Chennai — This festive season, Citroën India has wrapped up a rather special gift for its customers — not in shiny paper, but in high-strength steel. The Citroën C3 Aircross SUV has secured a 5-star rating for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and an impressive 4-star rating for Child Occupant Protection (COP) in the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP).
With a score of 27.05/32 in AOP and 40/49 in COP, the Aircross has officially joined the elite club of SUVs that don’t just look safe — they actually are. Consider it the automotive equivalent of acing board exams without leaking the paper.
🚦 Citroën 2.0: Safety Meets Savoir-Faire
This achievement falls squarely under the brand’s ‘Citroën 2.0 – Shift into the New’ strategy, which is all about blending aspirational design with smart, secure mobility tailored for Indian roads.
“The Aircross SUV, now proudly rated 5 stars in adult occupant protection by Bharat NCAP, is a bold testament to our commitment towards smart, secure mobility,” said Kumar Priyesh, Business Head & Director – Automotive Brands, Stellantis India. “Its acclaimed ride quality and comfort reflect our philosophy: advanced comfort, cutting-edge safety, and intuitive technology — all in one dynamic, practical package.”
Translation: It’s like a croissant — light, comforting, and surprisingly strong on the inside.
🧠 Brains Behind the Brawn
The Aircross achieved this rating by excelling across crash test parameters — AOP, COP, and Safety Assist Technologies (SAT). It comes armed with 40+ active and passive safety features, including:
- 6 airbags
- ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
- ISOFIX child seat mounts
- Hill-hold assist
- All-seat 3-point seat belts
Underneath its chic French skin, the SUV employs high-strength steel, Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS), and Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS) — the vehicular equivalent of wearing a three-layer bulletproof tuxedo.
🌟 Comfort Still Reigns
True to Citroën DNA, the Aircross doesn’t let safety overshadow comfort. Expect LED projector headlamps, automatic climate control, power-folding ORVMs, soft-touch interiors, and even thoughtfully relocated power window switches — because nothing ruins a premium cabin vibe like a frantic window hunt.
The SUV offers both 5S and 5+2 seating configurations, paired with two petrol powertrains:
- 1.2L Gen 3 PureTech 110 Turbo (up to 110 PS & 205 Nm)
- PureTech 82 NA
Transmission choices span 5-MT, 6-MT, and 6-AT, giving buyers the flexibility to choose between relaxed cruising and spirited sprints.
As the country gears up for festive fireworks, Citroën has teased the upcoming Aircross X — set to further bolster the brand’s commitment to smart and safe mobility.
The Bharat NCAP test was conducted on the Aircross 5S variant, proving that even the “family” version packs a solid punch when it comes to safety credentials.
In a market where flashy DRLs often overshadow crash ratings, Citroën has just reminded everyone that safety isn’t a feature — it’s a foundation. And with the Aircross, that foundation is built like a French fortress.
