KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Basalt is the most affordable vehicle in this comparison, with a starting price of Rs 7.99 lakh.
- Price of the Tata Curvv will be revealed to the public on September 2.
- Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos sales could take a hit once the Curvv deliveries begin.
Citroen Basalt, the coupe SUV from the French automaker, starts at Rs 7.99 lakh ex-showroom. Its proportions are perfect for fitting into the compact SUV segment, led by the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. With the launch of the Tata Curvv, this segment has become jam-packed, and it is expected to create a significant dent in the sales of its rivals.
So, is the Citroen Basalt ready for the battle? Well find out today. Without further ado, lets begin, and in the meantime, be sure to join the 91Wheels Whatsapp Channel to never miss out on automotive updates.
Also Read: Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV Launched At Rs 7.99 Lakh - Deliveries In October
Citroen Basalt vs Rivals: Powertrain
The Citroen Basalt comes with two engine options, both 1.2 L: one naturally aspirated and one turbocharged. Additionally, it offers three transmissions: 5MT, 6MT, and 6AT (torque converter). Rivals like the Creta, Curvv, and Seltos offer three engine options. On the other hand, the Honda Elevate, another compact SUV, only comes with one engine option: a 1.5 L naturally aspirated petrol engine. Therefore, it is not included in the list.
Let's check out the engine specifications and understand their differences.
Citroen Basalt
| Engine Options | Pure Tech 82 (Na) | Pure Tech 110 (Turbocharged) |
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Petrol |
| No. of cyclinders | 3 | 3 |
| Displacement | 1199 cc | 1199 cc |
| Power | 82 Ps | 110 Nm |
| Torque | 115 Nm | 190 Nm / 205 Nm |
| Transmission | 5 MT | 6 MT / 6 AT |
| Fuel Efficiency | 18.0 kmpl | 19.5 kmpl / 18.7 kmpl |
Tata Curvv
| Engine Options | 1.2 L Revotron Turbo Petrol | 1.2 L Hyperion Turbo Petrol Engine | 1.5 L Kryojet Diesel Engine |
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Petrol | Diesel |
| No. of cyclinders | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Displacement | 1199 cc | 1199 cc | 1497 cc |
| Power | 118 Ps | 125 Ps | 117 Ps |
| Torque | 170 Nm | 225 Nm | 260 Nm |
| Transmission | 5 MT / 7 DCA | 6 MT / 7 DCA | 6MT / 7 DCA |
| Fuel Efficiency | TBA | TBA | 22 kmpl |
Hyundai Creta And Kia Seltos
These two vehicles are essentially the same because Kia is a sister company of Hyundai. The design and some features differentiate them, but mechanically, they are identical. The table below provides a collective overview of their engine specifications."
| Engine options | 1.5 L Petrol | 1.5 L Turbo Petrol | 1.5 L Diesel |
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Petrol | Diesel |
| No. of cyclinders | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Displacement | 1497 cc | 1482 cc | 1493 cc |
| Power | 115 Ps | 160 Ps | 116 Ps |
| Torque | 144 Nm | 253 Nm | 250 Nm |
| Gearbox | 6MT / 6iVT | 7-DCT / (6-iMT- Seltos) | 6-MT/ 6-AT- (6-iMT Seltos) |
| Fuel Efficiency | 15to 17 kmpl | 13 to 15 kmpl | 19 to 21 kmpl |
Based on these figures, it's clear that the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Tata Curvv offer more powerful engine options with stronger character than the Basalt. However, the Citroen's turbo petrol engine has enough punch to compete with their diesel engines, though Hyundai's turbo petrol is miles ahead.
Citroen Basalt vs Rivals: Dimensions
The Citroen Basalt is longer than the Hyundai Creta and Tata Curvv, but shorter than the Kia Seltos. It also provides more boot space, thanks to its coupe design. However, its ground clearance is just 180 mm, which is adequate, but the 190 mm and above gap on its rivals allows them to take on more challenging terrains.
| Dimensions | Citroen Basalt | Tata Curvv | Hyundai Creta | Kia Seltos |
| Length | 4352 mm | 4308 mm | 4330 mm | 4365 mm |
| Width | 1765 mm | 1810 mm | 1790 mm | 1800 mm |
| Height | 1593 mm | 1630 mm | 1635 mm | 1645 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2651 mm | 2560 mm | 2610 mm | 2610 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 180 mm | 208 mm | 190 mm | 190 mm |
| Boot Space | 470 L | 500 L | 433 L | 433 L |
Citroen Basalt vs Rivals: Features
The Citroen Basalt is a much better choice than the Citroen C3 Aircross in terms of features, as the automaker has taken customer feedback into account and provided many more features. However, it still lacks some modern tech like ADAS, ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera, ambient lighting, and more. Lets take a look at the features they offer:
- 10.32-inch infotainment display
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless mirroring
- My Citroen Connect 2.0 ( Remote engine start, door lock/unlock and 40 advanced features)
- 7-inch driver's display with 3 customizable driving modes
- Wireless charger
- Automatic climate control
- Steering-mounted controls
- Voice commands
- USB sockets
- Rear view camera with rear parking sensors
- Dual-tone treatment for the interior
- Tropicalized auto AC for the rear passengers
- Rear armrest with cup holders
- Smart tilt cushion
- 6 Airbags standard
- Hill hold assist, ESP
- ISOFIX
- Seat belt reminder
- R16 Diamond cut alloys
- LED Vision projector headlamps
- 3D effect tail lamps
Tata Curvv features:-
- Level 2 ADAS with 20 features
- Electronic parking brake
- Advanced Launch Assist
- 6 way power adjusted power seats
- Front ventilated seats
- customizable drive modes
- 10 Inch multi information display
- 9 JBL Speakers
- Tata Modes in the infotainment screen
- What 3 Words, Voice assitsted features which includes 6 local languages (Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, English, Tamil, Telugu)
- Paddle Shifters
- iRA App
- Auto Park lock
- Auto dimming IRVM
- Rain Sensing wiper
- Flush door handles with illumination ( 1st In segment)
- 18 Inch Alloy Wheels
- Gesture Controlled Power Tailgate
Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos features:-
- 10.25 Inch Infotainment display Integerated with 10.25 Inch multi information display
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Ventilated seats
- dual zone climate control
- Panaromic Sunroof
- 8 Bose speakers
- Air purifier
- LED DRLs
- Level 2 ADAS
- Drive modes
- wireless charging pad
- Sunvisor
- rear ac vents
- Multiple USB and type C ports
- Powered driver seats
- Ambient lightning
- Voice command
- Push start button
- cooled glove box
Also Read: Tata Nexon EV, Punch EV, & More On Discounts Upto Rs. 2.05 Lakhs
Verdict
The Citroen Basalt falls short in many areas compared to its competitors, but its starting price of Rs 7.99 lakh is significantly lower, making it the most affordable compact coupe SUV in the country. Whether this price will boost foot traffic in Citro뮠showrooms remains to be seen. Currently, the prices for each variant of the Basalt are not available, and the Curvv will be launched on September 2, so comparing their prices is not feasible at the moment.
However, kudos to these two brands for introducing a new body type in the mass market segment. We hope that people will welcome these cars wholeheartedly.
