Until now, mainstream car buyers had the option to choose between a hatchback, a sedan or, if they were feeling adventurous, an SUV. Now a new category has emerged – the coupe SUV – and the Citroen Basalt is its first entrant. It’s competitively priced, starting at Rs 799,000 (ex-shop), close to the price of a mainstream hatchback. But what exactly do you get for that price? Is it worth it? Read on to find out.
Design and dimensions
For comparison, the Basalt is 4,352 mm long, 1,765 mm wide and 1,593 mm tall – slightly longer than the C3 Aircross, but its wheelbase is about 20 mm shorter at 2,651 mm. Ground clearance is similarly low at 180 mm.
At the front, the Basalt resembles the C3 Aircross but on closer inspection there are minor changes in the grille and bumper design. It gets LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs and fog lamps. What’s interesting is the side profile where the roof slopes down towards the rear. It gets angular wheel arches with plastic cladding, 16-inch alloy wheels and a stylish bend in the C-pillar. However, the flap-type door handles look a little cheap. The rear end gets 3D LED tail lights that extend into the side profile, a large twin chevron logo on the tailgate and a small lip spoiler.
The boot has a capacity of 470 litres, making it deep enough for a family of four’s weekend luggage, although it doesn’t have the 60:40 split-folding feature.
Interior and Features
The Basalt’s cabin has a wide opening, making it easy to get in and out of, making it ideal for older family members. The dashboard layout is similar to the C3 Aircross, but the addition of a new automatic climate control panel makes it feel a little more upscale. The front seats are comfortable and are height adjustable in the top model. Finding a suitable driving position is easy, although some drivers may find the steering wheel a little too far away as it adjusts only for height, not reach.
The rear seats are equipped with unique adjustable thigh supports at either end of the seat cushion and head restraints that provide lateral support, but they lack rear seat weight sensors and a head restraint for the center passenger.
The Basalt comes equipped with a 10.2-inch floating touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, a seven-inch digital driver display, wireless charger and a rear parking camera, but it doesn’t come with features like push-button start/stop, ventilated and powered seats, cruise control, 360-degree camera, sunroof or sunblinds.
Safety Features
The Basalt is equipped with six airbags, ISOFIX, ESP, three-point seatbelts, a tire pressure monitor and a seatbelt reminder. Citroen has also confirmed that it has made structural changes to this and other models to improve crash safety performance, although no crash tests have been carried out yet.
Engine and specifications
The Basalt is available with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that develops 82 horsepower and 115 Nm of torque, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The claimed fuel economy is 18 kmpl. However, we only tested the 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine that develops 110 horsepower and 190 Nm of torque with the manual transmission and 205 Nm of torque with the six-speed automatic. The claimed fuel economy of these engines is 19.5 kmpl and 18.7 kmpl respectively.
The turbo petrol engine is a little rough at idle but smooths out once underway, but gets noisy under acceleration. It’s adequate for commuting around town, but on the motorway the gearbox feels a little slow to respond and overtaking manoeuvres need to be planned in advance, especially on single-lane roads. That said, it’s more than capable of cruising at speeds over 100kph for longer journeys.
Ride and handling
Ride and handling are where the Basalt excels. The suspension is nicely tuned to absorb the sharp edges of uneven roads. Wind and tire noise are well contained within the cabin. The Basalt’s high ride height means it’s not great for cornering, but it handles well and the steering is responsive, giving you a sense of security when driving on twisty roads. However, being a crossover and not a sedan, there is some body roll.
verdict
The Basalt does have its shortcomings, including a lack of features and some quality issues. But the turbo petrol engine performs well and coupled with the ride comfort, driving experience, spacious cabin and large trunk it makes for a practical package. The new coupe SUV design also stands out, making it an attractive family car. With an introductory starting price of Rs 799,000 for the non-turbo base variant and an expected price of Rs 135,000 for the top-of-the-line turbo automatic variant, we reckon it’s an option worth considering.
