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Citroen C-Crosser 2.2 HDi DCS road test report

2.2 HDi DCS

The C-Crosser has quite a high list price, but Citroen dealers are open to negotiation, which will help bring the cost down and offset the heavier depreciation the C-Crosser will experience compared to the best cars in this class.

Road Test Reports Says 3 star rating
A front-facing image of the Citroen C-Crosser 2.2 HDi DCS

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ALISDAIR SAYS

Performance Performance - 3 stars

If you fancy a Citroen C-Crosser, you have the simple choice of one engine in the entire range. It’s a 2.2-litre turbodiesel and provides plenty of get-up-and-go courtesy of 156bhp and a chunky 280lb ft of shove at 2000rpm. Coupled to Citroen’s DCS (double clutch system) six-speed gearbox, the engine works well in most instances, though we found it could overwhelm the grip of the front tyres when pulling smartly out of junctions as the power comes in quite forcefully compared to some of the competition’s more linear power deliveries. In automatic mode, the DCS gearbox is near seamless and works its way up and down the transmission with clear, calm efficiency. As a manual gearbox that does without a clutch pedal, there is also the chance for the driver to use the paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel to change gear. Use this option and you’ll find the gear changes just as smooth and it adds more control for the driver, which is useful when towing or descending steep hills. The C-Crosser has a maximum braked towing limit of 2000kg, which is better than some rivals’.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

The C-Crosser comes with four-wheel drive that sends most of the power to the front wheels most of the time, which is why the front tyres can scrabble when the driver asks it to nip out of a side street in a hurry. If the car’s electronic brain senses front wheel slip, it sends power to the rear wheels and that’s good news for on-road stability through wet corners and slippery roundabouts. It doesn’t mean the Citroen is a full-on off-roader as ground clearance and traction are limited compared to more dedicated dirt-bashing machinery. The upside to this is the C-Crosser drives more like a family estate car due to its well controlled ride comfort, little cornering lean, well judged power assistance for the steering and poised handling. The engine is generally quiet, while some wind and road noise are audible, though not deafening.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 3 stars

The C-Crosser is largely based on the Mitsubishi Outlander, which is good news for the longterm strength of the mechanical components in the Citroen as they are tried and proven. The DCS double clutch gearbox is more of an unknown quantity at present, but there seems nothing to indicate it will be anything other than wholly reliable. Some of the cabin plastics look and feel more functional than stylish, but that doesn’t take away from their basic strength. It would just be better if some of the minor trim details were better resolved.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

Whichever C-Crosser tickles your fancy, it will come with an alarm and immobiliser to keep it safe and sound. An immobiliser and deadlocks will also help foil any attempt at theft. Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags are all part of the standard C-Crosser package, as are anti-lock brakes, ESP stability and traction control. Every C-Crosser also comes with four-wheel drive for added traction in tricky conditions, though this Citroen is not a serious off-road vehicle. The Citroen C-Crosser has not been tested by Euro NCAP, but its near identical Mitsubishi Outlander cousin scored four stars out of a possible five for adult crash protection, three stars for child safety and two out of four stars for pedestrian safety.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

All C-Crossers come with seven seats as standard. There’s a third row of two seats that folds up and out of the boot floor to provide seating for two children, though it’s a bit snug in there for adults’ knees. With one or both of these seats folded away, the Citroen has ample luggage space for a family. The middle row seats are 60/40 split and slide fore and aft to vary passenger and load space. Tip the middle row seats forward and the C-Crosser has an impressive amount of cargo capacity, while with them in place there’s generous room for three and, as with the third row seats, there are three-point seat belts for all. Up front, the driver and front passenger are well looked after and there’s lots of seat and steering wheel adjustment, though the steering wheel only moves for angle and not depth. The clear dash is easy to read and use, and there are several storage points clustered around the driver for mobile phones and water bottles.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 3 stars

The C-Crosser comes in VTR+ and Exclusive trims, and adding the DCS double clutch gearbox adds £1200 to the cost of either model. Every version comes with alloy wheels, cruise and climate controls, electric windows for all four doors and a CD stereo. The Exclusive gains leather seats and rear parking sensors, while satellite navigation and metallic paint are optional extras. The C-Crosser has quite a high list price, but Citroen dealers are open to negotiation, which will help bring the cost down and offset the heavier depreciation the C-Crosser will experience compared to the best cars in this class. With the DCS dual clutch gearbox, the C-Crosser returns 38.7mpg, which is slightly down on the manual version’s 40.4mpg, while emissions of 192g/km are good for the class and not far off the manual’s 185g/km of carbon dioxide output. Group 15 insurance is reasonable for this size and type of car.

Submitted: 25/01/2010 09:41:53

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