C5 Aircross First Citroen Car For India; Launch In 2020

• C5 Aircross SUV to be the flagship offering from Citroen in India.
• Will be launched before the end of 2020 instead of the 2021 deadline announced by Citroen earlier.
• Citroen claims the C5 Aircross will be the ‘most comfortable’ SUV in its segment.
• Will rival the likes of the Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson and upcoming MG Hector.
  
  

PSA Group has marked its re-entry in India by launching the Citroen brand here, and today the French carmaker took the covers off its first car for India: the C5 Aircross. Yes, as speculated earlier, Citroen’s first ever car in the country will be the Jeep Compass-rivaling C5 Aircross SUV. The flagship offering will come here via the CKD route and will be launched in India before the end of 2020.

Spied testing in India on multiple occasions before, the C5 Aircross will take on the likes of premium mid-size SUVs such as the Honda CR-V, the upcoming MG Hector, Hyundai Tucson and the well established Jeep Compass in India.

While it’s likely to trump most of its competition (barring the Tata Harrier) in terms of sheer size, Citroen also promises us that the C5 Aircross will be the ‘most comfortable SUV’ in the mid-size segment.

Speaking of convenience, the C5 Aircross comes loaded to the brim with features internationally. These include a dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, along with a large 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Most of these features are likely to make the cut on the India-spec model, given Citoren’s strong commitment to customer comfort.

Available with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engine options globally, the C5 Aircross has plenty to offer in terms of performance. While there is a choice of 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines, the petrol ones include turbocharged 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre engines. These come mated to a standard 6-speed manual transmission along with an optional 8-speed automatic gearbox.

With plans to launch at least one model a year after the launch of the C5 Aircross, Citroen aims to take the slow and steady approach in India. Apart from the C5 Aircross, the carmaker is set to bring in more SUVs and crossovers that will be launched in India before any other market.

Speaking on the occasion, Linda Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Citroen Brand, Groupe PSA, said, “We are celebrating Citroën’s Centenary, 100 years of a brand which has constantly looked to the future of the automotive industry, by offering innovative solutions in line with the needs of each era. Globally, Citroën’s success is based on unique design, and benchmark comfort. The India automotive market is very dynamic with a high potential. We believe we have the right positioning to meet the expectations of the Indian customers. I am confident that the new Citroën C5 Aircross SUV will set a benchmark in style, comfort and innovation in its segment in India.”

With the introduction of Citroen in India, will it be third time lucky for the PSA Group? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.