Bay Harbour: June 15, 2022

h tp: /kaywa.me/8aVDQ<br />

Download the Kaywa Qr Code reader (A p Store &Android market) and scan your code!<br />

my Kaywa Qr-Code<br />

w.valuecarswarehouse.co.nz<br />

2013 LexuS<br />

LS460 F Sport<br />

Only 79,000kms, black leather<br />

interior, 10x airbags, sunroof,<br />

h tp: /kaywa.me/8aVDQ<br />

Download the Kaywa QR Code Reader (a p Store &android Market) and scan your code!<br />

My Kaywa QR-Code<br />

w.valuecarswarehouse.co.nz<br />

PH 03 web<br />

22 <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News Wednesday <strong>June</strong> <strong>15</strong> <strong>2022</strong><br />

Fuel-friendly, funky C3 Aircross<br />

SMALL CARS are undergoing a<br />

resurgence, well that’s no surprise,<br />

new car buyers today are looking<br />

to get maximum value from their<br />

costly litre of fuel.<br />

Cars with small, thrifty engines<br />

are a popular choice for those<br />

who are not quite ready to join<br />

the electric revolution. But the<br />

question is how small is practical?<br />

Citroen’s C3 is one car that will<br />

tempt with its 1.2-litre three-cylinder<br />

engine returning a combined<br />

cycle fuel usage average of<br />

5.8-litres per 100km. But at just<br />

4m in length it may be a little too<br />

compact for some buyers. Sure,<br />

French car designers know how<br />

to create space from nowhere,<br />

and the C3 will easily take care of<br />

its occupants.<br />

However, if you are looking for<br />

a small car and something French<br />

then the C3 offers another alternative<br />

– the Aircross.<br />

The C3 Aircross is labelled by<br />

Citroen as a sport utility vehicle.<br />

I’m not entirely convinced, I see<br />

it more as a crossover vehicle,<br />

something in-between. However,<br />

it does sit on the C3 platform and<br />

utilises the same driveline, and as<br />

a car it is larger in every dimension,<br />

thereby providing more<br />

interior room, and it must be said<br />

the Aircross is spacious considering<br />

just 16cm is added to length.<br />

If you think there would be<br />

AVANT-GARDE: Spacious interior and unusual trim detailing.<br />

disadvantages, forget that, the<br />

Aircross is a charmer, it is comfortable,<br />

affordable at $38,990 and<br />

has the benefit of a 7.3l/100km<br />

combined cycle average, and with<br />

its 45-litre tank it doesn’t seem<br />

scary when time comes to fill it,<br />

however, bear in mind you do<br />

need premium fuel.<br />

Interestingly, the Aircross<br />

doesn’t get the benefit of the<br />

Government’s low carbon<br />

emission rebate, the C3 does,<br />

but the Aircross is just over the<br />

threshold.<br />

The new C3 Aircross is just<br />

that, totally new. However, the<br />

mechanicals, as mentioned, are<br />

those which are used elsewhere<br />

throughout the Citroen/Peugeot<br />

line-ups. And to cope with the<br />

extra height against the C3 the<br />

Aircross’ suspension has been<br />

tightened marginally.<br />

Elsewhere, the Aircross is a<br />

cheeky, funky five-door that will<br />

command solid sales. It is built to<br />

the Citroen way of manufacture –<br />

avant-garde, a little unusual, but<br />

with a whole heap of charm. Take<br />

the interior trim materials and<br />

patterns, for example, they are<br />

complex and have many contrasts<br />

with their bold elliptical designs.<br />

The three-pot engine, which<br />

displaces just 1199cc, has been<br />

widely-acclaimed, winning many<br />

awards globally, and deservedly<br />

so, the turbocharged unit<br />

punches well above is weight with<br />

its 81kW and 205Nm power outputs.<br />

Drive is channelled through<br />

a six-speed automatic gearbox,<br />

the only transmission available<br />

in New Zealand, the distributors<br />

wouldn’t have it any other way<br />

either, while manual gearbox cars<br />

are still trendy in Europe, they<br />

don’t sell here.<br />

All that aside, the automatic<br />

works fine, it is robust and does<br />

everything like it should, the<br />

ratios are well structured so that<br />

