Buying a car today is more confusing than ever. You walk into a showroom expecting a simple upgrade, and suddenly you’re staring at price tags that make your eyes water. For the longest time, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire was the default “first big car” for the Indian middle class—the sensible, affordable sedan that promised status without breaking the bank. But what if I told you that in 2026, you could own a sprawling, high-riding, European-engineered coupe-SUV for roughly the same price as that sub-four-meter sedan?
At first glance, this car looks perfect—it’s bold, it has that sweeping Italian-style roofline, and it carries the kind of road presence a sedan simply cannot match. But is the Citroen Basalt X Plus really the giant-killer it claims to be? Or are there hidden compromises under that stylish sheet metal?
If you’re planning to buy this car, here’s what you must know. This isn’t just a review; it’s a reality check for every Indian car buyer who thought they were “stuck” with a small sedan. We’ve put the Basalt through its paces in the heat of Jodhpur and the chaos of urban traffic to see if it truly offers more for less.
The Quick Overview: Breaking the Price Barrier
The Citroen Basalt is a “Coupe-SUV,” a body style usually reserved for luxury brands like BMW or Mercedes. Citroen, however, has played a masterstroke by bringing this silhouette to the masses. The variant we are focusing on today, the Basalt Plus (often referred to in the market as the X Plus configuration), sits right in the sweet spot of the lineup.
With an ex-showroom price of approximately ₹9.99 Lakh, the Basalt Plus finds itself in a direct price war with the mid-to-high variants of the Maruti Dzire. While the Dzire has its strengths in mileage and resale, the Basalt counters with sheer size, better ground clearance, and a “cool factor” that a traditional sedan just can’t touch.
Exterior Design Analysis: The Poor Man’s Urus?
Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you cannot deny the Basalt’s visual drama. While most SUVs in this price bracket look like boxy bread-loaves, the Basalt is all about curves.
The Front Fascia
The front end carries the classic Citroen family face. You get the split-headlamp setup with the chevron logo extending into the LED DRLs. In the Plus variant, you get sharp LED Daytime Running Lights that give the car a high-end look even during the day. It’s wider than a Dzire, and that extra width gives it a “planted” look on the road.
The Silhouette: Where the Magic Happens
The side profile is where the Basalt wins the beauty pageant. The roofline starts to slope early, merging into a stubby, muscular tail.
- Ground Clearance: At 180 mm, it towers over the Dzire’s 163 mm. This means you stop worrying about those unscientific speed breakers that usually scrape the belly of a sedan.
- Wheel Arches: The squared-off wheel arches with black cladding give it a rugged SUV vibe, contrasting beautifully with the elegant roofline.
The Rear Design
The rear is clean and minimalist. The tail lamps are large and wrap around the corners, and the “Basalt” lettering is spaced out across the tailgate. There is a sense of “heft” here that makes it feel like a much larger vehicle than its price suggests.
Interior Design & Comfort: A Tale of Two Cabins
Step inside, and the first thing you notice is the space. Because the Basalt is built on a 2651 mm wheelbase—significantly longer than a Dzire—the cabin feels incredibly airy.
The Tech Suite
The Basalt Plus comes equipped with a 10.23-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the interface is surprisingly lag-free. You also get a 7-inch digital driver display that provides all the vital info in a crisp, modern format.
Comfort and Ergonomics
Citroen is world-famous for its “Advanced Comfort” philosophy, and even in this affordable variant, you feel it.
- Under-Thigh Support: One small insight only an expert would know: the rear seats feature adjustable under-thigh support. You can literally tilt the seat base to cradle your legs—a feature usually found in cars costing ₹30 Lakh!
- AC Performance: The air conditioning is a bone-chiller, which is a necessity for anyone living in Rajasthan or North India.
- The “But” Factor: Here is where things get interesting. While the seats are plush, the interior plastics are mostly hard to the touch. It doesn’t have the “premium” soft-touch materials of a high-end sedan, but it feels built to last.
Engine Specifications & Performance: The Heart of the Matter
The Basalt Plus is powered by Citroen’s 1.2-litre Puretech 82 naturally aspirated petrol engine.
Technical Specs
| Parameter | Detail |
| Engine | 1.199 cc, 3-Cylinder Petrol |
| Max Power | 80 bhp @ 5750 rpm |
| Max Torque | 115 Nm @ 3750 rpm |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| Mileage (ARAI) | 18 kmpl |
Real-World Driving Dynamics
If you’re expecting a racing machine, you might be disappointed. With 80 bhp, the Basalt is a “relaxed” cruiser. In city traffic, the engine is silent and refined. The light clutch makes it easy to live with in bumper-to-bumper crawls.
But here’s the catch: on the highway, you have to plan your overtakes. It doesn’t have the “zip” of a Maruti engine, but it compensates with a feeling of solidity. It feels like a “heavy” car in a good way—it stays glued to the road even when the wind picks up.
Ride Quality: The Magic Carpet Secret
This is Citroen’s trump card. If there is one reason to buy the Basalt over a Dzire, it is the suspension. Citroen uses a unique “Flying Carpet” suspension tune that rounds off sharp edges like they aren’t even there.
Whether it’s a potholed city street or a gravel-ridden bypass, the Basalt glides over them with a level of sophistication that its rivals can’t match. It doesn’t “thud” or “crash” into bumps; it simply absorbs them. If you value comfort above all else, this is the best-riding car under ₹15 Lakh, period.