Citroen Basalt First Impressions |

[@motorinc]

*Chapters* 00:00:00 New names 00:01:50 Positioning confusion 00:03:35 Value proposition 00:04:41 Design 00:08:30 Cabin 00:13:52 Engines & Gearboxes 00:16:25 Fuel Economy 00:16:41 Chassis 00:18:09 Driving The Basalt 00:23:15 The Back Seat 00:29:45 Aircross vs Basalt 00:30:34 Boot 00:31:44 Thigh support 00:34:24 Odd Variants 00:41:57 Details 00:44:01 Crash Test Ratings 00:44:56 Rivals 00:46:23 Details Part II 00:49:40 Quick Summary 00:55:20 Buy or Not 00:56:55 Next from Citroen 01:01:48 Closing Comments *Explore MotorInc memberships* at youtube.com/@motorinc/join

[@callsigncrusader9877]

By the way I was researching about this 1.2 turbo available in Europe it has major gasket issues especially above 40000 km do you people think that it is sorted before they started in India

[@dharaardeshana5459]

​@@callsigncrusader9877 that was all due to wet belt drive. Now it has chain timing belt . So no issues now in gen 3

[@stardew8038]

@motorinc Because of reviews based on features, the fun to drive cars are moving out of India No one is talking about engine engineering, fuel injector, body to weight ratio, suspension setup, handling, brakes, fun to drive element, practicality, manual transmission Every one get a top end automatic car and go around non sense features Sunroof, ac, bedroom with attached bathroom 😅

[@nimishtandon4455]

The adjustable thigh support is present in turbo petrol manual top model as well. I took a test drive of the same today only in manual gearbox and it was there. Very thoughtful feature 👌👌

[@MrSatZz]

Made this awesome purchase - comprising of a lot of dealer issues .. but from a vehicle standpoint .. awesome experience so far ..

[@ayush632]

I think this is what Autocar India doesn't get when they try the podcast. You can't just put two experts to talk, it will be mechanical. It needs to be people who at least like talking to each other.

[@motorinc]

Glad to know what you think A!

[@abhisekkhadanga1829]

@ayush632 If you watch meticulously you will notice only 1 person speaks for like 80% of the duration

[@oinque]

@@abhisekkhadanga1829 that's the format, one asks questions the other answers

[@Aditya-RideandTracks]

Autocarindia tries to give facts. But in that they are just limited to facts. Emotions are always missing. But with Motorinc you enjoy the talks that are happening between 2 persons who love the automobiles and have a great camaderie together. Great Podcast as always!!!

[@alburaq3290]

Autocar podcasts are great specially the ones involving Hormazd

[@The_Universe_Boss]

Can we appreciate how K just asked for a chauffeur to know the backseat comfort😄 You guys inspire me everyday to "work what you love to do"

[@motorinc]

Thanks for that again!

[@saipulivarthi]

Mr. K is a true legend

[@akshayraghunath9022]

Quick Summary 10/10. I feel like MotorInc's choice of words, fluency and the command over the language is underrated, it's really pleasant to listen to. I think a weekly newsletter or a writing vertical for the channel where you guys write about topics which don't really warrant a video, it would be a good supplement to the channel.

[@motorinc]

Thanks Akshay! For the appreciation and the suggestion.

[@BhaskaraVenkatesh]

I agree… May be more usage of the FB page or creating a group to have these discussion threads on your write ups would be great! Will be added to my good reads straight away!

[@akshayraghunath9022]

That's interesting too! But I was thinking more in the direction of OG print journalism types. A weekly/monthly MotorInc magazine would be kinda cool ngl. The logo+ the aesthetic would look killer on a magazine cover

[@BhaskaraVenkatesh]

@@akshayraghunath9022 That too can be done.

[@parameswaranv3641]

I listen to you during my office commute and I now don't want to stop but continue driving and listening. I reached home already 😢

[@motorinc]

Heya PV! Save it for the next drive? 😄

[@Vishnu-B]

@@motorinc The week-long wait for M-Firsts itself is hard enough to endure... but you want him to go through some of that wait again until tomorrow when there is an episode available...? thats crazy... what did he do to you that was so bad that you are suggesting this...? (JK) 😆😆

[@BhaskaraVenkatesh]

I do the same but I save the rest for my return… I can’t complete one episode on one way 😂

[@freshoutofthesoundfactory7712]

We are a family of 4 (me, wife, mum, dad) currently driving an Ertiga diesel for the past 10 years and planning to upgrade. We take out our car mostly on weekends of a trip once in a couple of months. Dad and I liked the way this car looks and just might consider this provided it checks all our boxes. This review has made a lot of things clear for us and we’ll keep these things in mind when we go for a test ride. I’m well aware that this car still misses out on some features but I’m okay to live with it. Ertiga currently doesn’t have a lot of those recent features anyway so we’ll be okay with a few things missing here and these. Ventilated seats would have been really helpful especially in hot Mumbai weather but the really powerful AC would compensate for it I guess. The family’s priority is definitely comfort over speed and also the kind of maturity this car is offering I think all of us will like this car. Thank you for the review!

[@motorinc]

Hello FOoTSF! Congratulations in advance! Wish you and the family a. awesome life with the Basalt. Let us know how it goes?

[@bingewatch3553]

believe me the lesser the features, the more peace of mind you will have.. especially after 3-4 years into the ownership !

