a bit noisy at low speeds.
The fuel economy is decent though. Over a week of driving my average was 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres, but consumption increases at motorway speeds.
2026 Citroen C3 Aircross Pricing
The Citroen C3 Aircross starts from €27,790 for an entry level 1.2-litre petrol with 100hp and a manual gearbox in the Plus trim or €28,990 for the seven-seater version.
Step up to the hybrid tested here from €29,390 with 145hp, or from €30,590 for the seven-seater.
Max versions are available from €31,990.
The E-C3 Aircross comes with a 54kWh battery with up to 400 kilometre range. It starts from €28,452. Electric versions are five-seat only.
The new C3 Aircross is a practical and comfortable small SUV with a lot of characterVerdict
The new Citroen C3 Aircross feels like a refreshingly honest offering in a market where prices have crept steadily upwards. By focusing on space, comfort and affordability, Citroen has created a small SUV that genuinely caters to the needs of growing families, especially those who want the flexibility of seven seats without stretching the budget too much.
It’s not without compromises. The third row is best reserved for children, and boot space disappears when all seats are in use.
Ultimately, the C3 Aircross Hybrid seven-seater is a budget-friendly, versatile family car. If you can live with its limitations, it offers a lot of car and a lot of seats for the money.
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year