Citroën C5 Aircross Review (2019)

Caroline drives the new Citroën C5 Aircross!

Citroën has totally reinvented the brand’s line up of cars in recent years with bold new family-focused vehicles that carry distinct styling. And now they’ve launched one of their most potentially lucrative models to date – the new Citroën C5 Aircross. With pricing starting from €26,495, the new C5 Aircross competes in the sweet spot of the market where family SUVs reside. Yet the C5 Aircross is the compact family SUV done in the Citroën way, with comfort, style and practicality being this car’s key attributes in the market.

In styling terms, Citroën designers may have applied an air pump to the smaller C3 Aircross because the C5 Aircross mirrors the styling of that vehicle. However, Citroen’s new design language really does sit well upon the larger dimensions of the C5 Aircross. It looks fresh and friendly with a design that moulds rugged style flourishes like wheel arch extensions and Airbump^® panels, with soft, curvy surfaces. My test car was quite demure in silver, but a funky two-tone look is also available.

The interior of the new Citroën C5 Aircross

The C5 Aircross is one of the longest and tallest cars in its segment and has a spacious and airy cabin. Citroën has focused on practicality so you will find three individual seats in the second row that can slide, fold and recline. There is plenty of leg and headroom for this class of vehicle with a flat floor in the rear. The boot is also one of the best in class at 580 litres.

There’s quite a rugged, durable look to the dashboard design, with some soft touch materials, but also some more sombre hard plastics throughout the cabin also. A touchscreen is included as standard and also houses the ventilation controls, which depending on what school of motoring you are from, may be a source of frustration. Storage is a high point for the C5 Aircross making it a great vehicle for a family on the move, including a large cubby in the centre console and a convenient tray for keys and phone. A 12.3-inch digital driver information panel is also included as standard and looks cool and modern.

In Ireland there are four trim levels for the C5 Aircross: Start (from €26,495), Touch (from €27,995), Feel (from €29,995) and Flair (from €33,695). The entry ‘Start’ trim level includes 8” touchscreen display, cruise control, active safety brake and air conditioning. The ‘Touch’ trim adds items such as 17” alloys, rear parking sensors, folding mirrors, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay.

The ‘Feel’ model has 18” alloys, front parking sensor, privacy glass, wireless phone charging and active blind spot detection. ‘Flair’ is the top specification level and includes 19” alloys, Citroën connect navigation, keyless entry and keyless start, a Panoramic Sunroof with interior LED ambient lighting and various driver assistance systems such as park assist, active lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control. ConnectedCAM, a factory fitted dashboard camera from Citroën, is also standard across the range.

On the road in the new Citroën C5 Aircross

The C5 Aircross adopts the sofa-inspired seating of the C4 Cactus with thick, wide seats, and plenty of sound insulation measures to improve refinement. So this is a very comfortable car that provides a nice ambience for families on the move. It features Citroën’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension for a smoother and more comfortable ride. It translates well to the road, with the C5 Aircross being very soft and smooth over the road. The trade-off is that the C5 Aircross rolls in the corners a bit more than rivals and the steering set-up is not the sharpest either.

The Citroën has some excellent engines on offer. At launch there is the 1.2-litre 130hp Puretech petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, or a 1.6-litre 180hp petrol, which comes with the choice of a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. There is also a 1.5-litre Blue HDI 130hp diesel engine with the choice of a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission, and a 2.0-litre 180hp unit, which comes as standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Motor tax ranges from €190 to €280 depending on model. A plug-in hybrid is on the way in 2020.

My test car was a 1.2 petrol with 130hp and I can’t recommend this engine enough. It makes the C5 Aircross more interesting to drive than the diesel, and always feels lively. Refinement is excellent also and running costs are competitive.

The Citroën C5 Aircross offers good value in the market being a spacious family vehicle with a good specification. It’s bold and friendly, comfortable and refined. The Citroën C5 Aircross is a quirky new entrant into the compact SUV segment and embodies the best of 21^st century Citroën!

Caroline Kidd

Model tested: Citroën C5 Aircross 1.2 Puretech 130 Flair
Price: €33,695 (range from €26,495)
Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol
Power: 130 hp
Torque: 230 Nm
0-100km/h:  10.5 seconds
Top speed: 188 km/h
Fuel economy: 6.8 l/100km
CO2 emissions: 121 g/km
Motor tax: €270 per year