Citroën Basalt Review: Value has Never Looked this Good
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Dylan Naidoo
Citroën on the surface looks just like any other car manufacturer making affordable cars for regular people that needs to go from point A to B. However, that's a flawed analogy personally. In fact, I’d argue that Citroën is probably one of the most underappreciated car makers ever. The automaker has made many revolutionary cars, from the 2CV which made cars affordable for the masses in France, to the DS proved that Citroën has the ability to match smooth, elegant styling with advanced technology that made the car feel super futuristic in the 1950s. Even later cars like the 2014 Citroën Cactus, with its unique shape and quirky design, has many design cues that are seen in new cars today, especially the split headlights. Really, Citroën means more to me than people give the brand credit for, and by just looking at the new Citroën Basalt in our review, I can still see that classic Citroën is far from gone.
Engineering and Technology
The Citroën Basalt is a “Coupe-SUV”, similar to cars like the BMW X6 or Mercedes GLE Coupe. It features a 1.2l engine automatic only outputting a respectable 88kW of power and 205nm or torque. The engine really surprised us, offering an excitable punch of power from its compact size. The suspension and ride quality was phenomenal, which shouldn’t be surprising coming from the same company that invented one of the smoothest car suspensions ever made.
The Basalt is fully decked out with impressive tech, from the massive 10inch infotainment screen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, to other comfort features such as a reverse camera, a digital instrument cluster, and uniquely, an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The car even has cruise control, keyless entry and a speed limiter as standard, which if you told me several years ago was unheard of at the price point of this car. Fuel consumption is also a plus, with a claimed 6.31l/100km, impressive for the size of this car. As outlined by Autotrader, The Basalt is equipped with six airbags, as well as other safety equipment including Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) and Hill-Hold Assist. Overall, the Citroën Basalt is very well-equipped technology-wise and engine wise, offering a well-rounded experience for the price.
Design and Interior
Like any new Citroën, the car looks phenomenal. It retains that signature Citroën “cat whisker” styled split headlights that blends smoothly along with the smooth silver accents on the grill. The rest of the car features a subdued type of styling, with smooth minimalistic design cues, but of course retaining that black scratch protector on the side of the car as a memento to the original Cactus. Design looks fantastic, and I am excited at this design direction that Citroën is heading in.
The interior is one of the big stand outs of this amazing car. The interior is very spacious, with a solid amount of leg room and head room for both front and rear passengers. For these types of Coupe-SUVs, normally head room in the rear is greatly sacrificed for the coupe style, as seen in the BMW X6, so it came to my utmost surprise to see how much head room the Basalt has to offer, comfortably seating tall occupants with plenty of leg room. Top Gear noted this spacious interior as well and also outlined that the boot has a 470L capacity, very impressive for this price point. The seats are also very comfortable, and the best way to describe it is the type of seats that makes you forget you are in a moving car. Design-wise, the interior also looks very unique. I like the design they have going on with the seats, and I think it gives the car that classic Citroën youthful personality. As a whole, the design and interior of this car really is a standout feature for this car, and some of the best I’ve seen, again, at this price point.
Pricing and Overall Thoughts
Another major shock to me about the Basalt is definitely the price. Pricing for the Basalt starts at R354 900, with the highest trim at R369 900. Really, I could not believe the price either. This car feels like something double its actual price, so I can confidently say that yes, the Citroën Basalt is absolutely amazing value for money, with a great blend of advanced tech, phenomenal styling, and solid power.
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