KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The first Coupe SUV available under Rs 10 lakh in India
- Prices begin from Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom)
- Gets non-turbo and turbo petrol powertrains with manual and automatic options
Citroen seems to be further stepping up its game in India. The Basalt is the fourth product from the French car maker, and its rather unique compared to what we are used to seeing. The Basalt shares its underpinnings with the C3 and the C3 Aircross, and with prices ranging between Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom), Citroen seems to be eyeing a lot of rivals with the Basalt. Lets see some key things that make the Citroen Basalt different. Also, before moving further, do join the 91wheels WhatsApp community for the latest updates on everything automobiles!
Also read: Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV Launched At Rs 7.99 Lakh - Deliveries In October
Coupe-SUV styling
The first thing obviously has to be how the car looks. There are many elements on the Basalt that mimic the C3 and the C3 Aircross, such as the Chevron grille, headlights, and the doors, but the sloping roofline from the B-pillar onwards is what makes the difference. At 2651mm, it gets a marginally longer wheelbase than the Hyundai Creta, and higher variants can be equipped with 16-inch diamond cut alloy rims too.
Competition Check: The Tata Curvv and the Curvv EV are the only other mass-market Coupe SUVs available in the market.
Also read: Citroen Basalt VS Rivals: How Does It Hold Up In The Segment?
Adjustable under-thigh support
An interesting feature on the Basalt is the smart-tilt cushion, which allows you to adjust the underthigh support of the rear bench upto three clicks, and the last click enables you to return to the default setting. The Basalt is the first mass-market car to get this, but youll have to pick the automatic variants to get your hands on it. Citroen also offers winged rear headrests, thus focusing on comfort, as always.
Competition Check: The Tata Curvv and the Curvv EV do not get the smart-tilt cushion, or the winged headrests.
470 litres of boot space
If youre someone who travels long distances frequently, you will appreciate the fact that the Citroen Basalt gets a 470-litre boot, which is quite a lot more when you compare it to cars such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and the Skoda Kushaq. The Honda Elevate comes second with a marginally close 458 litres of boot space.
Competition Check: The Tata Curvv EV beats the Basalt with 500 litres of boot space.
Also read: Tata Curvv Revealed! 3 Engines, ATLAS Platform, And Much More
Availability of features
While the base variant offers limited features, things such as the 10.23-inch infotainment touch screen with wireless connectivity, the 7-inch TFT digital display, and steering-mounted audio controls are available from the Plus variant with the non-turbo, 5-speed manual transmission setup. Meanwhile more equipment, including climate control, front armrest, projector headlamps, and rear A/C vents are available from the Turbo Plus variant onwards, with the six-speed manual transmission setup.
Some other features on the Citroen Basalt include things such as rear parking sensors, a reverse parking camera, wireless smartphone charging, hill-hold, a tyre pressure monitoring system, ESP, ISOFIX child seat mounts, six airbags, and seat belt reminder among other features. There is also the My Citroen Connect 2.0 app with things such as remote engine start, keyless entry/exit, and geo-fencing, to name a few.
Competition Check: If you're looking for a 360-degree camera, cruise control, panoramic sunroof, push-button start, and ambient lighting, look towards the Tata Curvv, Curvv EV, and other mid-size SUVs.
Verdict
There is no doubt that the Citroen Basalt is an interesting car; at the price that it is being offered, buyers will definitely be considering it alongside other compact and mid-size SUVs. While it does lack novelty features such as a sunroof, push-button start, and a 360-degree camera, Citroen has ensured that the Basalt gets the basics just right. Check out our review for our full verdict on the Citroen Basalt!
