Whatshot
Vive La Différence - Citroën Basalt
Vive La Différence - Citroën Basalt
Date: 2026-06-26
Nobody asked Citroën to build a coupe-SUV for emerging markets, assembled in India, named after volcanic rock, and aimed squarely at South Africans who want to look interesting without spending interesting money. Nobody asked, and yet here we are. And honestly? We are not complaining.
The Basalt is Citroën doing what Citroën does best: ignoring convention and getting away with it. That sloping fastback roofline gives it a silhouette that turns heads in the Checkers parking lot, which is more than can be said for half its rivals. The 16-inch wheels do look a touch modest under those arches, like a man wearing smart shoes with shorts, but you forgive it quickly.
Inside, a 10-inch SmartCar HD touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, seven-inch digital instrument cluster, automatic air conditioning, keyless entry, cruise control, and six airbags greet you. For a vehicle starting at R354,900 that is not shabby. Not shabby at all.
The 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder pulls with a responsive mid-range that makes highway overtaking effortless and city driving relaxed, and the ride quality is where the Basalt quietly humiliates its competition. Citroën's advanced comfort suspension soaked up our KZN potholes and dodgey road surfaces with a composure that many rivals simply cannot match. It glides. On our roads, that matters enormously.
Yes, there are some hard plastics inside. But everything feels well assembled, with panels fitting together neatly and very few rattles. The French are nothing if not precise about the things that matter.
A five-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty and four-year service plan seal the deal.