Citroen C5 Aircross Review

Read Caroline’s Citroen C5 Aircross review for everything you need to know about buying Citroen’s family SUV in Ireland.

The Citroen C5 Aircross launched in Ireland in 2019 to meet market demand for compact SUVs. Sporting chunky SUV looks with a finish of Citroen design flair, the C5 Aircross was a good-looking new entrant to the market where cars like the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson have held a steady grip for some years now.

But the motor industry moves fast and by 2022 it was time for a revamp. The latest Citroen C5 Aircross gets smartened up all-round without losing any of its charm and character. There’s a range of engine options available – from petrol and diesel to plug-in hybrid.

The arrival of the new C5 Aircross coincides with a bit of a brand revival at Citroen. The new Citroen C4 is now the brand’s bestselling car in Ireland with an electric version available for the first time.

And the new Citroen C5 X has just driven away with the title of Irish Large Crossover/SUV of the Year 2023 at the Irish Car of the Year awards.

What’s so special about the Citroen C5 Aircross?

The Citroen C5 Aircross is available priced from €38,690 in Ireland, which is competitive for a family SUV in today’s market.

In the last few years, the design team at Citroen has turned things around for the French car brand. Every new Citroen now features some very appealing design that’s just the right side of avant-garde.

The C5 Aircross is no different. For this facelifted version, the front end has been revised so it looks more modern and striking. There’s a new Citroen logo in the centre of the grille and the chevrons and new daytime running lights extend more elegantly into the headlights for a smoother and more refined appearance.

Beneath the grille, the redesign of the air intakes visually widens the C5 Aircross. The rugged SUV look is finished off with a skid plate and a super set of roof rails. At the back, the rear lights get a new 3D light signature. 18-inch alloy wheels come as standard and Eclipse Blue joins the range as a new colour.

The new C Series Edition (from €42,990) introduces a bronze colour pack that can be found on the Airbump® and bumper scoops. There’s also a special embossed “C-Series” badge on the front wing and 19-inch alloy wheels – as well as more equipment inside.

Inside the Citroen C5 Aircross

The interior of the Citroen C5 Aircross has also been suitably revised for this latest version, though it doesn’t look quite as modern and high-tech as rivals like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.

There’s a glossy new 10-inch touchscreen on all but the entry model (8-inch) that appears to float on the dashboard and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  It looks better than the version in the previous model. The vents are now located below the screen and have been modernised with a new sharp, horizontal design. There’s also a full digital driver display for the driver.

The central console has also been revised with a more ergonomic layout. Automatic versions get a neater ‘e-Toggle’ gear selector.

The cabin quality is good with some new soft touch materials added to improve things and new blue stitching detail. While it’s not the last word in luxury, the seats kind of are! New Citroen Advanced Comfort seats from the C4 and C5 X feature for the first time, as well as a modular interior offering flexibility more associated with an MPV.

There are three individual seats in the second row that can individually slide and recline, which is quite unique and makes the C5 Aircross very family friendly. There’s Isofix child seat fixtures on the two outer seats and the front passenger seat.

There’s lots of headroom and legroom is quite generous too for a mid-size SUV. Nip around to the boot and you will find a large, square boot of 580 litres, while plug-in hybrids can muster 460 litres – not bad at all.

There are three trim levels for the C5 Aircross in Ireland: Feel Pack, Flair and C Series Edition. Standard equipment is good and includes keyless start, automatic dual zone climate control, a parking camera and parking sensors front and rear.

Driving the C5 Aircross

Citroen has set out to create one of the most comfortable SUVs on the road. The Progressive Hydraulic Cushions^® suspension, exclusive to Citroën, enhances absorption of imperfections in the road meaning that the C5 Aircross does move very smoothly over the tarmac – from town and city, to motorway.

Despite the softer suspension set-up, the C5 Aircross handles the road with confidence. While it’s not the sportiest or most engaging SUV to drive, it’s unlikely to be a sticking point for most buyers.

Citroen is offering plenty of choice when it comes to powertrain too. There’s petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid to choose from. The range kicks off with the familiar 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine with 130hp (from €38,690). It’s available with a 6-speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

There’s also a 1.5-litre diesel with 130hp (from €39,470) and it too comes with the choice of a 6-speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed automatic gearbox. It offers a relatively refined and smooth drive for a diesel SUV, with enough power for town and motorway driving and reasonable fuel consumption. Over a week of driving my average fuel consumption was 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres.

The most powerful of the range is the new C5 Aircross plug-in hybrid (from €48,500) with 225hp and an automatic gearbox. It can be plugged in and charged so that you can drive up to about 55 kilometres on electric power alone. It takes less than two hours to charge the 13.2 kWh battery from a wallbox at home.

Did you like it?

The Citroen C5 Aircross is yet another option in the mid-size SUV segment. This latest revamp has done enough to make it still feel modern and relevant, though some rivals like the Tuscon and Sportage feel a little more high-tech and sophisticated inside.

Still, the Citroen is reasonably priced with every trim level coming well-equipped. There’s a good line-up of power options and though the C5 Aircross doesn’t offer much excitement behind the wheel, it is a very comfortable family SUV with a superbly practical interior.

While the new Citroen C5 X also has a lot to offer family buyers, SUVs remain high in desirability and there’s plenty to like about the C5 Aircross!

Model tested: Citroen C5 Aircross C-Series Edition Automatic
Price: €45,100
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo diesel
Power: 130hp
Torque: 221Nm
Top speed: 188 km/h
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 10.6 seconds
Motor Tax: €270 per year

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Written by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year