Citroen Basalt

Powering the Citroen Basalt are two petrol engine options. The first is a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 81 bhp and 115 Nm of torque. The second is a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine producing 108 bhp and 190 Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed manual gearbox depending on the variant.

In real-world driving conditions, fuel efficiency can range between 14-18 kmpl depending on traffic and driving style.

City Driving

In city traffic, the Citroen Basalt feels quite manageable despite its SUV proportions. The clutch is light in the manual variants. Gear shifts are smooth and predictable.

Steering feels light at low speeds, which makes parking easier. Visibility from the driver’s seat is also good. This makes navigating through tight city streets less stressful.

The suspension setup is clearly tuned for comfort. Even rough patches and potholes are absorbed nicely. Passengers feel fewer jolts compared to many compact SUVs.

Highway Driving

On highways, the Citroen Basalt feels stable and composed. The turbo-petrol motor feels much more gruntier for high-speed overtakes. The acceleration is strong and the motor is sufficiently potent for regular highway use.  The SUV feels stable at speeds of roughly 120 km/h. The suspension offers a great ride even on the uneven patches of highways. 

Long drives feel comfortable because the seats offer decent support. Road noise remains reasonably controlled at cruising speeds. The Citroen Basalt encourages relaxed cruising rather than aggressive driving.

Broadly speaking, the Citroen Basalt is available in 4 main variants. Each of these caters to a different buyer expectation in terms of budget and equipment. 

You Variant: This is the entry-level version. It focuses mainly on affordability while offering basic essentials like power windows, manual AC, and essential safety equipment.

Plus Variant: This variant adds more convenience features such as a touchscreen infotainment system, steering-mounted controls, and additional interior comfort features.

Turbo Plus Variant: This is where the turbo-petrol engine is made available. It even gets more equipment. It also improves overall performance and highway capability.

Turbo Max Variant: The flagship variant comes with the most features, including a larger touchscreen infotainment unit, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and more premium interior finishes.

With a fairly straightforward lineup, the Citroen Basalt range remains simple for buyers to understand.

Going by the ARAI figures, the Citroen Basalt has a fuel economy of up to 19 kmpl. While the turbo variant is more powerful, it is even the one with a slightly higher fuel efficiency. In real-world conditions, safely expect the actual mileage to be around 15 kmpl for the turbo version, and 13-14 kmpl for the naturally-aspirated variant. Out on the highways, one can extract up to 18 kmpl with gentle driving and steady throttle. 

Fuel efficiency depends heavily on throttle usage. Aggressive acceleration will reduce the mileage. However, for a compact SUV with a turbo petrol engine, the numbers remain fairly reasonable. When you consider the styling and practicality on offer, the Basalt price feels competitive within its segment.

Even though the Citroen Basalt shares its platform with other Citroen models, its design feels very different. The coupe-SUV silhouette immediately catches attention. The front design carries Citroen’s signature styling with sleek LED DRLs and a bold grille. The overall shape looks modern and distinctive.

From the side, the sloping roofline clearly highlights the coupe inspiration. Large wheel arches and body cladding give it a rugged SUV stance. At the rear, the design looks clean and minimalistic. The tail lamps stretch across the width and complement the overall design nicely.

So, all in all, the Citroen Basalt looks stylish with a distinctive styling package without looking too flashy or outlandish. 

On the inside, the Citroen Basalt has a high focus on practicality instead of tech-gadgetry. The dashboard layout looks simple and functional. The infotainment system supports smartphone connectivity and offers basic connected features. The interface feels easy to understand.

The seats are fairly comfortable in both rows. They offer good cushioning over long drivers. Even with a sloping roofline, the rear space doesn’t feel cramped. Moreover, the Basalt offers a large boot space that can easily handle enough luggage for a short family trip. Storage spaces around the cabin also add everyday usability. To sum it up, the Citroen Basalt manages to combine style with practicality inside the cabin.

Safety features in the Citroen Basalt include essentials such as airbags, ABS with EBD, and electronic stability control. These features help ensure safe driving in both city and highway conditions. The SUV also gets rear parking sensors and a reverse camera for easier parking. These features are especially useful in crowded city environments.

The body structure feels solid and pretty well-built. Citroen vehicles are generally known for good ride comfort along with decent structural strength. While it may not offer advanced ADAS features like some rivals, the Citroen Basalt still provides the essential safety equipment needed for everyday driving.

Mainly, the Citroen Basalt competes with compact SUVs like the Tata Curvv along with the lower variants of Hyundai Creta. 

• Tata Curvv: Offers a similar coupe-SUV design but focuses more on technology and multiple powertrain options.

• Hyundai Creta: More feature-loaded and widely popular, but lacks the distinctive coupe styling of the Basalt.

When compared to these main rivals, the Citroen Basalt offers more comfort and distinctiveness. Also, the Basalt price makes it among the most affordable options in its segment. 

Even though the Citroen Basalt has several strengths, there are certain aspects buyers should consider carefully before making a purchase decision.

In case you’re in the market for a compact SUV that has a distinctive style along with a high focus on comfort, the Citroen Basalt will certainly not disappoint. Its coupe-inspired design gives it a strong road presence. At the same time, it provides segment-best ride comfort, a practical and fairly well-appointed cabin, and sufficient performance, especially in the turbo variants. 

Even though it is not the most feature-loaded option in its class, it still offers a well-rounded package. The Citroen Basalt launched in India with the aim of offering style and comfort together, and it has pretty much succeeded in doing so.