Rs 16 Lakh Most Ignored 7-Seater SUV Deserves Your Attention! » MotorOctane

The Hyundai Creta & Tata Nexon are dominating the segment between Rs 10 lakh & Rs 20 lakh. At such a price point, a French automaker launched a 7-seater Creta rival under Rs 16 lakh. The SUV, however, never got a chance, simply because it had many shortcomings in a sensitive market like India. That said, the brand has finally addressed all the issues, making the SUV an attractive option!
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Citroen Aircross X – Why Most Ignored?

Yes, we are talking about the Citroen Aircross X. The Aircross, or even Citroen as a brand, is ignored by many. In August and September, the brand was able to sell only 45 & 59 units, respectively. The brand recently addressed most of the issues and launched a new X nomenclature for SUVs like Aircross & the Basalt. Recently, we had the chance to test the Basalt X and were surprised by the improvements it made. But the reason to talk about the Aircross X, particularly, is the fact that it is much more practical when compared to the Basalt! So, let’s take a look at some of the worthy positives of the Aircross X.

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Best SUV Under Rs 16 Lakh – Improvements 

Here is a list of a few improvements that make the Aircross X a far better product –

Interior 

At the time of launch, the Aircross received a lot of criticism, mainly for its low-quality, outdated interior. With the X model, the issue has been resolved. Step inside the SUV, and you will appreciate the efforts Citroen has made. The completely redesigned dashboard now looks upmarket with clever use of colours – Black & Tan dual tone. Even the quality of plastics seems to have improved with an added leather finish on the dashboard.

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Features 

Another aspect where the Aircross lags behind the competition is features. But with the X model, Citroen has done its best to offer some modern features. The list includes – a 10.25-inch touchscreen system, ventilated front seats, CARA connected technology with 50+ languages, auto-dimming IRVM, passive entry, LED projector fog lamps and more. Moreover, with the top model, you can opt for a 360-degree camera setup for an additional Rs 25,000.

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Safety

One of the most important factors that is now considered among buyers is safety. At Bharat NCAP, the Basalt received a 4-star safety rating. The same was expected with the Aircross, which wasn’t tested before. However, in September 2025, Citroen crash tested the SUV and secured a full 5-star safety ratings – despite sharing components with the Basalt. It comes with safety features like 6 Airbags, ESC, TPMS, ISOFIX child seat mounts and more!

So, these are some of the noticeable & much-needed improvements the Aircross has received. Additionally, it has a few more mechanical positives that enhance the SUV’s overall experience!

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Best SUV Under Rs 16 Lakh – Other Positives

Citroen is generally known for offering one of the best ride qualities in its cars. And the Aircross is no different! The suspension setup is excellent, and you will enjoy the ride quality on any road conditions. Also, its 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine (109bhp & 205Nm) with a 6-speed AT is one of the best in the business! And finally, we cannot ignore the fact that it is one of the most practical SUVs at the price point! With the Aircross, you get a 7-seating configuration, in which, when not needed, you can remove the last row of seats and use it as boot space.

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So, with all the improvements, the Aircross can be considered under Rs 16 lakh! Yes, the lack of a service network could be an issue for many. If that gets sorted too, it becomes one of the best choices – considering the fact that it is the only Creta-size SUV to offer a top variant at a price point ruled by sub-4 metre SUVs!