Citroen Basalt Launched At Rs. 7.99 Lakh: India’s Most Affordable SUV Coupe Is Here
Citroen has hit it out of the park with the Basalt SUV Coupe, for it’s India’s most affordable SUV Coupe is here, at a starting price of Rs. 7.99 lakh, ex-showroom India. These introductory prices will be applicable for all bookings and deliveries until the 31st of October, 2024. Prices of other variants will be announced shortly.
We like it that Citroen is clearly the timeline for the introductory prices on the Basalt so that prospective buyers can plan their purchase better. Bookings are now open, and prospective buyers have two ways to book the Basalt: 1. Go to their nearest La Maison (Citroen) dealership and book offline and 2. Book online on Citroen. The booking amount is pegged at an affordable Rs. 11,001.
There are two engines on offer: a 1.2 liter-3 cylinder naturally aspirated motor borrowed from the C3 hatchback, and a 1.2 liter-3 cylinder Puretech turbo petrol engine borrowed from the C3 AirCross. Both engines have now been tried and tested in India, and are known to be competent performers.
The 1.2 liter non turbo petrol makes 82 Bhp-115 Nm while the turbocharged petrol puts out 110 Bhp-205 Nm (190 Nm on the manual). The turbo petrol motor is easily the pick of the lot, and will be an enthusiast’s favourite given the strong surge of torque it delivers, along with its rev happy nature. while the non turbo engine is available with a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard, buyers can choose between 6 speed manual and torque converter automatic gearboxes on the turbo petrol trims.
Key safety features that come standard across all variants of the Basalt include 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Hold Control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Engine Stop/Start technology, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The Basalt’s body is made up of a combination of high-strength steel (HSS), Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS), and Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS), and Citroen claims that this combination gives the SUV Coupe excellent crash safety performance. Bharat NCAP details are awaited though.
As for dimensions, the Citroen Basalt measures 4,352 mm in length, and has a class leading wheelbase of 2,651 mm. Notably, the wheelbase of the Basalt is about 90 mm longer than that of it’s nearest competitor – the Tata Curvv. This also makes for a whopping 980 mm of leg room on the Basalt SUV Coupe – something that’s not very common in this category of cars.
Apart from the extended legroom, there are a bunch of features on the Basalt aimed at back seat comfort. A first-in-segment ‘Smart Tilt Cushion’ offers enhanced thigh support adjustment up to 87 mm, and the headrests are designed to prevent lateral movement for the rear passengers.
Other key features on the Basalt’s interiors include a 26 cm Citroën Connect in-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system with Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, a 17.7 cm Intelli-Smart instrument cluster, 3 USB ports, 15-watt Smart Wireless Charger, automatic climate control and rear AC vents.
There are some misses though. For instance, there’s no cruise control, no push button start, no keyless entry, no sunroof, no pull-type door handles and so on. This is probably how Citroen has managed to price the Basalt so competitively. In fact, the Basalt undercuts every other car in the segment by a whopping Rs. 2 lakh (prices of the Curvv ICE trims not out yet).
Just to compare the starting prices of the Basalt’s competition with that of the 7.99 lakh rupee Citroen SUV Coupe: Hyundai Creta starts at Rs 11 lakh while the Kia Seltos starts at Rs 10.90 lakh. The MG Astor (9.98 lakh), Skoda Kushaq (Rs 10.89 lakh), Maruti Grand Vitara (Rs 10.99 lakh) Toyota Hyryder (Rs 11.14 lakh), Volkswagen Taigun (Rs 11.70 lakh) and the Honda Elevate (Rs 11.69 lakh) are all significantly pricier than the Basalt. Even the upcoming Tata Curvv ICE trims, whose prices will be out on the 2nd of September, is expected to be pricier than the Basalt.
Meanwhile, the Basalt is available in five colours: Polar White, Steel Grey, Platinum Grey, Cosmo Blue and Garnet Red. The white and red paint options also get a contrast black roof. The Basalt rides on 16 inch wheels, and gets a ground clearance of 180 mm, which should be enough for most Indian conditions. The boot measures at 470 liters. Watch this space for the full price list.