[@rahulnayak6553]

@@freshoutofthesoundfactory7712 haha, same pinch!

[@savitajadhav1314]

Yes but safety rating are not out yet and c3 has got zero star. Don’t you think this is risky ?

[@IbbiAhmed]

@@savitajadhav1314 The concern is good but I think he must be capable of driving well and responsibly. Safety ratings come second😄

[@vinodsankaran]

Listening to Karthikeya was like he was in a date with a girl and explaining to his friend , Shumi couldn’t say anything because he did not want to guess and listened to him all the way..😂Na version will become the fleet operator’s favourite.

[@motorinc]

😆

[@BhaskaraVenkatesh]

yes, may be with a CNG kit They should explore that option!

[@lareveur6094]

😂

[@ashwinjohari]

Oh Man! I drive a 2013 i10 (not Grand, still going strong and don't plan on changing for 2-3 more years). So I am not a "car enthusiast". I do not know how to ride geared bikes. What I do though is ride cycles and go on multi-day trips on Cycles. And THATS where I can draw so many connections with THIS CONNECT and also all the bike and car reviews. Its crazy how all the topics being discussed in THIS CONNECT touch the cycle riding experience too! I so so so wish one of you rode long distance cycles and we could have a discussion around it. But still this channel is true therapy. The clarity and choice of words used here is truly unappreciated.

[@motorinc]

Thank you for joining us @ashwinjohari

[@jainambhavasar3354]

Don't stop the jokes Shumi 😂😂😂 . Its so much fun 🤣🤣. I don't care that much about cars , I am bike enthusiast but man do I watch it for the jokes 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@motorinc]

😆

[@yashpriy5714]

Truee😂😂

[@girisbabu]

😅 so true 👍

[@divijjoshi1]

@@jainambhavasar3354 Remember the Tata Tiago CNG AMT video ! 😂

[@srikanth7368]

Thanks for the Basalt review. As a customer of c3 aircross, I am happy with the product that I have used for 6 months now. Citroen has taken a step forward to update features in the new Basalt and now Citroen thinking rightly in customer perceptive. Thanks for the review, @Motorinc.

[@motorinc]

Thanks for giving us an owners perspective Srikanth!

[@vikramk9383]

Which variant do you own ? What's the mileage with 4/5 on board at highway speeds and City traffic? How's the braking? I ve heard brake pad wear out in no time on C3's How's the clutch travel and weight ? Easy to drive in stop go traffic ?

[@srikanth7368]

@vikramk9383 I own c3 aircross automatic. C3 aircross is amazing in terms of driving experience. It is fast and controllable. It lacks features, but driving dynamics are top-notch. On the highway, the mileage it delivers is around 14 and in the city around 11 to 12kms.

[@kaustubhshetty4950]

The day before i test drove the Basalt Automatic, we had a Delhi-Agra trip, where 3 passengers above 5'9 sat in an ignis. Experiencing the Basalt Rear seat right after that trip just highlighted how genius that rear seat is. I am not very experienced with automatics, so i found the acceleration have a rubber-band effect, while the same engine in the manual version was a joy to drive on the C3. So I am willing to pay extra just to install the rear seat with additional cost to the Manual version's price. But after the test drive this is the car i am pushing my family to upgrade from the aging Ritz. It doesn't feel too huge for the cramped roads of Pune, but it's engaging enough for my dad, who likes driving but his age might require a switch to the automatic, and also for a family of tall people, the experience of comfort is just far superior than many cars in the market.

[@motorinc]

Heya KS! Glad to know what you thought of the Basalt! Let us know what you decide?

[@anuragsharma6471]

Looking at conditions of traffic and idiots driving/ riding on roads of pune only thing that is worth driving is a tank.

[@Newbutold]

Get an automatic, it’s worth it. The hassle of manuals in the city is pointless/painful excercise

[@adityashivaappalla1384]

The summaries are the highlight reel of the Firsts - A hardcore motorcycle journo summarizes the full experience of a hardcore car journo, and vice-versa. That's so complete. My only YT join - and full monty! Thanks, again for the awesome review.

[@motorinc]

Heya A! Thanks so much for sharing that! Grateful.

[@ronyjohn7128]

Since I started following your channel, I’ve become the go-to car guru for my friends and family. They think I moonlight as a mechanic now! 🚗🔧😄

[@motorinc]

They can’t help themselves. Kids in a toy shop. Got to try everything. 😁

[@motorinc]

Heya RJ! All the best! Lot of responsibility there. 😁

[@MuditBadlani]

Love how the thumbnail sums it up so well, especially when seen in retrospect - only then does one see the tapestry painted by Kartikeya's expression. Here for Shumi's jokes, always. Can't believe you didn't go "Baaaahhhh" after the salt on the wounds joke. The sheep noise fits especially well when you inspect the proposition closely. Hence the summary only gets a 9/10 from me this time.

[@motorinc]

Heya MB! Tough love here. Fine, we’ll do better next time. 😁

[@vasudevmullapalli4864]

I drive a 2011 3rd Gen Honda City. It did not have even a music system in it. All it had was Honda's in-depth engineering and reliability. 15 years ago cars could get sold just on the attribute of good engineering but now, its not enough. It needs to be feature rich. It pains me to see such a good product like the C3, C3 aircross struggling. Hope Basalt does well. I had a Fiat Uno (1996), Ford Ikon (2004) and now a Ford Ecosport (2020). Ford and Fiat are gone. I am looking to get myself a new set of wheels, however, I won't risk it with Citroen. However good the product is. The company may just pack up its bags and leave. This is the question that most customers will have.

