Citroen C3 Aircross Vs Kia Carens: Which Is The Better 'Family Car?'

The C3 Aircross is not an MPV but is more of a family SUV with the option of two more seats but it is more of a 5+2 while the Carens offers more space.

Both are three row cars but also are designed to be SUV-like.

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

The compact premium family car is not just the shape of an MPV but is SUV shaped increasingly as pointed out by the Kia Carens along with the just launched C3 Aircross. Both are three-row cars but also are designed to be SUV-like, especially the C3 Aircross being more of a 5+2 and a compact SUV. However, in this segment, the Carens is a popular option and here we compare it with the C3 Aircross.

Dimensions

The C3 Aircross from Citroen has a length of 4300mm while the Carens from Kia has a length of 4540mm. In terms of width, the Carens comes in at 1800mm while the C3 Aircross is 1796mm. Wheelbase is also a crucial factor, the Carens has a wheelbase of 2780mm while the C3 Aircross at 2671mm.

Features

The Carens takes the lead here with a superior features list since it has many options, including a 6-seater captain seat variant while having a standard sunroof, 10.25-inch touchscreen, ventilated seats, 8-speaker Bose audio system, connected car tech and the usual feature list while having 6 airbags as standard. The C3 Aircross has a 10.2-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, rear camera, dual airbags etc.

Engine

The C3 Aircross comes with only one engine option a 1.2l turbo petrol which delivers 110hp and 190Nm with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The Carens has three engine options with being a 115 bhp 1.5l petrol, a more powerful 1.5l turbo petrol with 160bhp and a 116bhp 1.5 diesel. There is a 6-speed iMT, 7-speed DCT and a 6-speed diesel automatic while the 1.5 comes with a 6-speed manual.

Prices

The C3 Aircross is not an MPV but is more of a family SUV with the option of two more seats but it is more of a 5+2 while the Carens offers more space. The C3 Aircross is also more affordable with prices being under Rs 10 lakh while the top-end is Rs 12.3 lakh. The Carens is more expensive with prices starting at Rs 10.4 lakh to Rs 19.45 lakh. The C3 Aircross is a good-looking SUV but lacks features while the Carens is more spacious and a premium offering of course.