Citroen entered the Indian market with quite a pomp and show with its flagship model, the C5 Aircross. Despite the French automobile manufacturer trying to keep updating its lineup from the hatchback segment to the mid-size SUV level, Citroen has sadly struggled to set the sales charts on fire. With the launch of the coupe-SUV, the Basalt, Citroen made a genuine effort to bring a distinctive style in the affordable price range. We spent some quality time with the Basalt and found out its strengths and weaknesses.
Citroen Basalt: Spellbinding looks
The Basalt effortlessly attracts attention without even trying. I was taken aback when several passers-by stopped to inquire if this SUV was available in the market, asking the typical questions about price, mileage, and whether it had a sunroof. The French SUV impressively addressed most of these queries with ease, except for the absence of a sunroof. As one person specifically pointed out, “It needs a panoramic sunroof to match its stunning appeal.” Not my words, but one can’t disagree that Basalt is very pleasing to the eyes.
Citroen has equipped the Basalt with a complete LED headlight setup with LED DRLS, which the Aircross C3 lacked. The busy-looking front fascia gives it a blend of butch and a sophisticated road stance with the split headlight design and big air dam while the slopping roofline makes quite a statement. The 16-inch alloy wheels are disappointing as they are quite puny for a mid-size SUV. It also offers a decent ground clearance of 180 mm.
Citroen Basalt: Mix bag interiors
With dynamic exteriors, the cabin feels slightly jaded and too basic. It does have a decent list of features like the easy-to-use 10.2-inch infotainment system, an automatic climate control, a wireless phone charger and wireless connectivity, a 7-inch instrument cluster and a reverse parking camera. Sadly, it misses out on ventilated front seats, start-stop button, key fob and the plastic quality could have been more premium rather than being a shade above bare basics.
What makes the cabin standout are the well-sculpted ergonomic seats that offer support like no other in this segment. The Basalt pampers the rear passengers with its unique three-step thigh support seat squab. It is not a gimmick as it genuinely improves the comfort level of the passengers in the back seat.
Citroen Basalt: Turbo blazer?
The Basalt is available only in petrol and offers two options — the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated one and the 1.2-litre turbo. We drove the latter, which produces 109 bhp and 205 Nm of torque. One has to look beyond the numbers to realise what the turbo is capable of. It responds quickly and the 6-speed automatic torque converter shifts smoothly. The gearbox from Aisin is one of the best in the business and changes gear at the right time, never letting you feel wanting more. The engine could have been refined as it gets fairly noisy, but, as a whole, the driving experience is involved and stress-free whether you’re stuck in a traffic jam or cruising on the highway.
Citroen Basalt: Great ride
Suspension set-up is an art and Citroen is Michael Angelo in this field. With unpredictable and unforgiving road conditions in India, the French car maker has got the ride quality spot on. The Basalt sails over bumps, ditches, potholes and speed breakers without a sweat. What is even more impressive is that the rear passengers can sit back and enjoy the ride without any rude thuds.
Citroen Basalt: Value for Money
The Basalt is smartly priced in between the compact and the mid-size SUV segments starting from Rs 8.25 lakh to Rs 13.99 lakh, ex-showroom. It lacks some features but if you look at the vehicle as a whole, it offers an impeccable ride quality, a spacious cabin with comfortable seats and a fairly powerful engine with a smooth automatic transmission. Hence, it has a lot going for itself, not to mention the Basalt offers an eye-catching design and price.
