Citroen Basalt Turbo Review: Value-For-Money SUV?

Considering the competition, we feel the prices of the Basalt should be kept as permanent and not introductory

The Basalt with the turbo has the more powerful engine at 110 bhp and also has an automatic

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

The prices for the Turbo version of the Basalt is here and it starts from Rs 11.4 lakh while going till Rs 13.6 lakh. Considering the competition, we feel the prices of the Basalt should be kept as permanent and not introductory. The Basalt with the turbo has the more powerful engine at 110 bhp and also has an automatic.

The engine has some vibrations but get better on the move and you will like the suspension plus the relatively smooth gearbox. With the turbo, there is a strong punch in the mid-range and it is enjoyable to drive while the automatic does a decent job. It offers smooth shifts over some AMTs or DCTs at low speed from other SUVs and there is a manual mode too.

For everyday driving, it is quite smooth and matches up to the engine. But the way it handles our roads to its suspension along with the handling is what makes the Basalt a good car. 

Ground clearance is good at 180 mm and it feels solid. There is body roll but the Basalt feels tightly controlled and has fun to drive characteristics. The engine is not the most efficient but promises decent range per full tank. At this price it is cheaper than some under 4m SUVs but also misses out on some key features present in other SUVs.

However, look beyond that and the Basalt is a spacious, good looking SUV at a tighter budget which means it is a good value buy even if it misses some of the frills. That said, we are glad that some ergonomic issues of the C3 Aircross have been addressed here and across the Citroen range and the space on offer is actually quite good with the headroom not being affected by the sloping coupe style rear. For the price, the Basalt is an interesting choice since it is about being a 4m plus SUV available at under 4m prices.

What we like: Looks, space, comfort, suspension, performance, value

What we do not: Missing many features, not most powerful