The introductory price for Citroen’s C3 Aircross SUV has been revealed at Rs 9.99 lakh ex-showroom, as per the official website.

This makes the 5+2 seater, mid-sized SUV, a cracker deal as the pricing for the higher variants can be expected to be very aggressive as well.

We recently drove the C3 Aircross and were left impressed by its refined engine and utilitarian approach.

It is a good-looking SUV that performs well out on the roads and can take a fair bit of beating off-road as well.

However, the lack of features such as LED headlamps, sunroof, 360-degree camera, automatic climate control and other gizmos, means that the C3 Aircross would be susceptible to looking down upon.

However, Citroen has justified the lack of features with the pricing and here is everything that we liked about the C3 Aircross SUV.Citroen C3 Aircross review: 7 seats at the price of 5? | TOI AutoLooks upmarket:Despite the C3 Aircross not having LED lighting on the front or back, it is a very modern and upmarket-looking SUV.

It certainly has the French flair with the carefully selected colour options and the SUV’s flared fenders and upright stance make it look imposing, like an SUV should.

The top-end model would also offer a dual-tone colour scheme for the exterior which takes the premium appeal a notch higher.

Comfortable driver:The unique proposition of the C3 Aircross is the option to have a 5-seater or 7-seater version in the mid-sized SUV segment.

This opens up the SUV’s appeal to a wider audience and also allows for multiple configurations.

The convenience is further complimented by the well-tuned chassis and suspension that Citroen claims offers the ‘flying carpet’ effect to passengers.

Peppy engine performance:The C3 Aircross gets a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox (no automatic).

The engine produces 108.4 hp and 190 Nm of torque.

While the performance figures seem humble on the spec sheet, it is a very peppy and confident motor and will leave you with a smile as you drive it more.

It does not feel underpowered at any point and overtakes are easy in the C3 Aircross, even at high speeds.

The gearbox is smooth and slots into each gear flawlessly, the gearing ratios are well-balanced for both comfort and confident sprints forward.Utilitarian but durable cabin:The cabin of the C3 Aircross may not be the fanciest out there, however, the carefully selected colour theme and overall fit and finish make it appear sophisticated and durable.

Hard plastics are more prominent but that also means that they will stand the test of time.

The 7-seater version also offers a roof-mounted blower unit for the second and third-row passengers and there is an ample amount of practical storage provisions around.

The 511-litre of boot space is again very practical and extendable.The C3 Aircross will be offered in three variants called the You, Plus and Max.

Considering that the introductory price for the You variant is at Rs 9.99 lakh ex-showroom, we expect the Max variant of the Aircross to top out around the Rs 12 lakh mark.

This put it in direct competition with vehicles even below its segment, such as the Maruti Suzuki Brezza.

It remains to be seen if the optional 7 seats will come at an additional cost as well.

Overall, the C3 Aircross put forward a highly appealing proposition for first-time SUV buyers and young families who are looking for a dependable daily driver.