The Autobest jury has announced that the new Citroën C3 Aircross compact SUV is the “Best Buy Car of Europe” 2018.

Since 2001, Autobest has picked a best buy car every year on the basis of the highest number of votes. Submitted to the vote of 31 motoring journalists from 31 European countries, the cars are assessed on the basis of 13 criteria, including value for money, design, comfort and technology as well as services and spare parts availability in the distribution networks.

Following in the footsteps of Citroën C3, the winner in 2003, the C3 Aircross compact SUV stood apart from the competition and won the 17th annual prize on the strength of its unique body styling and forceful and fresh attitude.

The C3 Aircross compact SUV is an integral part of the brand’s renewal and illustrates its international product offensive. Launched in October, it has already notched up over 30,000 orders in Europe. Customers are attracted by its interior, featuring all of Citroën’s unique know-how in terms of spaciousness, modular design and brightness. The car’s personality is underscored by a broad range of personalisation possibilities, with over 90 combinations outside and five design schemes inside.

Inspired by customer expectations, this people-minded SUV possesses unrivalled spaciousness and modularity, and opens up to the outside world with its panoramic sunroof. An ambassador of the Citroën Advanced Comfort programme, the C3 Aircross brings passengers total well-being and drivers an extraordinary at-the-wheel experience.

Equally at ease in town and out on the open road, the new model’s athletic abilities are enhanced by the grip control function with hill assist descent. Boasting top-flight comfort and safety, the new model is equipped with 12 modern driver assistance systems and four connectivity technologies, and recently earned five stars in the EuroNCAP test.

With 426,000 registrations in Europe in first-half 2017, Citroën sales hit a six-year high, up 5.6 per cent in Europe on the same period last year.