SUV Cars Under 9 Lakh

My buying experience with the car was pretty straightforward and relatively hassle-free. The first car I inspected during the PDI before delivery had minor issues, like mud stains in the interior (most likely due to the driver who transported it from the yard to the showroom). I wasn’t initially looking for a reallocation, but after pointing out three such issues, the dealership suggested they would allocate a new vehicle. This pushed the delivery by a week, which I felt was reasonable. For the second vehicle, I performed only a quick PDI, and so far, I haven’t faced any major issues. After driving the car for almost 1,500 km and about to go for its first checkup, I can confidently say it’s a no-nonsense car. Of course, there are some cost-cutting measures evident, but most won’t affect your daily driving experience. While many missing features are “nice to have” or for the show, certain omissions, like the lack of a boot-opening button on the key fob, could have been avoided. The car is easy to drive in heavy traffic, on narrow roads, highways, and even bumpy roads. Most of the time, you won’t feel like you’re driving a large car. Rear passenger comfort is top-notch, and so far, my family hasn’t complained about the ride quality. Mileage: In the city, under decent traffic conditions, you can achieve up to 12 km/l if you drive in the ecozone, but it could drop to 7–8 km/l if you drive aggressively. However, I managed to get 14.5 km/l in the city during low-traffic hours by being cautious with the accelerator. These numbers are all during the break-in period, so there is a high chance that these will improve after the first service The ride quality, handling, and comfort are excellent, and the car is better or as equally good as its competitors in these aspects. Who is this car for? This car doesn’t truly offer a top-end variant; there’s no sugar-coating that. If you’re mentally prepared to forego some fancy features—and even a few not-so-fancy ones available in competitor models—you’ll be content with this car. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a family car that prioritizes comfort and a good driving experience. Concerns: 1. Third-Party Accessories: One issue is the lack of third-party accessories for the car. Even something as basic as a 7D floor mat isn’t available at local accessory shops. Citroën’s dealership mentioned that the company plans to launch more accessories, such as a 360-degree camera, but there’s no ETA on these. Moreover, essentials like an engine guard are missing from the official accessory list. While the dealership claims it will be available soon, months have passed without any updates. 2. Paint Quality and Panel Fitting: I had PPF applied to my car, and during that process, the detailer noticed several issues. There was a significant amount of micro-dust embedded in the paint and a minor shade difference between the metal and fiber parts that were painted. Additionally, there were some uneven panel gaps. Interestingly, the detailer mentioned that one of their customers with a C5 had a superb paint job with well-fitted panels, showing a stark contrast. Even in the MotorOctane YouTube channel's review, they noted that the Basalt variant has the least paint thickness compared to competitors, which is quite disappointing. 3. Customer Support: Contacting Citroën directly (not the dealership) is a challenge. Their WhatsApp business channel doesn’t work, and emails go unanswered for weeks. When you finally get a response, it’s often just to ask for your contact number, after which they ghost you again. From what I’ve heard from other customers, the service center experience is good, but the lack of response from Citroën’s official channels remains a persistent issue. Suggestions for Citroën: If Citroën wants to improve its sales in India, it needs to prioritize fixing its contact channels and customer service. A better customer support system would go a long way in addressing these concerns and enhancing the ownership experience.