The Citroen Basalt bears the title of being the first coupe SUV in the relatively affordable segment of the market
The Citroen Basalt coupe SUV has initiated a new niche market category in India. With the dimensions close to a mid-size SUV, the unique design elements make it stand apart from the crowd. The sloping roofline at the back lends a rather premium appeal to the SUV. Remember, BMW introduced this design with the X6 for the first time back in 2008. Since then, it had always been associated with premium high-end offerings. That perception is now changed as we start witnessing more affordable coupe SUVs.
3 Pros of the Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV
Note that we spent an entire week with the Citroen Basalt coupe SUV. Having used it on a daily basis in different traffic conditions, we are listing out 3 positives of the vehicle first:
- Design and Styling – It goes without saying that the first aspect of this unique SUV is its design. The moment one gets a look at the SUV, he/she immediately recognizes that it is distinct in comparison to the other SUVs at this price point. You will certainly get a few glances from the onlookers everywhere you go.
- Value Proposition – The next attraction of the Basalt is its value-for-money offering. The prices start at an attractive Rs 8.32 lakh, ex-showroom. At this price point, you will only get sub-4m SUVs. Hence, the Basalt emerges as a great choice. We know that a price-conscious market like India values this point a lot.
- Ride Quality – Citroen speaks very highly of its suspension system which offers a much better and comfortable ride than its rivals. The Basalt benefits from that and makes the long journeys, even on challenging roads, easy for the occupants. Hence, this is a key factor to consider before buying a car in India.
3 Cons of the Citroen Basalt Coupe SUV
- Lack of Features – The first complaint a lot of customers and car experts have from Citroen is the unavailability of some popular features. This includes things like a sunroof, ventilated seats and Maruti Alto-like basic door handles, which is the first point of contact. These are enough to turn off many new consumers.
- Rear Headroom – Now, because of the sloping roofline for that coupe appearance, one could argue that the rear headroom had to be compromised a little. In all honesty, it won’t be an issue for most people. However, if you are around 6 feet in height, your head could brush against the roof.
- Service Network – Finally, we know that any new car brand suffers from this issue during its initial years. It takes time to develop infrastructure in a vast country like India. As a consequence, there aren’t all that major touchpoints for the brand including dealerships and service centre at the moment. Having said that, the French auto giant is working hard to open new touchpoints rapidly. These are the 3 pros and 3 cons of the Citroen Basalt coupe SUV.
Also Read: Citroen Basalt Dark Edition Detailed on Tape [Video]
