A compact crossover SUV, the Citroen C-Crosser entered the market in 2007. It was in production until 2012, designed to be the equivalent of the 4007 from Peugeot. Before it was launched, it was expected that the C-Crosser would take the name C7. Instead, it was named as such after a concept car displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2001. Along with the Peugeot 4007, the Citroen C-Crosser holds the distinction of being the first cars produced by Japanese car manufacturers sold under a French brand. When production ceased, the C-Crosser was replaced by the C4 Aircross.

Pros

The Citroen C-Crosser may have been developed as a Mitsubishi Outlander for Europe but the end result is a vehicle that is a little bit more than its inspiration. This means that the C-Crosser is every bit a Citroen even though it may have technically a different mother. Not that anyone really wants to deny the association anyway, not when the good things about Mitsubishi are the only ones showing through with the C-Crosser.

Citroen and Mitsubishi followed a classic SUV design for the C-Crosser so the vehicle has many of the features that have been established to be important to cars in the class. There’s the lockable four-wheel drive system, for starters, complemented by a spacious cabin that fits five roomy seats, extra folding seats at the rear for children, a flat floor for the boot, a decent tailgate, and close to 1,700 litres of space for luggage. The C-Crosser also offers a proper amount of equipment for functionality and comfort, most especially at the top-spec Exclusive trim which pretty much has everything you’ll need. Think cruise and climate control, rear parking sensors, leather, and a height-adjustable steering wheel. Standard VTR+ models are fitted with MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity, electric mirrors and windows, and climate and cruise control.

There aren’t engine options available with the C-Crosser, but the unit it is fitted with is more than capable. The engine pulls strongly but revs smoothly, and yet still manages to return 40mpg. Given its size and weight, the C-Crosser performs well and achieves that in a refined manner. It can also go from 0 to 60mph in under 10 seconds.

Cons

Inside, the Citroen C-Crosser is tough and well-finished, looking very identical to the Mitsubishi Outlander. This isn’t really a bad thing except that it lacks touches of quality that would have really given the C-Crosser an up-market appearance, much like its rivals or other cars in the Citroen stable like the DS models. And given that the C-Crosser has an up-market price, it’s only reasonable to expect up-market styling. If Citroen can’t provide that, at the very least the C-Crosser should be priced dramatically less.

The C-Crosser has a strong pull and can generally haul lots but it’s a different story when you go off-road. Muddy roads translate to lower revs and that incapacitates the C-Crosser from using its full power. It may have a four-wheel drive system but it doesn’t perform as well as the Land Rover Freelander which uses an identical engine.

Designed by Citroen and manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors, the Citroen C-Crosser is a 4-door compact crossover SUV that was produced from 2007 to 2012. This SUV is Citroen’s first break into the crossover SUV segment. The C-Crosser has since been succeeded by the Citroen C4 Aircross, which was introduced at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The 7-seater C-Crosser was a restyling of the Mitsubishi Outlander, created to fill in the growing demand for four wheel drive SUV-type vehicles. The collaboration resulted in two cars: the C-Crosser and its PSA counterpart, the Peugeot 4007. The original concept for the C-Crosser first appeared in 2001 at the Geneva Motor Show. In 2009, a DCS automatic version was marketed to improve on carbon emissions and as a replacement to the petrol engine variant.

Car enthusiasts greatly see a similarity between the C-Crosser and the Outlander. But the more streamlined interior technology system of the Citroen version, including its radical look and a chassis suitable for European taste, makes it a more competitive and competent vehicle in the segment. Compared to top competition such as the Chevrolet Captiva, Toyota RAV4 and the Land Rover Freelander, the C-Crosser lands the best choice for styling and for overall handling on the road.