[@kushalkuber3383]

My thoughts on the Basalt : - It definitely looks good and better than the Curvv for sure. - It has all the necessary features that a family or person needs - I am not a fan of Sun roofs so it's not a miss for me atleast - The primary thing that I look at while buying a car is comfort and if that's there then it's sorted. - I agree the thigh support feature should be standard across the range and also the variants need to be better defined... And the NA engine should have a top spec variant also instead of a conventional automatic gearbox they should look at an AMT may be to keep costs in check for the NA variants.

[@motorinc]

Awesome review KK!

[@Mainak_B]

My opinion after hearing you two. Basalt is an excellent option for cab operators, Citreon needs to fit a CNG tank in that large boot and its done. there is enough space for luggage and enough space for a comfortable journey. The base models will be perfect for such commercial use cases. Motorinc please forward this idea to Citreon, it will solve their sales numbers.

[@praveens8125]

Mahhnnn I didn't see that coming... But if the rear is that comfortable it might become swift desire & that's not bad

[@atharvshringare2547]

I felt with a coupe suv they would go more towards a sporty persona especially with the fastback design. But it makes sense that they played their strengths and went for the best comfort balance between suv and sedan. Feels good to have a solid and well engineered option in this mostly feature driven segment.

[@motorinc]

Glad to hear your take Atharv!

[@Vinstreakk13]

Way Better Looking than Curvv .

[@motorinc]

👍🏽

[@THUGPUTIN]

Yep... Great road presence when you look at it personally... It looks big and proportionate... Tata curvv ground clearance is just too much...

[@anirudhhhh]

eh no way for some reason it just looks cheap. The front looks so busy and the wheel flares look cheap and old. And on top of it. It is a Citroen. Currv has a more futuristic design and does have a good aesthetic.

[@Rohan20103]

It's like comparing apples to oranges. Curvv is a next gen ev. While this is just a lazy attempt by a French manufacturer to capture the Indian market

[@anirudhhhh]

@@Rohan20103 Curvv has petrol and diesel variants.

[@mayankdas1595]

Now this is called a proper car review! If you are looking to buy the Basalt, just watch these guys talk about it for the next 1 hour. No need to watch anything else. No need to compare the variants. Maybe get a test drive though! Absolutely amazing work @MotorInc!

[@motorinc]

Thank you for joining us @mayankdas1595

[@nosom7]

Dude that Baleno kind of video needed for every car. That video tells everything 👍👏

[@motorinc]

Thanks for the feedback! Noted!

[@vivekmishra6400]

So there is a need of 1. An 82 PS basalt with an auto gearbox. 2. All bells n whistles in the Max being available across the range 3. cruise control across the range. Simple stuff like dashcam etc can very easily be added.

[@bingewatch3553]

I have been driving long distances quite often.. never have i used cruise control even once.. rather the roads and those two wheeler/three wheelers never allowed me to ! what are you talking about..?? ADAS, cruise control and sun roof are unnecessary luxuries especially in India ! I would rather ask for a 50:50 split seat, a decent rear view camera, front parking sensors and maybe an inbuilt dash cam for that price..

[@vivekmishra6400]

@@bingewatch3553 I never mentioned adas n sunroof. I don't know where you live but where I do, i use cruise control all the time on highways. 60/40 split seats are an obvious thing. By bells n whistles I meant all features of max variant available in a broader range better sprinkled together and combined with 82 ps engine.

[@rishitsinha8041]

@@bingewatch3553 Cruise control is a feature that is extremely useful to have for highway usage, its perfectly fine if cruise control doesn't serve you a purpose but ain't some unnecessary gimmick like a Sunroof

[@BabaYaga1136]

@@bingewatch3553 we can see the bonet, no need of front parking sensor

[@madhankumar22]

Review Narrative here is NEGATIVE. After 50: is the summary go for it. The review further is good. In the 1st 50 minutes I was expecting you say more about ride comfort n space. Which I believed USP I thought. Glad you mentioned insulation. It is more of a reviewers as ur target audience n not the public.

[@SouravHazra-m1u]

Watching Kartikeya & Shumi discuss cars & bikes is a great way to unwind and gain new insights. What sets them apart is their focus on the "why" behind every "what". They go beyond just listing features, offering valuable perspectives. Keep it up, you two! With extensive experience driving over 100K Kms each in various diesel cars like the 2011 Punto, 2012 Etios Sedan, 2013 Ertiga, 2014 Innova, the Basalt initially wasn't on my radar due to the lack of a diesel engine. However, after watching their review, I see its merits. I'm now intrigued and plan to test drive the Basalt soon, a testament to the impact of K & S' video. Kudos on the insightful yet fun review, gentlemen! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

[@motorinc]

Glad to hear that @SouravHazra-m1u! Do let us know what you think of your test drive.

[@vhaishakhnayar9032]

Aren't all the TC gearboxes that Karthik mentioned the same ? 🤔 All of them have the Aisen sourced 6 speed TC gearbox

[@Varun_Vidyalink]

Basalt's design is very good. The turbo engine is good The only problem is the lack of sales point and then service centre

[@beardmanshifu6412]

Karthik really wants Citroen to succeed. One thing is for sure it won’t sell here in NorthEast. And yes thank you for the video finally. Next Roxx?

