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If you can’t beat them…

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

If you can’t beat them, join them. That seems to be the attitude of some of the more established car companies to the booming SUV market.
Long established companies like Mazda and Citroen are coming to the SUV business a little late, but in some cases it’s worth the wait.

I have written recently on these pages about Mazda’s CX-7, their first SUV. Now it’s the turn of Citroen with their equally impressive C-Crosser, which is based on the same platform as the Peugeot 4007 and Mitsubishi Outlander.
There are several different types of SUVs out there now, but you won’t mistake the C-Crosser because of its distinctive Citroen branding. The front is dominated by the chevrons that stretch right across the bonnet blending into the headlamps. Roof rails add to the SUV effect.
This is a very high motor and the view is excellent for both driver and passengers. The seats, which are very comfortable and the inside panels of the doors are all cream coloured, which gives the interior a really bright look.
For years now people have been making jokes about SUV drivers using the motors for school runs etc. Now most SUVs have lower C02 emissions than regular cars. That’s definitely true of the C-Crosser whose figures are 191g/km of C02. So it will be cheaper if you wait until the new rules introduced in the recent budget kick in on July 1.
When I picked up the Crosser the two back seats were down and it was just a five-seater. With five seats you have massive space to carry any items you wish. Naturally that space is lost if you decide to use the two seats which fold neatly into the floor.
There are lots of extras, including cruise controls, heated front seats, parking sensors, 18 inch alloy wheels and a 6-CD auto-changer. The only surprise was that there was no sunroof to complete the sporty effect.
You can switch from two to four-wheel drive by means of switch near the handbrake. And if it’s speed you are into, I’m told you can get from 0 to 100kmp in just under 10 seconds.
Making it easier to load bulky objects, the tailgate opens in two sections. The lower part is able to support up to 200kg, allowing it to double up as an al fresco seat if required. It would probably be ideal for a picnic, later in the year of course.
I found this SUV very commanding and comfortable and the only quibble I would have is with the name. C-Crosser just doesn’t slide of the tongue.
Citroen’s Irish sales have been poor in recent years as the parent French company tried to insist on discounting prices which didn’t go down well here. Now the C-Crosser could help revive Irish sales.
There are only two models, both diesel; the 2.2 Dynamique that costs e41,850, while the 2.2 Exclusive is e46,750. Citroen has recently opened seven new dealerships here, bringing their total in the Republic now to 34.

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