Citroen C5 Aircross – 2020
By Ian Strachan
Citroen has probably advanced the most in recent years in terms of design and innovation. The latest Citroen C5 Aircross is a case in point.
The C5 Aircross looks like an SUV, but without the aggression of some others in the sector. It has nicely rounded edges and sculpted lines. But it hasn’t sacrificed anything in the way of comfort and practicality.
Citroen has loaded this medium-sized 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 19 inch alloys on a car of this size. But the C5 Aircross gives you all of that and much more.
The vehicle has a distinctive look, particularly from the side, with a high front end, full-length roof rails and black “Airbump” side protection first seen on the Cactus. It’s rugged, but too rugged, and has a surprisingly spacious interior. The overall appearance on the Flair specification which I tested was helped by smart anodised 19 inch alloy wheels (an extra £1,030 as part of an exterior pack that includes a fully opening panoramic roof.)
I drove the Aircross through some very wet roads in the recent floods and appreciated its extra ground clearance and large wheels.
I drove the four cylinder 2.0 litre turbo diesel-powered C5 Aircross. The turbocharged direct injection 180 horsepower engine is willing, smooth and quiet. Married to an impressively stepless eight-speed automatic gearbox it gives effortless performance. Citroen’s automatic gearboxes have certainly moved on from the lumpy gearboxes of the past.
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 intuitive and easy to use.
Storage space is generous, with big door bins front and back and a large central illuminated glovebox. Leg and headroom are more than adequate and boot space is generous with 720 litres of luggage space. The driver’s seat is powered and three full-size rear seats have an adjustable recline feature.
There are some clever touches around this Citroen and I Iiked it a lot. Fuel economy is respectable, returning up to 47.1 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. Ride comfort is helped by suspension with hydraulic cushions to absorb the all-too-frequent potholes.
On the Flair specification which I tested you get 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, Citroen Connect wifi and USB socket, gear efficiency indicator, and all-round parking sensors with rear camera. You also get electric windows, automatic wipers and headlights and electric, heated door mirrors along with front fog lights with cornering function, two-position boot floor and LED daytime running lights.
This is a good, eye-catching and roomy package which is well worth the £31,135 on the road price. Extras on my test car included metallic paint (£545) and the exterior pack with panoramic sunroof (£1,030).
