Citroen Basalt First Drive Review: Unique and Fun

It is estimated that people spend roughly 17 million minutes every day watching Instagram reels. What’s even more surprising is that most of the content consumed is not original but mere imitations of things that are trending – whether it’s the latest dance move or a transition reel. Unique content that does not conform to these trends rarely rises to the top. So, in a world dominated by trends, does a car like the Citroen Baslat, given its unique standing, have a chance to succeed? Why unique, you ask? Well, it’s a coupe SUV – a body style that has not been seen before in the budget segment. But if there is one brand that has never hesitated to take risks and try out something different, it’s Citroen. So, what does the Basalt have in store for customers?

Citroen Basalt Review: Exterior Design

One of the most talked-about aspects of the Basalt is its coupe SUV design. Now, I’d suggest not getting overly excited, for the ‘SUV’ part is somewhat overshadowed by the ‘coupe’ aspect of the vehicle. Even though the Basalt is a tad longer than the C3 Aircross, it does not actually look as large in person. Despite all this, the Basalt looks rather smart, thanks to its sloping roof design and the way it elegantly ends in a small spoiler. My favourite, however, is the plastic element near the point of convergence of the rear window, with an orange highlight that resembles an eyelash, adding a nice flow to the profile.

The Basalt rides on 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels which look impressive and smart. The front fascia closely resembles that of the C3 Aircross, with the same grille design, split LED DRLs, and headlamp cluster. However, unlike the C3 Aircross, there is an absence of chrome on the lower half of the bumper. The black grille almost gives the impression that the designers forgot to work on this area, leaving a noticeable gap. Overall, I like the way the Basalt looks, and I am sure it will turn heads when it hits the road.

Citroen Basalt Review: Interior Upgrades

Just like the exterior, the interior also mirrors that of the C3 Aircross. The dashboard is almost identical, featuring the same large 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and the same 7-inch digital MID and three-spoke steering wheel. Thankfully, Citroen seems to have taken note of feedback and added features like automatic climate control, a wireless charging pad, a bigger armrest with storage space underneath, controls for all four windows on the driver-side door and electronically foldable ORVMs. All of these are nice quality-of-life updates and the cabin too feels well put together. On a side note, these upgrades are now also available in the C3 Aircross.

However, the Basalt doesn’t get a push-button start/stop system, and if you are a fan of sunroofs, you’ll be disappointed. We tested the car during the heavy rains in Goa, and I noticed that the windshield wipers were subpar.

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Despite the sloping roof design, the second row offers a good amount of space. Despite my height – I am six feet tall – I was still able to sit without my head touching the roof – there was only about two inches of clearance, but occupants not as tall would have no trouble. Also, the seats are quite comfortable, with separate AC vents for the second row and two USB Type-A charging ports. But the main highlight here is the seat cushion. Citroen has added a unique feature to the second-row seats, which allows you to adjust the under-thigh support by lifting the edge of the cushion, offering a three-step adjustment with up to 87 degrees of movement. This is a very thoughtful feature – one that I would love to see in more vehicles.

Even the boot is quite spacious, with a volume of 470 litres. We could easily fit six small to medium-sized bags, including our camera equipment, and there was still plenty of space left.

Citroen Basalt Review: Engine Performance

The Basalt is available with two engine options – the 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally-aspirated Puretech 82 and the 1.2-litre, turbocharged Puretech 110. Our test car was equipped with the more powerful turbo-petrol engine, which was mated to a 6-speed automatic producing 108bhp and 205Nm. The C3 Aircross offers a lot of punch, and the Basalt is no different. While not the absolute best in the segment, it does move rather briskly, especially if you choose to shift manually.

You see, the gearbox is a bit of a letdown, for it takes time to shift, and at slower speeds, the shifts are quite noticeable. Taking control of the gear shifts manually offers a more engaging experience, allowing you to let the revs build higher before shifting. If you don’t, it will automatically shift once you hit 6,000rpm.

Also Read: Citroen Basalt vs Tata Curvv Spec Comparison

While the cabin is well insulated from outside noises, it is not immune to its own groans. I noticed a persistent whine, much like the one you hear when reversing. The engine and gearbox pairing produces a lot of sound during normal operation, which could certainly use some refinement.

The suspension is a bit peculiar and inconsistent. Initially, it felt a bit stiff over speed breakers and rumble strips. However, when we encountered a patchy and bumpy stretch of tarmac, the ride quality improved significantly. Even when tackling undulations at higher speeds, the car does a good job of absorbing the impact but it doesn’t really inspire a lot of confidence during high-speed cornering. The brakes, while adequate for city driving, lack the initial bite to instil confidence in more demanding situations.

Citroen Basalt Review: Verdict

The Basalt is yet another brilliant but slightly flawed Citroen product, however, unlike other Citroen offerings, it leans significantly more towards brilliance than flaws. It looks unique, the interior space is adequate, and the feature additions just make it more complete vehicle. It’s also fairly fun to drive if you can overlook the noise issues. Citroen might actually have a winner on their hands. The starting price for the vehicle is ₹7.99 lakh (ex-showroom) which makes it a rather enticing deal. Yes, this price is for the less powerful Puretech 82 engine-powered model but getting your hands on this body style for such a price will definitely move some customers. We will, however, have to wait a bit longer before we see how well the fully-packed Basalt, that we reviewed, is priced.