economy and performance go<br />

hand in hand.<br />

The Aircross will reach<br />

100km/h from a standstill in<br />

10.6sec and will complete a<br />

highway overtake in 7sec (80-<br />

120km/h).<br />

However, the best figures are<br />

those of its economy, it is a mammoth<br />

fuel miser. At 100km/h<br />

it sips fuel instantaneously at<br />

the rate of just 4.8l/100km at<br />

100km/h in sixth gear, the engine<br />

turning over quite relaxed at<br />

2000rpm.<br />

When I took the car back to<br />

the dealership the combined average<br />

was reading just 8l/100km,<br />

which considering the car was<br />

brand new and probably a little<br />

tight in the engine, was a good<br />

result.<br />

That doesn’t mean the engine<br />

isn’t ready to perform, the beauty<br />

of the modern turbocharger is<br />

its ability to provide substantial<br />

power low in the rev band –<br />

5500rpm and just <strong>15</strong>00rpm for<br />

torque – as a result, it responds<br />

• Price – Citroen C3<br />

Aircross, $38,990<br />

• Dimensions – Length,<br />

4160mm; width, 1756mm;<br />

height, 1637mm<br />

• Configuration – Threecylinder,<br />

front-wheeldrive,<br />

1199cc, 81kW,<br />

205Nm, six-speed<br />

automatic<br />

• Performance –<br />

0-100km/h, 10.6sec<br />

• Fuel usage – 7.3l/100km<br />

willingly to throttle pressure.<br />

On the open road, the Aircross<br />

cruises with just a hint of the<br />

harmonics normally associated<br />

with the three-cylinder design.<br />

I’ve made no secret of my desire<br />

for that configuration, and it is<br />

a real gem with its response and<br />

characteristics that are part of the<br />

catalyst promoting tidy handling<br />

manners.<br />

Sitting on quiet-riding<br />

Bridgestone tyres (2<strong>15</strong>/50 x 17in),<br />

the Aircross has controlled grip<br />

and purposeful balance. It steers<br />

delightfully, and even though it<br />

is tall at over 1.6m, the suspension<br />

firming I mentioned earlier<br />

means there is little weight transition,<br />

body balance stays even and<br />

occupants are treated to a ride/<br />

handling balance that you could<br />

expect only from Citroen.<br />

I remember well the air/pneumatic<br />

designs in cars of previous<br />

generations, and I can safely say<br />

that even with far more simplistic<br />

technology today’s ride from any<br />

CITROEN C3<br />

AIRCROSS:<br />

Crossover<br />

model that<br />

will appeal<br />

with its<br />

economy.<br />

Citroen model easily replicates<br />

that fabulous float-on-air feeling.<br />

I took the test car on a run<br />

through to Little River, I didn’t<br />

do as many kilometres as I ordinarily<br />

would in an evaluation<br />

car simply because I didn’t want<br />

to run up unnecessary wear on<br />

a dealer demonstrator. But given<br />

it was most likely to be my only<br />

chance to drive the Aircross I<br />

wanted to glean as much satisfaction<br />

from it as I possibly could<br />

and it performed with dignity,<br />

appeal and with a quiet, subdued<br />

nature.<br />

In terms of specification, the<br />

Aircross wants for nothing, it also<br />

gets a whole heap of kit for safety<br />

alongside comfort and convenience.<br />

I mentioned the interior<br />

layout, while it is complex in the<br />

way it looks, it is intuitive when it<br />

comes to function, finding your<br />

way around the controls doesn’t<br />

need any special attention.<br />

One of the things I liked the<br />

most was the driving position<br />

and comfort from the driver’s<br />

seat, under-thigh support and<br />

softness have been a high priority<br />

manufacturing ingredient.<br />

Citroen has always sold well<br />

in Christchurch. I don’t know<br />

if that has anything to do with<br />

some kind of connection to our<br />

French settlement of Akaroa, but<br />

I will say that when I was driving<br />

on State Highway 75 I saw two<br />

other French cars heading in that<br />

direction. I’m hoping they were<br />

buyers who, like me, enjoy the<br />

