WeeklySA_AdminCITROEN BASALT: Driving comfort characterizes this quirky styled sporty coupe crossover with an attractive price and generous specification level making for a compelling case in the under R4k segment…
By Ali Mphaki
“Where fools flock wise men go the opposite.’’
These words usually uttered ad nauseum by he of fairy tales my buddy Allen Makokomela especially when there are members of the fairer sex around, echoed in my mind as I sampled the new Citroen Basalt Max 1,2 automatic around Gauteng recently.
We all have an Allen in our lives but one thing certain, however, this tried and tested outlook seems to have been the hallmark and always underpinned French automaker Citroen’s approach to car design – dating back from those early days in the early 1930s during the time of founder Andre Citroen who sadly died penniless the high development costs sending him to an early grave.
Andre’s Citroen Light 15, known as the Traction-avant, which by the standards of 1934 and to its many admirers, is a towering reference point in the history of the motorcar, pioneering front-wheel drive on a mass-produced family saloon.
There was also the innovative DS, clothed in a beautiful and futuristic wind cheating five-seater body – a car which was said to be a decade, maybe two ahead of the game and a true show-stopper launched in Paris around the time of the Freedom Charter in Kliptown in 1955.
Whereas the DS was never meant to be a car which “belong to all”, for their new saloon Citroen engineers adopted to suspend their new saloon on hydraulic self-levelling hydropneumatics struts, with a unique adjustable ride height facility that meant the DS could raise itself to negotiate rough terrain. At rest, ignition off, it gradually sank until is sat squat to the floor.
We also thought it could swim, what with reviews raving about its handling and stability to be almost as sensational as its magic carpet ride.
History has no blank pages for over the years it’s become more of a given that brand Citroen has never been a follower, each time opting to chart a new path despite stiff competition, so-called budgetary constraints and the plethora of new models including from the east.
The struggle continues and enters the new Citroen Basalt billed to shake things up in the highly busy and competitive sub-R400k SUV segment, otherwise known as the B-segment.
Assembled at Stelantis plant in India and coming to SA as a full import, it is offered in two automatic variants, the Citroen Plus 1.2 Turbo at R354,900 and the Citroen Max 1,2 Turbo at R369,900, subject of this review.
From the front the design is unmistakably Citroen with elements which feature the same bold face as its sister the C3 Across like the sculptured piano grille, signature chevrons, LED Vision projector headlamps and striking split headlights.
Move around the car and the rear is where the Citroen Basalt clearly adds some chutzpah separating itself from the crowd thanks to its striking roofline dropping into a fastback tail which accentuates its proper coupe-styled crossover design conjuring up images of the BMW X6, the Audi Q3 Sportback, and even the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
Spindly legs aside, seeing the 16-inch wheels would need some growing up to fill in the huge gapping space in the arches, this does little to negate its overall smart looks.
Ingress and you get welcomed into a well layered dashboard in grey, black and red inserts as well as grey cloth seats with Citroen embroidery on the backrest.
For its price there shouldn’t be any grinding noises as standard specification includes the 10-inch infotainment system which boasts wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, keyless entry, push-button start, cruise control, six airbags, and climate control, despite the cheap feel of plastic around,
A leather-wrapped steering wheel, 2 additional tweeters for the six-speaker audio system, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, and reverse camera; and wait for it, you also get ambience lighting, all these gimmicks conspiring for a practical interior space.
Plenty headroom and the manually adjustable front seats come with back pockets for extra storage of those tiny items etc. The rear seats come with a cupholder and groovy-sized cup holders on the door panels with boot space enough to fit a live goat at a claimed 470-litres, one of the biggest in the segment.
With a claimed fuel consumption of 6.3 litres/100km, legendary Citroen comfort and a perky engine to boot, more time spend in your Basalt is guaranteed.
Don’t say you were not warned.
