Citroën Rolls Out Big Festive Discounts As Brand Turns Four: Basalt Gets Largest Discount
Citroën is marking its fourth year in the country with a round of generous discounts across its small but growing portfolio. The French automaker, which entered the market in July 2020, is offering benefits of up to ₹2.8 lakh on select models, making this the most aggressive price drop from the brand to date. While sales volumes have remained modest compared to mainstream rivals, these new deals suggest Citroën is keen to ramp up appeal just ahead of the festive buying season.
Up to ₹2.8 Lakh Off: What’s on Offer?
Leading the pack is the latest car from Citroen - the Basalt. The SUV coupe gets benefits worth ₹2.8 lakh. The discount is split into a straight cash offer of ₹2 lakh, a loyalty bonus of ₹50,000 for existing Citroën owners, and a further exchange bonus of ₹30,000. While the Basalt has always been appreciated for its comfort and plush ride, Citroen's limited brand recognition have kept its numbers low. This new pricing push could finally give it the boost it needs among buyers who value European comfort and plushness.
The electric ë-C3, which has struggled to gain momentum in the crowded entry-level EV space, is also being offered with total benefits of ₹40,000.
The C3 EV, while competitive in range and practicality, has often lost out to better-established rivals with more features and stronger charging infrastructure tie-ups. Citroën is clearly hoping this revised pricing can help reposition the model as a more value-rich city runabout.
Meanwhile, the petrol-powered C3 hatchback is being offered with benefits of up to ₹145,000. These include a combination of cash discounts and exchange schemes, along with corporate perks. This entry-level offering has found takers in smaller towns, but feature omissions like power-adjustable ORVMs and the lack of an automatic gearbox have limited its urban appeal. These new benefits may help balance out those shortcomings for cost-conscious buyers.
The C3 Aircross, one of Citroën’s recent launches, is also part of the celebration, with offers up to ₹65,000 available depending on the variant. The Aircross has been praised for its ride comfort, space, and modular seating, but it has yet to see volume success, partly due to feature gaps and the absence of an automatic transmission. As per enthusiast feedback, the SUV feels well-built and competent but doesn’t yet offer the polish or convenience features of its more popular competitors.
A Pivotal Time for Citroën
These offers come at a crucial time for the company. Despite entering the market with global ambitions and a focus on comfort, Citroën has remained a niche player, often constrained by its limited sales and service network. While products like the C3 and Aircross are designed with localisation in mind, the competition from heavily entrenched brands like Maruti, Hyundai, Tata, and Mahindra has been intense.
With the brand now entering its fifth year, this discount-driven approach appears to be a renewed attempt to shake off its slow-sales tag. The company is also reportedly preparing to launch the automatic variants of the C3 and C3 Aircross in the coming months, which could significantly widen its reach among urban car buyers.
What This Means for Shoppers
For those considering a Citroën, this is perhaps the best time yet. The brand’s models, particularly the C5 and Aircross, are known for their suspension tuning and highway stability. Even the C3 and its EV sibling have their strengths in terms of ride quality and cabin space. The new festive pricing could help bring them into consideration for buyers who were earlier put off by the value equation.
However, prospective customers should keep in mind that some of the brand’s key models still lack certain creature comforts that have become standard elsewhere. After-sales service availability and long-term support also remain questions that are slowly being addressed as the network grows.
Still, with deep discounts, solid mechanicals, and a fresh European design language, Citroën’s anniversary offers bring its products a lot closer to the mainstream. Whether buyers respond with equal enthusiasm remains to be seen, but it’s clear the brand is finally shifting gears.