Completing The Set
by David Finlay (24 Aug 07)

With the introduction of the C-Crosser, the UK market now has three almost identical versions of the compact SUV otherwise known as the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Peugeot 4007.

As we've had cause to mention several times in the past, the car is basically Mitsubishi's work. One of the three engines available in the Outlander is PSA Peugeot Citroen's 2.2-litre HDi turbo diesel, and as part of the deal the closely-related French companies get to sell mildly modified versions, though only with their own engine (which can run with up to 30% biodiesel along with the regular stuff) under the bonnet.

Although there are more than enough visual clues to demonstrate that all three cars are effectively the same thing, each manufacturer has created its own distinctive front end, and there's a general feeling among the motoring media that the Citroen treatment is the most effective. If you agree, then this (along with any loyalty you may have to Citroen dealers rather than those who sell Mitsubishis or Peugeots) is one of the few reasons to pick the C-Crosser over the others, since it is very similar to the Outlander and almost indistinguishable from the 4007.

We're talking details here, but there is a distance between the Outlander and the others. That's the only car with a petrol option (Mitsubishi's own 2.4-litre unit), and it can also be specified with the Volkswagen Group's two-litre turbo diesel, which is - for reasons I'll come to - my favourite of the available engines.

The C-Crosser and the 4007 are not only mechanically identical; they also come in the same two trim levels (described by Citroen as VTR+ and Exclusive, by Peugeot as SE and GT) and cost exactly the same (£22,790 for the lower-spec car, £25,490 for the higher).

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