The appearance, pricing and interior of the Citroen C3 Aircross are all broadly appealing.

And there’s no doubting that it’s a practical small SUV, offering plenty of space for an active family lifestyle.

It’s a car that will also appeal to those with an individualistic flare, thanks to the number of personalisation options available.

However, there are plenty of vehicles in this class that provide a more engaging drive, although it’s only fair to point out that the vehicle isn’t pitched at those who have dynamic handling and a slick gearbox at the top of their list of priorities.

The C3 Aircross has recently undergone a facelift, and the results are pleasing.

Watford Observer: The Citroen C3 Aircross

The design changes are most striking at the front, with the vehicle now sporting a very distinctive and contemporary face

There’s a revised lower apron section which now features a bigger air intake, plus a sharper and broader front grille. There’s also a more aggressive- looking front bash plate.

The C3’s split headlights continue to be something of a unique selling point, although the lower lights are now thinner than their square-shaped predecessors.

It’s a good-looking car and the finishing touch on this version was provided by 17” ‘Origami’ Diamond Cut Alloys.

If being a bit different really is your thing, then you can choose from no fewer than 70 contrasting roof and body paint combinations, after seven new shades were added to the colour pallet.

The combination of grey bodywork, white roof and black window surrounds worked well on the test car.

The interior has also been tweaked and improved to offer improved practicality and refinement.

The dashboard is beautifully laid-out and benefits from some plush materials.

There’s a nice lofty driving position, plus plenty of space front and back. A sliding rear bench allows you to prioritise boot or passenger space. That means you get a potential 520 litres of boot space, making the C3 Aircross a very versatile machine.

Watford Observer: The Citroen C3 Aircross

The Advance Comfort seats on this model also provide extra refinement.

This range-topping Shine Plus trim test car featured the new nine-inch infotainment system, which is a very user-friendly piece of kit and a clear improvement.

Under the bonnet, power comes courtesy of a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine, which offers 110PS and picks up well from low revs.

It’s smooth and quiet too, although you’ll have to drive with restraint to get much more than 30mpg out of it in varied real world driving conditions.

In terms of the car’s set up, the emphasis has been placed on providing a comfortable ride at lower speeds rather than a sporty ride on open roads.

It means that driving swiftly along undulating B-roads isn’t an enjoyable experience.

Due to the soft suspension, there’s a good deal of body lean through corners and a somewhat floaty feel at times.

Watford Observer: The Citroen C3 Aircross

The steering is also on the light side, meaning there’s a remoteness of feel between the tyres and steering wheel.

If you’ll largely be driving around town, on the school run or down to the shops in a relaxed manner, it’s not something that will bother you in the slightest.

Its worth noting that the manual gearbox isn’t the smoothest either and doesn’t like to be hurried.

In conclusion, the looks, price, pleasant interior and engine are all ticks in the plus box, but the car’s inability to provide a fluent ride on varied B-roads is a drawback.

The Lowdown

Citroen C3 Aircross Shine Plus PureTech 110

ENGINE: 1199cc, 3- cylinders, turbo petrol

PRICE: £21,500

WARRANTY: 3 years or 60,000 miles

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual, front wheel drive

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 114mphm 0-62mph in 10.1 sec

ECONOMY: 41.6 – 51.5mpg, 134 – 154g/km