driving experience of European<br />

models.<br />

HEAT PUMP<br />

SALE NOW ON!<br />

Amazin’ WINTER Deals!!<br />

80%<br />

SubSidy<br />

Warmer KiWi HomeS<br />

Programme<br />

*Eligibility criteria apply<br />

• We will offer you the best quality brands and<br />

option of heat pump for your home/business<br />

• Providing Heat Pump solutions for over 20 years to Cantabrians<br />

• We personally guarantee all our products & installs for 5 years<br />

(providing annual maintenance has been completed)<br />

Phone us today for your free consultation & quote<br />

41A SHAKESPEARE RD, WALTHAM<br />

PHONE 03 366 0525<br />

www.enviromaster.co.nz<br />

“A local team for local people”<br />

www.grcaudio.co.nz<br />

Incorporating<br />

ISSUE 667 | FrIday 20 novEmbEr 2020<br />

113 sherborne st, edgeware<br />

The biggest range of vehicles<br />

in one location!<br />

2011 Jaguar<br />

XF Premium<br />

$18,999<br />

See inside for this week's<br />

4WD feature!<br />

32 Moorhouse Ave | P: (03) 366 7768 | www.valuecarswarehouse.co.nz<br />

See page 4 for more info!<br />

CAR AUDIO<br />

AUDIO VISUAL<br />

free<br />

best motorbuys<br />

Incorporating<br />

ISSUE 668 | FrIday 27 NovEmbEr 2020<br />

275 Colombo street, Christchurch<br />

For more see their advert on pages 6 & 7<br />

The biggest range of vehicles<br />

in one location!<br />

2013 Volkswagen<br />

Tiguan TSi<br />

$20,999<br />

CAR SECURITY<br />

CELLULAR<br />

32 Moorhouse Ave | P: (03) 366 7768 | www.valuecarswarehouse.co.nz<br />

MOBILE INSTALLATION SERVICE<br />

See page 5 for more info!<br />

Ce l 021 855 884<br />

Incorporating<br />

ISSUE 669 | FrIday 4 dEcEmbEr 2020<br />

See inside for this week's<br />

Classic Car feature!<br />

PH 03 web<br />

REVERSE CAMERAS<br />

RADAR DETECTORS<br />

www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />

40 Years Finance<br />

Experience<br />

Cannot be Beaten!<br />

• Talk to us about finance for your next<br />

motor vehicle purchase<br />

• Specialising in Finance for Private Purchases<br />

• Very quick approvals, sensational interest rates<br />

• From no deposit (terms & conditions may apply)<br />

Hiace spares<br />

Cnr Main South Rd and Epsom Rd, Christchurch<br />

Ph: 03 348 4129 | avoncityford.com<br />

Now Available @ NZ Van Spares<br />

PARKING SENSORS<br />

AERIALS<br />

0800 212 777<br />

One Owner!<br />

DASH CAMERAS<br />

GPS/TRACKING<br />

See our ad on page 2<br />

20<strong>15</strong> IsuZu D-mAX<br />

4WD Ls D/CAb<br />

NZ new, 3.0 intercooled turbo/dsl,<br />

auto, rare flatdeck with ladder/pipe<br />

racks, reverse cam, service history.<br />

$34,995 $192pw<br />

For more see their advert on page 31<br />

free<br />

best motorbuys<br />

Ce l 021 855 884<br />

www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />

See inside for this week's<br />

marine feature!<br />

www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />

2.4 auto, alloys, ABS, twin airbags.<br />

2005 toyota rav<br />

40 Years Finance<br />

Experience<br />

Cannot be Beaten!<br />

• Talk to us about finance for your next<br />

motor vehicle purchase<br />

• Specialising in Finance for Private Purchases<br />

free<br />

best motorbuys<br />

$9,990<br />

2.0lt Petrol, 5 Dr Station wagon,<br />

Climate Control, ABS Braking,<br />

Automatic. $34.63pw.<br />

2008 bmW 320i<br />

$10,974 NoW $7,974 + orC<br />

has motoring covered.<br />

The South Island’s leading<br />

motoring resource, filled with<br />

news, reviews and dealer listings.<br />

Magazine available for FREE<br />

every Friday at a convenient<br />

pick up point near you!<br />

Very quick approvals, sensational interest rates<br />

• From no deposit (terms & conditions may apply)<br />

very smart & very rare.<br />

$39,999 incL<br />

orc<br />

Hiace spare<br />

Now Available @<br />

493 blenheim road, Christchurch<br />

Cnr Main South Rd and Epsom Rd, Christchurch<br />

Ph: 03 348 4129 | avoncityford.com<br />

Affordable new parts available for BMW / MERCEDES BENZ<br />

The biggest range of vehicles<br />

in one location!<br />

454 St Asaph Street, 03 378 1818