Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV Launched at Rs 7.99 Lakh in India

Just days after its global debut, Citroen India has announced the price of the Basalt SUV. The model is now available for purchase at an ex-showroom price of Rs 7.99 lakh. This introductory price is applicable on bookings made before the end of October. Coming to the dimensions, the car features a 2,651mm wheelbase and a boot space of 470 litres. Along with two dual-tone options, where the white and red paint jobs sport a contrasting black roof, the Basalt can be had in five monotone colour options: Polar White, Steel Grey, Platinium Grey, Cosmo Blue, and Garnet Red. In the Indian market, the Basalt will compete against the Tata Curvv. Other mid-size SUV rivals include Hyundai Creta, Honda Elevate, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Kia Seltos, and MG Astor. The bookings are officially open at a token amount of Rs 11,001. 

Also Read: Citroen C3, C3 Aircross Get LED Projector Headlamps, Automatic Climate Control, Six Airbags and More

Citroen Basalt: Exterior Appearance

The Citroen Basalt has mostly stuck to the initial design sketches unveiled earlier this year; the main distinction is that the body cladding is now finished in a typical matte plastic rather than the originally intended gloss black. Moreover, the design is strikingly similar to the C3 Aircross SUV, which serves as the foundation for the Basalt. Except for the grille inserts' slightly altered finish, the fascia is almost identical to the C3 Aircross. It features a two-part grille, a faux silver skid plate for the chin, and the same chrome-lined Chevron logo at the top. Furthermore, the bonnet and the LED daytime running lamp signature are carried over as well. The Basalt, however, gets projector headlamps, which is a pleasant addition and a first for a C-cubed model for our market. 

It also has squared-off cladding over the wheel arches, a pinched window line on both sides, and a smoothly flowing roofline meeting the high deck of the boot lid. The car rolls on sleek 17-inch alloy wheels, but the C3 Aircross's pull-style door handles are present. The short, stubby back end is adorned with a robust, black-and-silver dual-tone bumper, well-contoured tailgate, and halogen taillamps with a 3D effect.

Citroen Basalt: Powertrain Options

In terms of mechanics, the Basalt features the brand's Gen 3 Puretech petrol mill with a 1.2-litre capacity. This unit is available in two configurations: naturally aspirated (NA) and turbo, both with three cylinders. The former can belt out 80bhp of maximum power and 115Nm of peak torque, whereas the latter produces 109bhp and 205Nm of torque. The turbo-petrol engine, with a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, achieves 19.5km/l and 18.7km/l, respectively. The NA petrol engine, on the other hand, delivers 18km/l of fuel efficiency with a sole five-speed manual gearbox.

Also Read: Tata Curvv vs Citroen Basalt Design Comparison: Which is Better?

Citroen Basalt: Interior and Feature Set

The car has a cabin comparable to the C3 Aircross and can seat up to five people. It has a light beige leatherette fabric with a hexagonal pattern. In addition to a three-point seatbelt, cup holders, and a foldable armrest, the rear bench has a fixed headrest in the middle.

The features list of the Citroen's Coupe SUV comprises a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, rear air conditioning vents, a multifunction steering wheel with mounted controls, an automatic climate control system, a wireless phone charging pad, rear air conditioning vents, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless integration for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. One of the unique features of the Basalt is that the rear seat can be adjusted by 87mm to provide under-thigh support. However, it lacks several amenities that other competitors provide, including an ADAS suite, motorised front seats, ventilated seats, and a panoramic sunroof.

Constructed using 85% premium steel, the Citroen Basalt comes equipped with six airbags (front, side, and curtain) as standard. Other safety features include a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), an electronic stability control (ESC), ISOFIX child seat mounts, seatbelt reminder, a hill hold assist (HSA), and a rear parking camera with parking sensors.