[@motorinc]

Thanks BMS! What are you driving there? Or planning to buy?

[@beardmanshifu6412]

@@motorinc I love my Duster 😂 K9k. But it’s time to upgrade and I want something exciting. Roxx maybe? Waiting

[@motorinc]

Alrighty! Please stay tuned!

[@Itsumonandome]

​@@beardmanshifu6412I'm from NE I want to buy it. Only one dealer in NE I guess , Guwahati. I saw the Hatchback in my state I didn't expect.

[@Adwatism]

​@@Itsumonandome Yea years ago in 2016 when I was living in Tripura my Neighbor had bought a new Honda Jazz and when I asked him he said that he bought it from Guwahati Assam bcuz there were no Honda dealers in tripura💀💀

[@shadow_realm47]

I've driven and been driven in the C3 air-cross manual and EC3 they are mighty fine cars with really really REALLY nice suspension for "our" roads, if they polished the EC3 and had a good variant priced at 9.95 that would wreck the punch ev base. And If they did the "MG-thing" of having a usable base variant rather than an empty one they would honestly sell more. The Basalt NA has a chance of going to Tuner heaven on launch. It would cost Citroen 5-10k extra to factory fit an infotainment plus parking camera on all the unusable variants but that would triple their sales. It wont even hurt their top variant topline cus the turbo MT/TC are compelling!

[@motorinc]

Nice ideas there SR!

[@varun1036]

35:27 Max is a Belgium born dutchman😃 As ever, Schumi's summary is a 10 on 10.

[@motorinc]

Awzummm!!

[@Srikanthkannan98]

Glad to hear they're listening to feedback and are expanding the feature list. The variant spread situation though seems like a recurring Stellantis problem, even the facelifted Punto evo had the exact problem of only the top variant making sense, which also had flap handles and missed a touch screen. Though one test drive sealed the deal for us and getting it was the best decision we had made. Kind of sad that Citroen is repeating the same mistakes over. Rooting for them to bring in the updates and stay relevant, always good to have this kind of competition in our market.

[@motorinc]

Heya SK! Absolutely. We need more players with good cars in the mix here in India.

[@zgeorgem]

1 hour first impression. can't imagine what a detailed review will look like

[@motorinc]

Usually 1/6th of this @zgeorgem. The more time we spend with a vehicle, the lesser time we'll need to convey our thoughts.

[@albinjose2310]

Glad to see that citroen is listening to our market requirements.

[@motorinc]

Really heartening. 👍🏽

[@pruthweeshkar8313]

This is by far the best episode of the first series. Way too humorous 😂 especially if you are into cars. Keep it up motorinc team 👌

[@motorinc]

Thanks for joining us @pruthweeshkar8313

[@sivaramakrishnagorla8117]

K and Shumi, please ask them to include this in all variants, this will be the biggest straight forward USP of Citroen.

[@motorinc]

We have!

[@sivaramakrishnagorla8117]

06:21 YES and NO, the conversation is really good, stating only facts and not getting carried away

[@Raven_Dias]

i really hope kartik gets to drive a very exciting car for motorinc first....i want to hear him excited about a car the way they get excited about a bikee😂 The way he describes the car is soo descriptive and emotive.. really appreciate watching this

[@motorinc]

🙏🏾🤞🏽😁

[@abhinavjain4589]

Man I love listening to you guys talk about cars & bikes! I bought a car last year and am not gonna buy another one for atleast 3 more years, still listened to the entire conversation! Keep the great content flowing. Cheers!

[@motorinc]

Thank you for joining us @abhinavjain4589

[@epicscene-E2S]

It's actually a pretty practical car at this price point

[@motorinc]

Awesome! Glad to know what you think.

[@akhilkhandeparkar6489]

Thanks for not using those "Podcast mics". Such a clean frame which makes it nicer to watch your banter.

[@Yuvi_3939]

A msg to TATA guy ( सिर्फ TATA की गाड़ी ही देशभक्ति नही होता ) 😂

[@motorinc]

True

[@rjb204]

I'm here for Shumi. No intention of buying a car, but here because of the chemistry between these two.

[@motorinc]

So are we!

[@iamhonda1]

52:54 Shumi summary are like those backbencher student whose seems like having fun the entire class time and when teacher ask any questions related to the session they answer like a topper in the class

[@motorinc]

😅

[@debadrichatterjee694]

I dont really have any technical knowledge of cars or bikes, but i have started listening to these 2 and i am starstruck. I am learning a lot in the process as well. Also, i have a Tata Punch, so the Tata punches feel personal, but i love the honesty 😅😅 Thanks

[@motorinc]

Heya DC! Thanks so much for having an open conversation! We appreciate that. How has your experience been with the Punch?

[@debadrichatterjee694]

@@motorinc Mostly good, except a faulty drl. Was replaced, so good now. Fingers crossed

[@rajeshbkrish0496]

Whoever says that, a first impression review can't be more than an hour, you should have walk throughs, else people are not going to watch them! I will show them this channel, the plenty of such reviews out there and say I am a happy follower of the same

[@motorinc]

Thanks RK! Glad to hear that. Any suggestions?

[@sankarakrishnan8707]

This is like some technology conference. Enormous depth and podcast like discussion. I am not a car lover and I am not in the market but I will watch/listen Motor Inc and ignore others.

[@gautamr2723]

I have an exam in an hour, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME MOTORINC 😭😂

[@neerajkarunanidhi6804]

Good luck with the exams!🫵🏾

[@gautamr2723]

@@neerajkarunanidhi6804 thanks brother, I needed that 💪🏻

[@motorinc]

All the best G!

[@gautamr2723]

@@motorinc update, I did well!

[@motorinc]

Phew… Awesome G! Good to know.

[@joejr5307]

How you guys talk the content is amazing, Only few automotive content i stay this long and you guys make it very interesting with the puns.

[@cowsty]

Saw a row of Basalts when had checked-in to the Goa hotel last month with my family. Was on the lookout for Karthik, sadly didn’t get a change to meet you.

[@motorinc]

Hey C! Sorry about that. We’ll pass on your hello to him! Thanks though!

[@gautamkarkhanis]

Here’s an ex-product planner’s view on why no adjustable under thigh support on lower variants- I doubt if there will be a technical limitation on doing that. In my experience this is done simply because they have developed the thigh support thing only with this seat material. On the fabric seats this can be developed but isn’t done simply because they don’t want to invest on developing that. Its not a simple copy paste. New fabric means new development, testing, validation etc which consumes a lot of the development budget, leave alone the time needed for that. That coupled with the small volumes expected for the lower variants means that the business case just doesn’t add up and hence the bean-counters axed it. The product planner would have tried his absolute best to get it in all variants, but alas…the dreaded business case!

[@motorinc]

Hey GK! Thanks for the insight. So K was on the right track for a it then!

[@gautamkarkhanis]

@@motorinc yes he very much was. He almost got there and thats what prompted me to comment. The thing is, that in most cases illogical product planning is the result of a business case not adding up at some level. In today’s world very few brands will do something that doesn’t make financial sense. Some look at the long term and say ok let me do this for now because it will benefit me later but even that’s becoming very rare.

[@mayankbatra5369]

Another MotorInc Morning before college!

[@motorinc]

It’ll be there after college too! 😆

[@mayankbatra5369]

@@motorinc The First class got cancelled for today. Listening to the podcast rn!

[@kshitijpandey6514]

​@@mayankbatra5369lucky guy

[@pawasdayal]

Just seems like another car in the Indian market, that may not achieve super stardom, but will make the tiny community of owners immensely happy. Fantastic conversations between 2 hopeful enthusiasts!

[@saishgokhale]

I like the flap type door handles.. Would prefer them over XUV 700 ones.. par the technology inside it..

[@motorinc]

Hello SG! Agreed XUV handles are not cool.

[@rohitbhasyerinmel8106]

Test drove the Basalt AT today. Loved the ride quality, the way it handled and the gearshifts. Took it over bad patches and was impressed by the way it handled those. The door handle reminded me of the maruti 800, which was dad's first car ages ago. The biggest disappointment though was the non existence of a push button start even on the top spec variant. Just can't get over that. I understand Kartikeya's frustration. Its so good on some fronts but on others its a let down. Will take a lot of Courage to make a purchase decision in it's favour. That is what it is. Its a matter of courage. People moving from sub 10 lac cars to this would also find it lacking in features. Some of which they would have had in their cars. Man...i really wish this was packaged better

[@prakash86anish]

If Citroen guys are reading this, don't believe what's said about the ac. The ac is just perfect and do not assume that future cars can do with a less powerful ac. People drive cars in all kinds of weather conditions and situations. A car with good ac is such a great thing to have in a country like India with such extreme weather conditions.

[@rishitsinha8041]

What are you even saying? The video was literally praising the AC and even said even in the previous model without the rear ac vents it cooled the second row really well

[@motorinc]

Chilll….

[@marksanyal]

As a Kushaq owner, I'm wondering if I can get hold of a Citroen compressor to replace the VW one 😬

[@aldrinpabraham6932]

@@marksanyaltry vcds ac tune

[@hemanathan.e]

I know people who have worked on AC unit in the vehicle. AC on all the Citroen models are benchmark for other vehicle to emulate. Simply the best!

[@muninderpalsingh4230]

I love the way you present your perspective. Plus you cover so many points that are beyond simple listing of features.

[@motorinc]

Thank you for joining us @muninderpalsingh4230!

[@sivaramakrishnagorla8117]

🧐 60% of bookings are MAX variant, I guess Citroen are into something K and Shumi, the sales team are doing great job ig👍

[@motorinc]

Heya S! Did you visit a showroom? Thanks for letting us know.

[@BhaskaraVenkatesh]

Finally… Been waiting for this episode! Happy that Citroen has made an effort to listen to the feedback and made changes to their strategy but I agree on the variant issues that you spoke about. What’s the point of making it affordable when there are no features. I love your banter… How hot do the French think India is? Shumi killed it with his Stellantics… 😂😂😂 A few things… 1. Do the 16” alloys make a difference to the ride? That point was not elaborated. 2. Keeping all other creature comforts aside, absence of cruise control really bothered me. And I understand Karthikeya’s point that whatever could be fixed has been fixed and rest will come in a later update, and I’ll wait for that. Both the C3 aircross and Basalt are now on my radar when I do decide to upgrade from my Freestyle. 3. About the auto gearbox, isn’t this 6 speed auto gearbox the one same one from Aisin which a lot of other cars are also using right now like the VW/Skoda quartet, Maruti new offerings, XUV 3XO, MG with the Astor? So it should be a common trend across, right? You already mentioned the VW/Skoda quartet there. 4. One last thing, you mentioned that it was a familiar feeling to drive it, may be for you since you have driven the other two cars as well, and for us who have been listening regularly to you. But what about someone who’s watching this for the first time? For him the familiar might need to defined as good or bad, which in my opinion didn’t come out that clearly, just my opinion! Great listening as always!

[@MukundanRangarajan]

Hii, after saving for quite few months finally became a member to motorinc. Now the next job for me is to binge watch all the content like there is no tomorrow. Coming to the episode I feel like manufactures need to rethink how they enter India in the first place. What am seeing is that manufactures like jeep, citroen, renault nissan, are manufactures with very few dealerships in India. And like any business that takes time to make profit right away in a new place, studying the context is not something all these manufactures have done or I don't know what they have concluded when the market is clearing shouting the other way they have decided to go with. Have enough conviction and put enough dealership throughout first and the same time use those time to study the market and come up with set of feature set that market explicitly wants. Quite often brands fail because no one knows about it. I don't think its such hard thing to do to actually have strong wants and datasets at hand first and then design the car around it. Its much easier and straight forward. You don't need to reinvent the wheel. Its clear from day 1 that India is country filled with aspirational buyers. being the apple way in India wont work. Thats why apple is not the most often bought brand in India compared to the USA where majority uses the apple ecosystem. Apple might offer some of the best user experiences while having some shortcomings but they are able to stand their ground because in USA everything works differently from carrier contracts to tradeins to everything. In India its completely different. Unless Apple brings manufacture here and skip the import tax Apple products will be a luxury product than a product that can be handed over to the masses. If entering India I feel like getting good name with masses should be the priority because of long waiting list and everything another brand should up there stealing all the buyers who are waiting 2yrs for their cars. and to captilise that yes, the pricing should be aggressive but the value they offer should be on par with whom they are trying to go against at least to sway some of the buyers towards them. and to do that they need enough dealership. its all interconnected and I am quite puzzled. I think citroen like their own product so much that they don't want to sell it to the people but keep it to themselves and to do that they do these short comings I presume. If they like their product so much then they really don't care about what people actually so much coz If I am citroen and I bring out these cars, I will rather keep them in the garage than show anyone because its not good enough.

[@motorinc]

Hi @MukundanRangarajan! We appreciate you choosing to become a member, thank you for that. It's true that brands like Jeep and Citroen have a mismatch between their products and what India wants from them but Citroen has come closer this time as Kartikeya has discussed here. If only they'd taken another step and figured out the variants better. The Basalt is a good product and one we sincerely hope people test drive even if they don't end up buying it. At this point, we only hope that Citroen is still listening and continue to course correct so that they're in sync with our market.

[@pranshumishra9535]

these episodes and these 2 guys out there are so so soothing and calming.... Motorinc has become my bedtime podcast 😅

[@motorinc]

It’s too early for bedtime!😆

[@ntsikha]

Maybe the tak tak adjustments on the top end automatic, ONLY makes sense to family haulers who drive around with the family and one among the family members will be driving. But agreed, if it is such a great non gimmicky feature, it should be standard across atleast starting from the mid variants, if not all. A good point is this discussion is not as confusing as the C3Aircross'. Good to see some steps taken for betterment of the product.

[@motorinc]

You mean Kat-kat features 😆

[@ntsikha]

@@motorinc absolutely 😅

[@handsomehardiksinh]

After recent additions like 6 airbags and auto AC, Citroen C3 feels best in the sub 10 lakh range with Turbo petrol (110 ps) with top spec variant.

[@yohanmychal]

My mom has no interest in cars or bikes. But she will absolutely tune in everytime Motorinc is on the TV, to indulge in Shumi's wit

[@motorinc]

Haha! Hello to Aunty too!

[@jagadishdasari6466]

Citroen has come of age with this product. This will be my next car...

[@motorinc]

Thanks for sharing @jagdidhdasari6466! Let us know what you think of the test drive.

[@jagadishdasari6466]

@@motorinc - I had chance in 2022 to test drive 110 PS C3. What you said is spot-on. I always await your videos. Your point about Sun-Roof is true, Indians don't need it at all. This engine is best of both worlds. It has the potential to capture majority market but the feature-set is disappointing for youth. With BASALT they have taken step in right direction. When it comes with CRUISE CONTROL then it's my go to next car...

[@venomhunter93]

Thank you for the first impressions on the Basalt. I was planning to buy C3, waiting for this impression to decide on. Thank you for the valuable inputs. Like they did with C3, they'll silently add the missing features.

[@motorinc]

Hey VH! So what have you decided? Let us know!

[@venomhunter93]

@@motorinc I'm still sticking to C3 with all the new updates it got from Basalt, considering my family size. I think, both the engines are best suited for C3 more than Basalt. NA engine is quite good and turbo one is a pocket rocket. That's not how it's in Basalt

[@motorinc]

Heya VH! Congratulations and all the best. Wish you and the fam awesome travels. Keep us posted please!

