2024 Citroen Basalt review, first drive - promising step forward

We're finally reaching some form of threshold in our appetite for SUVs. There's a full crop of these for every size and budget now, so it's no surprise that we are seeing something like the Basalt. That Citroen, a brand that needs to do much to gain a foothold here, has caught the mainstream coupe-SUV trend first is a positive. But the Basalt also has quite a bit else going for it.

2024 Citroen Basalt styling, dimensions, ground clearance, boot

From straight ahead, there's little to distinguish the Citroen Basalt from the other models it's based on, especially the C3 Aircross. But a closer look shows there is a bit more flash here with the glossy grille finish and the blocky motifs. There's finally LED projector headlamps on a mainstream Citroen. This is the first of many improvements that have debuted on the Basalt but also trickled down to the C3 Aircross and C3 hatch. These Citroen cars have always looked unconventional but still contemporary, and the Basalt builds on this sense. It's 4,352mm long, 1,765mm wide and 1,593mm tall.

Unsurprisingly, the most striking differentiator here is how the Basalt looks in profile. Yes, the flip door handles take away from the charm and the wheels do look a touch too small, but Citroen has got the proportions right. So the roof slopes into a heavily raked windscreen that ends in a stubby but well-shaped boot. Citroen has some experience with this body style, which shows in the way it has used the taillamps and haunches to add quite some character to the rear. These are halogens but they get a neat LED-like light signature and have a deep 3D effect to them that is attractive. The chunky cladding all around goes with this theme.

But all of this style isn't at a cost to practicality. You can't see much out of the rear windscreen, especially in rainy weather but you have 180mm of ground clearance. At 470 litres, the boot is bigger than most of the Basalt's conventional rivals. It is a flat square space that also holds a lot. You can even store large bags upright so you won't have to pack lightly on road trips.

2024 Citroen Basalt interiors, practicality, space

It's again a familiar sight with the dash of the Citroen Basalt. It's shared with the C3 and C3 Aircross and has that same differentiated theme with rounded shapes and horizontal elements. The grey and beige theme here is new, complemented by the light silver and chrome flourishes. But of much greater effect is the notable step up in quality and finish here. It may not match the Koreans in perception but the slightly rubberized, textured feel to the surfaces and the heftier feeling to the air vents feel quite nice to use.

The plastic moulding also seems more consistent and of a higher grade while there is quite a bit more in terms of soft surfaces. You find this on the door handles, steering wheel, and the new centre stack that also makes its way to the C3 Aircross. The leatherette seat material too is new, it may not work as well as the earlier fabric seats but adds to the better sense of quality.

There is now an adjustable centre armrest and more storage spaces here. This is also where you'll find most of the new feature additions that take Citroen a bit closer to being competitive in this market. You have climate control now with some simple, tactile toggle switches and a wireless charger. Although this only seemed to work with an Android phone in our car. But we think Citroen could have used this opportunity to add some Type-C charge ports in the cabin.

One of the things Citroen has done well is its screens. The 7-inch digital driver's display is easy to scroll through and gives out information logically. The simple 10.25-inch touchscreen with its wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay connectivity makes life easy, helped by the simple, fluid interface.

These minor interventions, which seem to do more than the sum of their parts, also continue in the rear seat of the Basalt. The power window switches are now conventionally placed on the door and there are rear AC vents and a centre armrest as well. An innovative addition, the kind that seems well in line with Citroen's legacy, is that of the adjustable seat base. This may be of use to taller adults or those who like their legs propped up a bit while seated.

At 2,651 mm, the Citroen basalt's wheelbase is 20mm less than that of the C3 Aircross. This still puts it in the ballpark of mid-sized SUVs like the Creta but legroom is less than this number suggests, possibly down to the large boot. But there's enough here still for most average-sized adults. The coupe roof, expectedly eats into headroom, so if you are around 6 ft, there will be some crouching to do. But the cabin is still airy with the large windows and light trim. The bench is a touch narrower than the average mid-sized SUV, with the third passenger more compromised. But Citroen has got the seat contours right, it's flat enough but still holds you in place well with good support for your thighs and back. Another smart touch is the winged headrests.

2024 Citroen Basalt features and safety

The new conveniences help the Basalt's case, but there is still work to be done here. You get a much nicer flip key but still, no push-button start while cruise control, auto headlamps, wipers and a sunroof are also missing. The features list includes LED headlamps, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch driver's display, climate control, wireless charging, driver seat height adjustment and power folding mirrors.

Safety equipment has improved too. The rear camera is a clear unit, you get TPMS, six airbags, ESC and three-point seatbelts for all passengers, although the sensors for these are not the pressure type, making things inconvenient sometimes.

2024 Citroen Basalt driving impressions, specifications

As with Citroen's previous cars, the way the Basalt drives is one of its strong suites. Some might find the steering wheel a touch too close to them, with no telescopic adjustment but other than this it's largely good news ergonomically. The wide windscreen and high bonnet make threading through narrow lanes easy and you sit in a suitably high position as well.

The Citroen basalt can be had with the 1.2-lite naturally aspirated motor from the C3 with 82Ps or 115 Nm. But the top 1.2-litre turbo seen here seems worth the extra cash. It makes 110 Ps and 190 Nm or 205 Nm when paired with the six-speed automatic. As before, this motor seems to punch a good deal above the spec sheets suggest.

Sure it's not the most refined engine around, especially around idle there's quite a bit of vibrations that seep into the cabin. But once you start moving, most of this fades away. A great trait of this engine is its tractability. You have brisk, clean torque at most times. So you have enough grunt starting and keeping pace in traffic and while there's no big gush of torque as you push harder, there's steady clean performance that lets you get up to speed confidently enough.

The six-speed torque converter works well in this scenario. It's not the sharpest unit, unlike some DCTs from rivals, but in calm driving the shifts are smooth and unintrusive. It keeps the Basalt on the boil at these times and usually isn't left wanting. The 15mm of added torque in this configuration helps but you still do notice that in heavier part throttle acceleration it could be more alert. It's much brisker in full-bore acceleration as the sub-10s 0 to 100 kmph time shows.

Citroen's legacy with suspension innovations means that it has always managed to tune its cars well for India's roads. That continues with the Basalt, where if anything some of the low-speed firmness of the C3 Aircross is better tackled. This gives it an even more solid feeling over bad surfaces where you always have the sense that the Basalt will take some beating. In the largely medium speeds we drove this SUV, it has that flowing confident feeling that makes for a comfortable and refined experience from behind the wheel.

This does mean that despite the smart shape, this isn't one of the sportier SUVs you can buy. Sure it lets you flow along a winding road confidently up to a certain point, with smooth body movements. But the soft suspension and high stance catch up with it when you turn a corner in anger. You have to manage a good deal of roll and the light steering has you second-guessing. Of course, a benefit of this is that in everyday situations the Baslat is easy to navigate.

2024 Citroen Basalt price, verdict

Price between Rs x.xx lakh to Rs xx.xx lakh, the Citroen Basalt feels like a step in the right direction for Citroen. The better equipment levels and improved cabin experience make their presence felt, enough for this car to be a more serious contender. The largely positive driving experience and unique looks are other positives, enough for you to take a good look at it at least despite the brand-building and cabin perception work that still needs to be done.