Not long after Tata presented Indians with the Curvv, the country’s first ever SUV-coupé, the French automotive manufacturer Citroën too has joined the club with their freshly minted Basalt. Dubbed “The Unthinkable”, the Citroën Basalt is all set to revolutionize India’s budding SUV-coupé segment. Launched at an introductory price of an affordable $ 9500 (₹ 799,000), the Basalt is all-set to mark its territory in the highly competitive SUV market of India with its stunning looks, innovative features, revolutionary design and unmatched levels of comfort, performance and style.

A Symbol of Groundbreaking Style and Innovation

Bringing together the vast realms of a tough SUV and an elegant coupé, the Citroën Basalt commands an amazing road presence. The exterior flaunts a remarkable set of attributes that equitably impose a unique identity and adept functionality. Starting off with, the Basalt boasts an iconic Piano Black front grille, which comes adorned with Citroën’s signature chevrons. This is greatly complemented by the car’s 40.64cm urban diamond-cut alloy wheels, dazzling LED Vision projector headlamps and 3D effect tail lamps, ensuring that the Basalt significantly stands out on both the rugged and urban terrains alike.

Needless to say, the vehicle parades a phenomenal wheelbase of 2651 mm and elevated approach and departure angles, which greatly upscale the Basalt’s off-road capabilities. As a cherry on top, the overall driving comfort of the Basalt is enhanced by a spectacular Cushion Suspension. As mentioned by the brand, this promises the passengers with a comfortable “Flying Carpet Effect”, irrespective of the terrain being driven on.

A Pinnacle of Space and Comfort

The roomy interiors of the Basalt conquer the summit of cabin space, surpassing its rivals. This is testified by a phenomenal legroom of 980 mm and a first-in-segment Smart Tilt Cushion coming with 3-step adjustable thigh support, offering remarkably amplified seating comfort for the passengers. Additionally, the expansive boot space of 470 litres accommodates ample room for the customers’ most valuable belongings.

Loaded in technology, the 26 cm Citroën Connect infotainment system offers a plethora of connectivity features comprising of Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and wireless mirroring. One of the key takeaways of the Basalt is its Intelli-Smart Driver Information System. This 17.78 cm Color Digital TFT cluster houses three customizable modes consisting of ‘Minimal’, ‘Eco Drive’ and ‘Dual Mode’. The vehicle also features the My Citroën Connect 2.0 system, which grants the driver access to more than 40 varied advanced features including geo-fencing, remote door lock/ unlock and even a remote engine start function.

Economically Mighty

Catering to diverse driving requirements, the Basalt offers three versatile powertrains. The 1.2 litre PureTech 82 NA, which comes with a five-speed manual transmission churns out 82 PS of power and 115 Nm of torque. The 1.2 litre PureTech 110 Turbo however comes in two variants. They share a common power figure of a solid 110 PS, while slightly differing in torque figures, with the six-speed manual variant putting out 190 Nm and the six-speed automatic variant putting out an enhanced 205 Nm. The vehicle also demonstrates a noteworthy acceleration, attaining 0-100 km/h in just 9.95 seconds. With that being said, the Basalt is revered for its impressive fuel economy, which ranges between 18 to 19.5 kmpl across three of its models.

A Safe Cocoon

Coming equipped with Citroën’s Advanced Safety Structure, the Basalt aims at setting new standards in passenger safety. Crafted out of 85% high-grade steel with an efficiently engineered crumple zone, the Basalt features a sturdy bodywork. The vehicle maintains the exact same level of safety from the inside by offering six airbags as standard, which include dual front airbags, curtain airbags and seat-side airbags. Other eminent safety features include TPMS, ESP, hill hold, ISOFIX, seat belt reminders for all seats and a flawless rear park assist comprising of a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors.