Citroen C3 Aircross vs Nissan Qashqai
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Citroen C3 Aircross
$32,990 when new
RRP when new — this model is no longer sold new in Australia
SUV
Petrol
PureTech turbo petrol with Stop & Start
81kW
6.6 L/100km
ANCAP: no data
410L
Nissan Qashqai
From $47,165
SUV
Hybrid
Petrol
140kW
4.8 L/100km
4★ ANCAP
404L
Citroen C3 Aircross: we're still completing length, width, height, wheelbase and kerb weight, plus 6 others.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
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Price Breakdown
The Citroen C3 Aircross starts from $32,990 before on-road costs, while the Nissan Qashqai opens at $47,165. That makes the Citroen C3 Aircross the more affordable entry point by $14,175.
Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $36,289 and $51,882 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Nissan Qashqai by roughly $2,565 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Feature Showdown
The Citroen C3 Aircross features a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Nissan Qashqai gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Citroen C3 Aircross stands out with Apple CarPlay and wireless charging — features our data doesn't list for the Nissan Qashqai. The Nissan Qashqai counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, panoramic roof and heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Citroen C3 Aircross gets cloth upholstery while the Nissan Qashqai offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 1-zone in the Citroen C3 Aircross and 2-zone in the Nissan Qashqai.
Drivetrain
The Citroen C3 Aircross uses a PureTech turbo petrol with Stop & Start producing 81kW and 205Nm of torque, sent through a eat6 6-speed automatic to the wheels.
The Nissan Qashqai responds with a Petrol making 140kW and 330Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.
The Nissan Qashqai has the clear power advantage at 140kW vs 81kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
Boot space is 410L in the Citroen C3 Aircross and 404L in the Nissan Qashqai, giving the Citroen C3 Aircross a 6L advantage.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
11.1m diameter
Average
Based on 11.1m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Average
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 9.8 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: clears in one
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
1.8 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: swings in
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,881/year for the Citroen C3 Aircross and $1,368/year for the Nissan Qashqai. That is a $513 annual difference in favour of the Nissan Qashqai.
Warranty: 5 years (Citroen C3 Aircross) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Nissan Qashqai). Both match on warranty length.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Citroen C3 Aircross if: You want the lower entry price, need more boot space, or prefer Citroen's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Nissan Qashqai if: You prioritise performance, want lower running costs, or prefer Nissan's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
This is genuinely close. The Citroen C3 Aircross and Nissan Qashqai trade blows across the spec sheet, and neither runs away with an outright win. The Nissan Qashqai will save you roughly $513 a year in fuel. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Citroen C3 Aircross and Nissan Qashqai?
The Citroen C3 Aircross is the cheapest at $32,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Nissan Qashqai by $14,175.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Nissan Qashqai uses the least fuel at 4.8L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Nissan Qashqai holds a 4-star ANCAP rating. We have no published ANCAP rating for Citroen C3 Aircross, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Citroen C3 Aircross has the largest boot at 410L.
Which is the most powerful?
The Nissan Qashqai makes the most power at 140kW.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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