[@venomhunter93]

Thank you

[@harshitmohan150]

Hello MotorInc team. I am a regular listener and a big fan. This interaction(specifically) felt like one of those things when you are stuck in a slow moving traffic where the pace is not enough to slot 3rd gear but fast enough for second gear , running second gear at around 2700-3000 rpm but 3rd gear engine struggles … one of those irritating traffic drive.. similarly the flow was missing in this specific video, maybe the car is boring and nothing new , maybe kartik didn’t like it enough whatever, the flow was missing and the excitement as well . Take it as a constructive feedback, you guys do a great job🎉😊

[@motorinc]

Thank you for the feedback @harshitmohan150

[@madmicroscope]

I think the second "Stellantics" from Shumi was a speech impediment and not a joke.

[@sumit_anand10]

Which Basalt Variant should be picked? budget max 11? Base one?

[@AkashYadav-vh9hu]

2:29 - I choked on my coffee and had it out of my nose. Shumi bhai, give an advanced warning before 😂

[@Aditya90sKZ]

😂😂

[@motorinc]

Correct TC please! We wanna see that too.

[@John-ip7qo]

Great discussion guys! Hope the boffins at Citroen see this video. That Dzire vs Dzire Tour analogy was bang on. Kartik's back-to-back comparison between the Basalt and Aircross was brilliant. 10/10 Quick Summary. I really hope Citroen can sustain this momentum and bring in more cars.

[@motorinc]

🤞🏽🤞🏽 Would love to see Basalts on the road.

[@John-ip7qo]

@@motorinc 🤞

[@siddharthamohapatra6150]

Someone should make a compilation video of Shumi reacting with an 'Hmm' 😂

[@motorinc]

😁

[@leelakishoreg7587]

I feel that somehow, the car would look a lot better if it had the same wheelbase of c3 aircross and the wheels.

[@akshayiyer8897]

Indian automotive journalism Rule no. 005: Like Narco test we need Schumi's Sarco tedt to become one

[@motorinc]

What are the first four? Compiled them anywhere?

[@akshayiyer8897]

@@motorinc 001: How to Drive/ride, 002: How to be a good driver/rider 003: Need of good scripting skills 004: Can drive while talking

[@kumarpalani31]

I feel it is opposite. People who are planning to buy sub 4m suv like sonet for 15 lakhs can easily buy Basalt MT turbo which offers a powerful turbo engine with great 3rd row seat, boot and comfort.Only thing which will be missing is cruise and sunroof, which will not be a big deal for people who prefer space and comfort.

[@kshitijpandey6514]

Waiting for Citreon Obsidian now 😂😂😂

[@motorinc]

🤣

[@Manthan196]

Atleast there is one channel who speaks the truth! The vfm offering, the suspension and all the basic required features! All there at a great price! Loved the test drive and the experience! Trust me it's a good car!

[@motorinc]

Heya M, are you getting one?

[@Manthan196]

@@motorinc Did the test drive, but not that filthy rich that I can buy any vehicle I want. Trying out some more vehicles at that price segment, let’s see which one I get! Will definitely drop a comment about the one I get! Soon!!!

[@kshitijpandey6514]

35:27 calling max verstappen french is sacrilegious He is Dutch- Belgian

[@motorinc]

Thanks @kshitijpandey6514!😄

[@rjv_mntn]

I came looking for this. I didn't know what he was, but it didn't seem like he'd be French when Shumi mentioned it.

[@ajayahuja9]

I love these podcasts that you guys do. The views and perspectives are really helpful and the jokes and subtle sarcasm is superb. Best wishes to you guys.

[@motorinc]

Thanks for joining us @ajayahuja9

[@RajaSekar-dw1kb]

Appreciate it Karthik. I watched reviews from other sources as well but I don’t remember anyone mentioning that the thigh support thing was available only in top end variants. ❤❤❤❤

[@motorinc]

Glad we could help RS!

[@indrajitbose2635]

I did take a test drive and since I was absolutely certain about an automatic I test drove the top version turbo auto. I loved it. The dimensions were just right for a crowded city like Jaipur. the Seating height and view up front was perfect. The suspension works silently. The back seat was most comfortable. The tight 4.9mt turning radius was something that pleasantly surprised me. Taking a u turn on a busy jaipur road was a breeze and am surprised that Citroen does not highlight it. The two things that really got to me was that the top variant did not have an auto dimming irvm (i could overlook that unhappily) but since I do a lot of highway driving , the fact that it did not have cruise control was an immense letdown...something i just could not overlook. I hope they include these two features soon!! Couple of other points that raised a flag in my mind were that the hand brake felt loose and unassuring while engaging and disengaging and two, the auto gear shift lever too felt kind of vague and cheap plasticy.

[@motorinc]

Thank you for sharing your experience @indrajitbose2635! What are you currently considering getting?

[@nirmalyamisra]

This was such a engaging episode, watched it fully. I would request the editor to add the benchmark car or engine or suspension or transmission etc when the topic comes like its smooth but not the smoothest in the segment. then which one is the smoothest? an answer on the screen immediately will be helpful

[@alexmercer3001]

So Basically we can compromise on the big car feel, and get the 3XO or Fronx. Actual space won't be an issue I suppose. At least we will get all the necessary features. Your videos and your both voices are so calm and soothing, People can use it to play in background for Meditation purpose. So pleasant to hear you both talking. 🤩🤩🤩 PS: I came to that conclusion about and made the comment at 35:51, and Karthikeya said the same later.

[@motorinc]

Heya AM! 😆😆 Good to have your perspective. Let us know what you decide?

