Used Citroen C-Crosser (2007 - To Date) review

Citroen probably isn't a manufacturer you'd automatically turn to if you were in the market for a compact but family-sized 7-seater 4x4 but the C-Crosser is a very good first attempt. There are a lot of better known alternatives out there on the used market but this one shouldn't be overlooked, particularly in 2.2-litre HDI form. It might not be as cheap as you'd expect for a Citroen but the equipment levels are unusually high, particularly in the higher spec models.

* Introduction Citroen had about as much experience in four-wheel-drive vehicles as it did in farming ostriches when it launched the C-Crosser compact SUV. It had never previously seen the need to supplement its range with an off-roader but in the months leading up to the C-Crosser's arrival, the market for compact 4x4s was booming and all kinds of unlikely manufacturers were rushing to get piece of the action. Lacking any real experience, the chances of hitting the bullseye with a 4x4 of its own were slim at best so Citroen and its PSA partner Peugeot teamed up with Mitsubishi. The resulting C-Crosser was better than anyone could have imagined but does it make a sensible used buy?

CITROEN C-CROSSER HISTORY

Citroen is a master when it comes to sharing platforms and technology. Notable collaborators include BMW on engines, Fiat on vans and Peugeot on just about everything. It made sense for the marque to draw upon Mitsubishi's expertise in the 4x4 field in order to develop the C-Crosser. The problem with this link up was that Mitsubishi got Citroen's excellent 2.2-litre HDi diesel engine as part of the deal and promptly fitted it to its own version of the C-Crosser called the Outlander. Peugeot also offered a version of same car from around the same time, christening it the 4007. It all means that the C-Crosser not only needed to fend off competition from all the other compact 4x4s, but it had to do battle with two other products that were broadly identical beneath the skin. The C-Crosser hit the streets in 2007 just as the compact 4x4 boom was reaching its height. It was offered with the excellent 2.2-litre HDI diesel engine and a rather pitiful 2.4-litre petrol unit that was mainly included to give an attractive opening price for the advertising campaign. Trim levels were the familiar Citroen fare of VTR, VTR+ and Exclusive but a special edition Code model was also introduced a little later on and may well be worth seeking out. In late 2009, a DCS automatic version of the diesel version was introduced, a move that coincided with a slight reduction in CO2 from this engine and the deletion of the 2.4-litre petrol model.

WHAT DO I GET FOR MY MONEY?

The C-Crosser's Mitsubishi Outlander heritage is well masked by the exterior styling which is far better executed than that of its Peugeot 4007 sister vehicle. Even though the front end is resolutely Citroen, there's still a Japanese flavour to the rear and the overall shape of the car. Likewise, the interior has a distinctly Far Eastern feel to it. There's none of the trademark Citroen lateral thinking, the fascia being rather conventional. Two cowled dials house the major instruments and the centre console is sparse and rather plasticky it has to be said. Despite this, there isn't too much you can finger as being wrong with the ergonomics. The ventilation controls are easy to fathom and the multifunction controls on the steering wheel are a nice touch. Citroen's penchant for functionality and innovation is clearly visible in the C-Crosser, with its flexible 5+2 seating configuration. For ease of use when exiting the third row seats, or when reconfiguring the boot lay-out, the second row seats can be electronically folded forwards using the buttons located internally next to the rear wheel arches. The two occasional use seats in the rear can be simply folded away under the floor, while the second row of seating also slides and reclines for greater comfort. The C-Crosser also offers plenty of stowage space throughout, with over 20 individual storage compartments. All five rear seats can be folded away easily to provide a flat floor and vast load space of up to 1,686 litres, while the boot capacity is up to 510 litres when the second row of seats are in use. To help loading items into the huge boot space, there's a split two-piece tailgate. Folded down, the lower section drops the sill by 64mm allowing heavy goods to be easily loaded, while doubling as a handy bench, capable of supporting up to 200kg. All models come well equipped with even the VTR getting automatic folding rear seats, cruise control, light sensing headlamps and a split tailgate. Safety features run to ABS with EBD, ESP stability control and six airbags.

WHAT PRICE AM I LOOKING AT?

By the time Citroen launched the C-Crosser, there was a huge number of compact 4x4s vying for the attention of buyers and the following months gave rise to yet more. It meant that sales were spread rather thinly outside of the established names and as a result of this and the restricted supply to the UK market, used C-Crossers aren't particularly common. At least this relative rarity and the C-Crosser's generous equipment quota has helped keep residual values firmer than they would otherwise have been.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR?

Although it will cope with moderate off-road driving, the C-Crosser isn't designed as a hardcore off-road tool and examples that have been used as such should be avoided. Check for telltale scuffed wheels, and have a good look underneath to ensure there's no impact damage. Otherwise, with the mechanicals being supplied by Mitsubishi, it's reasonable to expect strong reliability from Citroen's 4x4.

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

4x4 buyers like diesel for a number of reasons. The muscular torque characteristics of diesel engines make them good for towing duties, getting a hefty vehicle quickly up to speed and, should the need arise, hauling over difficult off-road terrain. Diesel of course, also out-performs petrol on the fuel economy front. The advantage of petrol tends to come in its upfront affordability and greater smoothness, although we're talking in very general terms here. So what about the petrol engine in the C-Crosser? Well, it's a 2.4-litre 170bhp unit which makes it more powerful than the 156bhp 2.2-litre HDi diesel alternative. It's a little faster from 0-60mph with a 9.2s showing compared to the 9.9s managed by the HDi and it's available with a CVT automatic gearbox. In the real world, however, the diesel is massively superior, stronger and more flexible from low revs. It's one of the best oil-burning units of its era. The real killer comes at the pumps where the 2.4-litre petrol returns 30mpg where the 2.2-litre HDI gets 39mpg. The C-Crosser does a fine job on the road for a compact 4x4. The ride is on the firm side but the bounciness that afflicts some 4x4 vehicles never manifests itself. Body roll, another major bugbear for high sided vehicles like the C-Crosser, is also well contained but the flipside of these polished road manners is a lack of ability in the rough stuff. The C-Crosser's preferred habitat is firmly on the asphalt, the steering has a nice weight to it and despite being a large vehicle, it changes direction swiftly making it well suited to urban driving.

BY STEVE WALKER

PARTS INFORMATION

(Based on a 2007 2.4-litre VTR) A replacement exhaust (front to the catalyst) will set you back roughly £285, while a new clutch will be around £215. A replacement alternator should be around £175 and a starter motor about the same. A new wing mirror is in the region of £165, while a headlamp is an eye watering £240.

TOP 2 C-CROSSER DEALS

The results below show the top C-CROSSER deals on buyacar

Citroen C-Crosser 2.2 HDi VTR Plus 5dr Diesel Estate
Price £20,822 Click for a C-Crosser Review	Save £3,323
Citroen C-Crosser 2.2 HDi Exclusive 5dr Diesel Estate
Price £23,375 Click for a C-Crosser Review	Save £3,545