The Citroen Basalt X is one of Citroen’s contenders in the competitive mid-size SUV space, which brings a coupe-SUV design that is rare to see among mass market SUVs. If you’re looking to buy a coupe-SUV in the market, we help you decide whether to buy a Basalt X through our comprehensive pros and cons list.
Ride and handling
Fantastic ride and handling for its class.
The Basalt really impressed us with its ride and handling in our review. The suspension’s softer tuning and its ability to absorb bumps and bad roads are among the best in its class. At all speeds, the ride is pliant as well. The experience is further enhanced by its light and direct steering for easy manoeuvring and high ground clearance.
Turbo petrol engine performance
Brisk responses with decent fuel efficiency.
The Basalt X is available with a 110hp, 3-cylinder 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 190 Nm with the 6-speed manual and 205Nm with the 6-speed automatic. In our experience, we found the Basalt X’s turbo-petrol engine to be quite responsive, with crisp throttle responses. There’s some turbo lag at first, but once it kicks in, the performance is brisk, making for easy overtakes. Moreover, the turbo-petrol AT achieved a decent 9.87 kpl and 15.01 kpl in the city and highway respectively in our real-world tests.
Space and comfort
Accomodable headroom at the rear despite coupe roofline
For a mid-size coupe-SUV, the Basalt X offers great rear seat space. It can comfortably accommodate three average sized adults in the rear, with good seat cushioning and winged headrests. Despite its coupe roofline, theres enough headroom for adults. Also unique to the Basalt X in its top trim is 3-step manually adjustable under-thigh support, which further enhances comfort.
Value for money
Affordable mid-size SUV priced similarly to compact SUVs.
The Basalt X is priced from Rs 7.95 lakh to Rs 13.10 lakh. This makes the Basalt a value-for-money offering, as it is a mid-size SUV priced on par with compact SUVs. The Basalt X brings in a lot more space, a plush ride, and a standout design. For context, the top X Max trim with the turbo-petrol engine is almost Rs 1.7 lakh cheaper than the Hyundai Venue turbo-petrol DCT—an SUV that’s a segment below. It may miss out on a few feel-good features (see below), but it does come with most of the needed and useful features.
Now lets move on to the cons of the Basalt X.
Naturally aspirated petrol’s gearbox
Manual gearbox doesn’t respond well to shifts
The Basalt X also comes with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 82hp and 115Nm which is peppy enough for city use, but could do with more smoothness and refinement. Also, the clutch response is snappy, and the gearbox is notchy. The same goes for the turbo-petrol manual as well. However, the naturally aspirated petrol returned an acceptable mileage of 11.77 kpl and 15.83 kpl in the city and highway, respectively, in our tests.
Still misses some features
Misses out on some feel-good features.
The ‘X’ update to the Basalt brings features like a soft-touch dashboard, ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera (dealer-installed), and an onboard digital assistant. Moreover, it comes with a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charger, and connected car tech. However, the Basalt X still misses out on features which are offrered by rivals, like a sunroof, ADAS, drive and traction modes, telescopic steering adjustment, a powered tailgate, a powered driver’s seat, and a premium audio system. Moreover, most mid-size SUVs come with 17-inch rims, while the Basalt X only gets 16-inch alloys.
Limited dealer network
Could be a dealbreaker for those who find Citroën touchpoints far.
Citroën is still a relatively new brand in India, with a limited dealer and service network. This may deter potential customers from buying a Basalt, as most dealers are available only in metropolitan areas.
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