Small revisions over the Chinese version make it more globally appealing.
French carmaker Citroen has released a new model, which once again makes full use of the quirky and zany personality that the brand has been associated with since shortly after Moses parted the Red Sea. The C5 Aircross is the latest model to benefit from the brands’ newfound confidence, and is set to be a breath of fresh air in the mid-size SUV space.
Riding on the same EMP2 platform that underpins the Peugeot 3008 and the DS 7 Crossback, the C5 Aircross shares broadly similar dimensions, and so it easily eclipses segment players like the Nissan Qashqai. If the C5 Aircross looks a little familiar, it might be because you’re familiar with its Chinese counterpart of the same name. Indeed, the Chinese-market C5 Aircross debuted about a year ago. However, the car that’s just debuted in France is not only revised to suit global tastes, but it’s also being built in France, rather than in China.
The C5 Aircross continues the unique design themes that we’ve seen from Citroen of late. The fascia is dominated by the full-width double-chevron element, which frames the upper light cluster to form a loop. The dual-tier lights are also present and correct, while contrast-colour elements in the front (and down the sides) break up what might’ve otherwise been visually monotonous.
The profile of the Aircross reveals things like toned-down Airbumps, which now sit at the bottom of the door rather than right through the middle, as well as two-tone roof-rails that highlight the C5’s floating roof design. The glasshouse is described as a 360º wraparound thanks to blacked-out pillars, with the whole element broken up only by a prominent chrome strip that frames the passenger windows. And at the rear, you’ll find integrated tailpipes and a unique set of taillights, featuring 3D light play making them look mesmerising at night.
Motivational force comes from a choice of two turbo-petrol engines, and two turbo-diesels. The Puretech 130 and BlueHDi 130 both come as standard with a six-speed manual box, while Puretech & BlueHDi 180s will get an eight-speed auto. Regardless, drive will go to the front wheels for now, while we await an e-AWD system to arrive with a PSA plug-in hybrid.
The C5 Aircross’ cabin continues the theme of uniquely-Citroen design, with a wide, high centre console, broken up by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Illuminated cupholders, a ‘butterfly-opening’ central storage cubby, and dedicated phone charging space means that the C5 Aircross’ cabin is both gorgeous and functional. Citroen promises a generous use of plush, forgiving material all-round as part of the company’s drive to offer “peerless comfort.”
The seats are of the ‘Advanced Comfort’ variety, featuring extra padding for maximum comfort and support. The cabin can be trimmed in a variety of upholsteries, ranging from fabric all the way up to Nappa leather. The glass used features a laminated layer to ensure maximum insulation from the outside world, too. No wonder then that Citroen claims the C5 Aircross is the most comfortable car in its class.
The C5 Aircross isn’t all plush and no smarts, though. That 8-inch central touchscreen features things like smartphone mirroring for Android and Apple devices, a 360º parking camera, and a dash-cam (built into the rear-view mirror). Further smarts include a variety of advanced driver assistance systems, with the headlining feature going to Highway Driver Assist, which is essentially a motorway-optimised semi-autonomous driving system that allows the car to take the edge off long-distance driving.
The Citroen C5 Aircross has yet to be confirmed for an Australian debut, though if the (relative) popularity of the C4 Cactus here is any indication, we should expect to see the C5 Aircross here sooner rather than later.
For more information on Citroen, check out our Showroom.
