By Ian Strachan.
Of all car manufacturers, Citroen has probably advanced the most in terms of design and innovation. The latest Citroen C5 Aircross is a case in point.
Following on from the success of the smaller Citroen C3 Aircross, the French manufacturer has loaded this SUV with lots of big car extras. Not so long ago it would have been unheard of to get all-round parking aids and rear view camera, lane assist, hill start assist and 18 inch alloys on a car of this size. But the C5 Aircross gives you all of that and much more.
The C5 Aircross has somewhat quirky but distinctive looks, with a high front end, full-length roof rails, deep matt black and chrome split grille and contrast colour “Airbump” side panels. It’s rugged and distinctive, and has a surprisingly spacious interior. The overall appearance on the PureTech specification which I tested was helped by smart anodised 18 inch alloy wheels.
I drove the 1.2 litre petrol-powered C5 Aircross. The 129 horsepower engine is willing, smooth and quiet. Married to an impressively smooth six-speed manual gearbox it gives effortless performance.
The interior is pleasant to look at and pleasant to be inside. Styling is attractive and has lots of personality to match its rugged exterior.
The seats are more comfortable and supportive than many cars in this class. The centrally mounted eight-inch touch-screen for controlling air conditioning, radio and media and the satnav system is slick and easy to use.
Storage space is generous, with big door bins front and back and a large central illuminated glovebox. Leg and headroom is more than adequate and boot space is generous. The driver’s seat has a good range of adjustment.
There are some clever touches around this Citroen and I Iike it a lot. Fuel economy is respectable, returning up to 49.5 miles to the gallon in mixed driving.
On the road, the C5 Aircross behaves extremely well. The power assisted steering is sensible – always giving you good contact with the road. Cornering is positive and effortless, and the suspension is pleasantly soft without being wallowy.
Automatic dual zone air conditioning with rear ventilation, keyless entry with remote central locking, six-speaker DAB radio/MP3 player with Bluetooth compatibility, Apple CarPlay and media streaming, USB sockets front and rear, adaptive cruise control, all-round parking sensors with rear camera, electric windows, automatic wipers and headlights and electric, heated door mirrors are all standard as are LED headlights, two-position boot floor and LED daytime running lights.
Safety features include automatic hazard light activation under heavy braking, speed limit reorganisation and lane assist.
This is a good, eye-catching and roomy package which is well worth the £25,770 on the road price. Extras on my test car included pearlescent paint at £720.
