2024 Hyundai Creta vs Citroen C3 Aircross

The Hyundai Creta is the best-selling mid-size SUV and it stakes a big claim for being your next family car with its all-around abilities. In the same segment, while the C3 Aircross is a relative newcomer, it has some serious deal-making credentials with its ability to seat seven and being far more affordable than all its rivals including the Hyundai Creta. Picking between these two can become a bit confusing as each of them play to their own strengths. So, with its affordable price tag and more seating capacity, can the C3 Aircross be your next ideal family car? Or, will the Creta prove to be the more ideal option? 

2024 Hyundai Creta vs Citroen C3 Aircross: Dimensions

In comparison to most cars it goes up against, the Hyundai Creta wins the dimensions battle more often than not. However, the Citroen C3 Aircross is actually the bigger car in this comparison. It is longer, wider, taller, and has a longer wheelbase as well, all of which points towards a more spacious cabin than that of the Creta. In the real world too, the C3 Aircross’ cabin exudes a sense of space with its practical layout. 

When it comes to boot space, things get a little complicated. The Creta’s boot is large enough to take in two large suitcases and an overnight bag on top of that. However, the C3 Aircross boasts of a bigger boot in its five seater avatar. In the case of the seven seater, there’s only space for a couple of small bags when all seats are up, but if you remove the third row, it opens up to a spacious 511 litres of boot space. Not just that, the C3 Aircross also gets the option of putting down the second row, which further expands the overall boot size to 839 litres.

Ultimately, the Hyundai Creta falls a little short in this department. It will cater to a family of four with ease, but take on any more passengers, and its size starts to cut into the comfort of the passengers. The C3 Aircross is more flexible in this regard. It’s more spacious than the Creta on its own, but with the added ability of opening up the boot space makes it a better option for larger families. It also has the distinct ability to act as a five seater, or a seven seater which makes it a more practical option as well.

2024 Hyundai Creta vs Citroen C3 Aircross: Engine & Transmission

Under the bonnet, it is as clear as day that the Hyundai Creta is the better option. It offers you the choice among a smooth and refined petrol engine, a frugal and punchy diesel engine, and a fairly quick turbo-petrol engine, all of which, apart from the turbo-petrol, can be specced with either a manual or an automatic transmission. As for the Citroen C3 Aircross, your only choice is a 1.2 litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, and it can be paired with a manual or an automatic. The Creta’s least powerful engine is more powerful than the only option you get with the Citroen SUV.

However, when it comes to the real world driving experience, the C3 Aircross holds its own well. The three-cylinder engine has loads of torque near the bottom-end and in mid-range, which makes it quick in the city, and and even on highways, it’s good for quick overtakes. The automatic transmission is smooth in its shifts as well, making it a comfortable affair.

The Hyundai Creta will be the right pick for most people as it is offering the perfect blend of performance, efficiency and comfort. However, if you do find yourself in the driver’s seat of the C3 Aircross, it’s a fun place to be. 

2024 Hyundai Creta vs Citroen C3 Aircross: Features & Comfort

On the interior front, the Hyundai Creta and Citroen C3 Aircross are poles apart. The Hyundai Creta, with its high quality materials, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, and aesthetically laid out dashboard, feels highly premium and is the segment’s benchmark in this regard. On the other hand, the Citroen C3 Aircross just about pulls it together when it comes to the interior. There are a few quirky bits such as  the youthful design of the dashboard and AC vents. The touchscreen is of a good quality. However, there are acres of hard plastics inside the cabin, and the ambience is also quite utilitarian. The Hyundai Creta is a clear winner on the interior front. 

The Hyundai Creta is the king of features and the Citroen C3 falls squarely on the other end of the spectrum. While the Citroen does get a good touchscreen, the Creta’s is still better. Not just that, the BOSE sound system, fully automatic climate control, automatic headlight and rain-sensing wipers, all put the Creta in leagues above the C3 Aircross. The only advantage of the Citroen C3 Aircross is wireless connectivity for the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the Hyundai Creta gets wired connectivity for the same. 

The Hyundai Creta offers a far more premium experience than the Citroen C3 Aircross when it comes to the cabin ambience of the two cars. If you love features, you also won’t really find the C3 Aircross to your liking. Even if features are not a major priority for you, you will still find things like cruise control, telescopic steering adjust, a push button start/stop system, and auto-dimming IRVM to be missing, and these are the basic features expected in most cars today. While the C3 Aircross does prioritise passenger comfort with the added fan control for the second row and adjustable headrests in all rows, the Creta remains the clear favourite.

2024 Hyundai Creta vs Citroen C3 Aircross: Safety Features

When we look at the Global NCAP safety rating of the Creta and C3 Aircross, neither of the two cars have been yet tested. However, the Creta’s pre-facelift model, which was discontinued a few months ago, scored a 3 star in the test. On the safety kit front, the Creta outshines the C3 Aircross by a fair margin. It packs in six airbags from the base variant. Whereas the C3 Aircross only offers two in all its variants. Automatic headlamps and rain-sensing wipers are another big miss. Lastly, the C3 Aircross doesn’t offer ISOFIX anchorage points as well, but the French carmaker is expected to offer these features in the coming months. On top of all of that, Hyundai Creta also offers a full suite of ADAS features which puts it in a different league altogether.

Ultimately, the Hyundai Creta is by far the safer vehicle of the two. However, once Citroen updates the C3 Aircross to include more features like six airbags and ISOFIX anchorage points, it will help it claw some ground back.

2024 Hyundai Creta vs Citroen C3 Aircross: Price Comparison

On the price front, these cars are unevenly matched. To put things into perspective, the price range of the Creta’s base variants alone covers the total price range of the Citroen C3 Aircross. So keeping that in mind, if you are willing to spend over that, the Creta will definitely be the more loaded option of the two. However, if you plan on buying the base variants of the Creta, then, the C3 Aircross makes a definite case for itself. Meanwhile, for the C3 Aircross, we advise you to go for the top-spec variant, because the lower ones are poorly specced.

Summary

The Hyundai Creta is the best performing mid-size SUV for a reason. It offers great performance, comfort, and features – a package that most Indian families are on the lookout for today. Couple all of that with Hyundai’s brand familiarity and service support, and the Hyundai Creta makes a strong case for itself in this comparison.

The Citroen C3 Aircross is a relative newcomer in the segment and is trying to carve out an identity for itself by being a little different than any other car in the segment. It’s 5 + 2 seating arrangement is something that no other car offers, and is its biggest selling point. That, and the fact that it costs lakhs less than the Creta and other SUVs in the same space.

However, most people will still end up picking the Creta because it offers a more refined and polished experience. The C3 Aircross will appeal to those who are looking for a practical SUV that is also priced at a bargain.

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