Citroen Aircross and Basalt to Get New Value For Money Variants Soon

The Citroen Aircross and Basalt are about to get new value for money mid-spec variants, as teased recently on the social media handles of Citroen India. This has become a new trend in the Indian automotive industry, where OEMs are launching more affordable variants in their lineup with popular features to cater to customers who want the latest tech but don't want to stretch their budgets to reach top-spec models. Their launch is expected in the coming days of September. Let's talk more about this news below.

Citroen Aircross and Citroen Basalt

Citroen is expected to introduce value for money variants of the Basalt and C3 Aircross, positioned between the base and second trims (You and Plus). These new trims are likely to include LED DRLs with projector headlamps and wheel caps. Buyers can also expect a 10.23 inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, along with a 4 speaker audio setup.

Other expected features include a tilt adjustable steering wheel, a day/night IRVM, and rear AC vents for passenger comfort. Given this feature set and pricing strategy, the Citroën Basalt X trim is expected to be priced at around Rs 9 lakh, ex showroom. The C3 Aircross X trim is likely to be priced between Rs 9.30 lakh and Rs 9.40 lakh, ex showroom.

A few months back, the Citroën Basalt X Comfort edition was launched at Rs 8.75 lakh, which had the same purpose as these upcoming variants. The same was true for the Aircross X at Rs 9.09 lakh (ex showroom). Clearly, this strategy didn't work out. The French automaker is putting in every effort to get customers for its cars, and even with the X badge and new design layout, things haven't changed. The real reason is a lack of proper marketing and brand awareness, and the fact that people simply aren't willing to buy these cars despite knowing their prowess.

End Note

The numbers back this up. Citroen sold just 45 units of the Aircross and 29 units of the Basalt in July 2026, according to industry data. Stellantis had set a target of 2,000 units a month for Citroen in India, a figure the brand is still far from reaching. Its overall volumes remain driven almost entirely by the C3 hatchback, which alone sold 680 units that month.

Bringing in more accessible mid spec variants could help both SUVs find buyers who were previously priced out of the range. But pricing alone may not be enough. Citroen's retail network is still thin compared to established players like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Tata Motors, and that gap continues to limit visibility and footfall in showrooms. Whether these new X trims can change that trajectory will depend on how well Citroën markets them, not just how they are priced.