| First Drive | Farnborough, England | Citroen C-Crosser DCS |

Citroen's soft-roader gains a new double-clutch gearbox to offer automatic convenience without losses in economy and emissions.

In the Metal

Citroen's C-Crosser is perhaps the best looking of the Mitsubishi/Peugeot/Citroen SUV triplets. It looks the part thanks to its high-riding stance, but don't be fooled into thinking this 4x4 will take you much further than a dusty farm track. Inside, it's much the same story, where the cabin has much more in common with a well appointed estate car than any utilitarian off-roader. While inside, you will spot the automatic gearbox-style lever, but look closer and you'll also see the paddle shifters just behind the steering wheel. This is the only telltale for the DSG-style twin-clutch gearbox.

What you get for your Money

If you want the DCS (double clutch system) gearbox in the C-Crosser, it will set you back £1,200 more than the standard six-speed manual version. For that, you get the six-speed DCS transmission and paddle shifters, plus a display in the main instrument pod to show which gear you are in.

There's a choice of VTR+ and Exclusive trims. The VTR+ come with climate control, a CD stereo, cruise control, electric windows, ESP, six airbags and alloy wheels. Opt for the Exclusive model and you also get rear parking sensors and leather seats, while satellite navigation is a £1,650 option in both models; metallic paint is £420.

Whichever of the C-Crossers you prefer, they both come with an extra pair of seats in the boot. These fold flat into the floor when not needed and provide extra seating for a couple of kids, though limited space means they are a no-go zone for adults. The other five seats offer generous space for full-size people. Fold the third row seats flat into the floor and there's a large load bay, made more practical by the split tailgate. The driver is well looked after for comfort and space, though the up-sweep of the rear pillars limits visibility when parking.

Driving it

All C-Crossers sold in the UK now come with a 156bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine and the DCS-equipped model is no different. The engine works best with a gentle right foot away from a standing start, especially pulling out of junctions, as we found it quite willing to spin up a front wheel. This leads to an inelegant exit from any junction as the front wheels scrabble for grip until some power is sent to the rears to get things going. Driven with some more care, the C-Crosser gets off the line without fuss, taking 11.1 seconds from 0-62mph. The engine needs a few revs to give its best, with peak shove of 280lb.ft delivered at 2,000rpm.

In fully automatic mode, the C-Crosser DCS is much like any of its rivals in that it does a decent job of overtaking without fuss, kicks down a gear or two promptly when asked and is a fine partner for relaxed cruising. The paddle-shift gearbox feels a little out of place in an SUV, but it works well if the driver is so inclined to use the manual option. The shifts are quick, clean and smooth, and the downshifts are eased by the gearbox and engine's computer matching revs to road speed for the perfect throttle blip.

The rest of the C-Crosser driving experience remains unaltered, so it deals with corners with little roll, grips keenly and covers most road surfaces with a firm but fair ride. Refinement is also good, though the engine can make itself heard if the driver presses hard on the throttle to get the gearbox to kick down for added pace. Wind and road noise are damped out very effectively.

Worth Noting

By using a double-clutch gearbox instead of a normal automatic transmission, Citroen has reduced the impact its self-shifter has on economy and emissions. Compared to the manual C-Crosser's average consumption of 40.4mpg, the DCS model manages a very creditable 38.7mpg. For emissions, the DCS version's 192g/km is very close to the manual's 185g/km, so the DCS model sits only one road tax band higher than the manual. This also bodes well for anyone considering a C-Crosser as a company car as it makes the French model is one of the less heavily polluting cars in its class.

Summary

A C-Crosser VTR+ with the DCS gearbox will set you back £24,545, while the Exclusive version tips the cost scales at £27,320. Yes, you're very likely to get a decent discount to compensate for the car's average residual values, but it still seems like a lot to us when you can have the superb Mazda CX-7 with a diesel engine - though no auto - for £25,785. The Citroen's DCS gearbox is good to use and works well, and economy and emissions are appealing, but the rest of this SUV isn't up to the class best so is likely to remain a rare sight on UK roads.