The petrol-engined Citroen C-Crosser won't be for everyone but its exclusive availability in entry-level trim and with the CVT automatic gearbox make it a desirable option for certain customer groups. The diesel is the more satisfying engine but running the smooth, powerful 2.4-litre petrol option should be no hardship.

It's diesel power that buyers of compact 4x4 vehicles traditionally favour and Citroen's C-Crosser has a commendable diesel engine in its 2.2-litre HDi unit. It also has another engine, however, one that it would be easy for buyers to overlook. The question at hand is whether overlooking the 2.4-litre petrol C-Crosser is a sensible course of action, or not?

The consensus of opinion is that Citroen's first foray into the compact 4x4 market has been successful. The marque can be justifiably proud of itself, having produced a viable 4x4 product with no previous record in the SUV field. Citroen has pulled this off so effectively, the fact that the C-Crosser is little more than a re-badged Mitsubishi Outlander has been comprehensively brushed under the carpet.

The C-Crosser's Outlander origins are nothing to be ashamed of anyway. Who can argue with the policy of utilising someone else's expertise in a given area in order to enhance your own performance? It makes perfect sense but while Mitsubishi's 4x4 know-how forms an essential part of the C-Crosser, the Japanese marque's 2.4-litre petrol engine appears less key to its fortunes.

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 one 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. What about the petrol engine in the C-Crosser?

"The 2.4-litre option will make sense if you prioritise refinement, want to pay as little as possible or must have an automatic gearbox.."

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. The engine revs freely and offers superior refinement to the diesel but that low-end muscle that 4x4 buyers like is never very forthcoming. It feels like you need to work the engine harder to get the most out of it.

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 paucity of ability in the rough stuff. The C-Crosser's habitat is firmly on the asphalt, the steering has a nice weight to it and despite being a large vehicle, capable of seating seven in some guises, it changes direction swiftly making it well suited to urban driving.

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 overall shape of the car. Likewise, the interior has a distinctly 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.

The 2.4-litre petrol engine in the C-Crosser is the entry-level choice, despite its 14bhp power advantage over the 2.2-litre diesel. The price differential between the two engines appears to be a big one as well, but while the more expensive diesel model opens in VTR+ trim, the base 2.4-litre comes as a less luxurious VTR. You can get the 2.4-litre as a VTR+ or a plush Exclusive, should you feel that way inclined, but only if you also take the CVT gearbox. Because of this, direct comparisons between the petrol and diesel aren't that easy to make. There's no automatic option with the oil-burner so anyone intent on having the cogs swapped for them is stuck with petrol and it's a similar story with the VTR trim level. This comes accompanied exclusively by the 2.4-litre engine and a five-speed manual gearbox.

The C-Crosser VTR is still reasonably well equipped despite its lowly positioning in the range. It comes with only five seats but automatic folding rear seats, cruise control, light sensing headlamps and a split tailgate are standard. Safety features run to ABS with EBD, ESP stability control and six airbags. A 2.4-litre VTR is the most affordable way into a Citroen C-Crosser and it definitely has something to offer from a value for money perspective.

The party line when it comes to choosing between petrol and diesel power on cost grounds is for high mileage drivers to choose diesel and low mileage drivers to go petrol - leaving those in the middle with a trickier decision to make. This still holds true but fuel costs have increased the mileage tipping point at which diesel makes more sense. The 2.4-litre petrol C-Crosser could be a major beneficiary of this because although its 30.1mpg average economy is a hefty burden, it will take a diesel buyer averaging 39.2mpg some time to recoup the additional outlay they've made in reduced fuel savings. CO2 emissions for the two cars are 225g/km for the petrol and 191g/km for the diesel although the CVT gearbox on the petrol does improve economy and emissions slightly to 30.4mpg and 222g/km.

In general, 'soft' SUVs of this kind really aren't any more expensive to run than your average medium range estate. Depreciation? Well, it should be slightly better than Far Eastern alternatives and what you lose against the posh brands should be recouped by the discount you'll be needing to ask from your friendly dealer upfront.

Petrol-engined compact 4x4s haven't been particularly popular with UK buyers but Citroen has structured its C-Crosser range in a manner that should promote sales of the 2.4-litre models. The 170bhp petrol engine is the only way into the affordable VTR trim level and the sole option for buyers seeking a self-shifting gearbox. With fuel prices tipping the balance in petrol's favour, it might be time for some customers to give the green pump a chance.

There's no doubt that the C-Crosser is at its best in diesel form. The petrol unit can't match its muscle or its economy and the HDi unit delivers a more flexible, relaxing driving experience. The 2.4-litre option will still make sense if you prioritise refinement, want to pay as little as possible for your C-Crosser or must have an automatic gearbox. Regardless of the engine installed, the C-Crosser is one of the top road-going compact 4x4s for value and practicality.

TOP 3 C-CROSSER DEALS

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

	Citroen C-Crosser 2.4i VTR 5dr Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £320	Saving £3,357	Price £16,507
	Citroen C-Crosser 2.4i VTR Plus 5dr CVT Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £361	Saving £3,864	Price £18,447
	Citroen C-Crosser 2.4i Exclusive 5dr CVT Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £406	Saving £4,411	Price £20,542

typical 11.87% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000