[@aravindperuka1989]

What i understood is Motorinc liked this vehicle very much💥

[@motorinc]

😁

[@SpandanSarkar-y8d]

Summary-10/10 Basalt-9/10 wish it had adjustable thigh support with turbo manual and something like bose sound system. Those are the only features i need (and maybe cruise control)

[@motorinc]

Thanks @user-lg7dn5pe3u

[@rmandot3122]

Fantastic conversation. One question, which cars would you pit the top auto variant of Basalt?

[@TheTwinPost]

This is what i admire about Motorinc ( Kartikeya & Shumi) - their unique approach, attention to detail, and thorough analysis of various aspects of a vehicle can uncover new information on features you thought you already knew about after watching other reviews that came out weeks before. Their in-depth reviews often cover specific topics that other channels might overlook - Requesting for a chauffeur to test rear seat comfort/suspension setup/sound insulation is just one example, And ofcourse the in-between Moto-Jokes are pure gold 🥇🏆

[@motorinc]

Thanks TTP for the encouragement. 🙏🏾

[@ushaskrishna3764]

Thank you for the honest review, this helped us in buying one - Max AT.. Highlighting the 55:18 - 56:32 is to the point. All necessary features what we needed are there 5:04 only reason why we didn't go for Curvv even though it had more features.. and one comment you told 12:00 - 13:12 if they skipped, they skipped it completely but what they have in it is good. It's a spacious, elegant, comfortable drive car and we liked it in our initial one week of use.

[@motorinc]

Good to hear that @ushaskrishan3764, please keep us posted on your service experience!😊

[@traveljunkie1]

I heard from one of my friends from auto industry that they had spent crores on dashboard and it's equipments but were never satisfied with it. Build quality was not great, he said.I think whatever they are doing now will reflect on sales too, they are making a compelling case for at least shortlisting them for a test drive.

[@motorinc]

Indeed @traveljunkie1, provided people choose to test drive this first before its competitors.

[@tarunarora7897]

Very genuine discussion as always , your partnership is as eternal as the jai veeru duo from sholey ❤

[@khoushiekram5287]

Loved and Enjoyed your conversation guys. Insightful and entertaining♥️

[@motorinc]

Thank you for joining us @khoushiekram5287

[@chatgcyc]

Another day and another great #MotorIncFirst guys! A 10/10 for Shumi's summary, and a request for Kartikeya; please send a pic of the Wireless Charger + Cupholder to the Tata Management with whom you talked. I guess they can take some notes on how this can be done.

[@motorinc]

Haha thanks for the suggestion @chatgcyc! And for the rating.

[@travancorebiker]

As always, a pleasure to listen to you two.

[@motorinc]

A pleasure to have you join us as well @travancorebiker

[@techtalksabhishek]

Loved all your series the way you guys present his. I have one suggestion to bring in real people using cars and have honest conversations with them who are using cars. This will bring real experiences from the products point of view.

[@vivekaaraga]

I am completely with you, Karthik, about under thigh support. I am glad Citroen figured out a very clever way of standing out! These are the features to go after instead of ADAS, screens and sunroof. And the head restraint cushions are a nice touch! Citroen has entered my consideration set for future purchase.

[@motorinc]

Hey VA! Thanks for letting us know. Would be great to hear you thoughts about the car. And the decision! All the best.

[@Sunny-x7l2u]

Today I was scared when I opened the oil filler cap on the engine expecting to see a wet timing belt. But I saw a timing chain. I’m overjoyed. ❤Older models of this Puretech engine are notorious for timing belt failure and low oil pressure alarm. I bought the C3 Aircross bcos it’s a 7 seater with Creta size. And I drive to Odisha where the roads get very very bad. This car didn’t disappoint me on rough roads. Once I was driving at 60kmph on a really bad hilly road and the big tyres and the suspension did their job. Something which an Ertiga cannot do.

[@motorinc]

Glad to hear that @Sunny-x7l2u! But did you really buy one without knowing what's underneath?😅 Anyway, congratulations, we wish you lots of awesome time with it 😊

[@Sunny-x7l2u]

@@motorinc yes I really bought one without knowing what’s underneath

[@d79977]

Fantastic 😍 feel like listening again and again... Brilliant format.

[@motorinc]

Thanks for joining in!

[@hrishikeshkasyap]

Just Loving this channel!! Shumi and Kar are letting out content for pure auto enthusiasts❤❤

[@motorinc]

Thanks HK!

[@rahulp5879]

Superb review covering all the bases . Indian car market more players who keep innovating , thinking out of box and challenging the market leaders who are just stagnant in product development. Keep up the good work.

[@motorinc]

Thanks for sharing your perspective Rahul!

[@perumanoor1]

I have been a Maruti loyalist for the past two decades starting with a 2000 model Wagon R in 2004, a new Swift Dzire in 2009, a second hand 2012 diesel Dzire in 2015 and a 2019 Swift Dzire which happens to be my current car. I test drove the turbo version of the Basalt and loved it. I do a lot of long journeys and the boot space was really impressive. I am more concerned about the cost of ownership and the fact that the service centres are few and far between. Considering this, should I go in for the Basalt? I normally change vehicles in five to ten years.

[@mehrajmohan173]

Best review so far

[@motorinc]

Thanks MM!

[@SuperVengal]

7:39 including the door handles . I literally fell down from the bed 😂😂😂😂

[@aniketvaidya628]

Peak Hyderabad traffic and got an amazing videocast to hear. Blissful Thursday.😊

[@motorinc]

Morning AV! Have a zen one! 😁