Skip advert
Advertisement

New Citroen C5 Aircross 2019 review

We give our verdict as the refined new Citroen C5 Aircross SUV hits British roads

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.5 out of 5

Find your Citroen C5 Aircross
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

The Citroen C5 Aircross should be praised for its uniquely plush take on the family SUV formula. It is totally unpretentious in its design, disregarding driver engagement in favour of solid comfort. However, a Peugeot 3008 is better to drive, has a higher-quality feel and is more composed in day-to-day use. Unless you live on a street lined with potholes and speed bumps, the Peugeot is a better bet.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Citroen has traded on a reputation for comfort and refinement for decades. Rather than targeting a compromised sporty dynamic, the French firm’s slack suspension and plush seats offer something different in a market blinded by driver engagement.

But for many new car buyers, the way a large family SUV handles on a race track is about as relevant as cabin and boot space in a two-door sports car. Citroen’s latest crossover, the new C5 Aircross, aims to capitalise on this quandary.

• Best 4x4s and SUVs on sale

We’ve tried a couple of versions already. While our early Chinese-spec car raised a few quality concerns, a much longer drive in a European model late last year showed great improvements with regards to fit and finish.

But the biggest question remained: what would Citroen’s largest SUV be like to drive back in Britain? Our notoriously pock-marked tarmac can unsettle even the most competent and composed cars, so the Aircross has its work cut out to topple the Peugeot 3008 and Skoda Karoq.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Under the bonnet is a familiar range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. The PureTech 130 tested here is a unit we know and like, offering plenty of punch, decent refinement and low running costs. Even in a car of this size, it never feels breathless, ticking along happily at motorway speeds.

Advertisement - Article continues below

No version should break the bank to run, with entry-level petrol models capable of around 40mpg. The diesels will suit higher-mileage drivers, but are subject to the four per cent company car tax surcharge.

Our petrol car was incredibly quiet – so much so you’d be hard pushed to know if it was running at idle without glancing at the rev counter or prodding the throttle. And it remains hushed until you really wring it out.

The Progressive Hydraulic suspension does a decent job of ironing out lumps and bumps around town, but deeper potholes can upset the balance because the dampers struggle to react in time – sending an unwelcome wobble through the cabin.

This set-up, while not conducive to on-the-limit handling, makes the Citroen SUV a commendable high-speed cruiser. Any sudden input – be that steering, accelerating, changing gear or braking – can cause the car to pitch or wallow, but take things easy and you’ll find it an impressively cosseting place to be.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

However, the comfortable ride isn’t matched by an ergonomic driving position. Again, things are fine at steady speeds, but changing gear feels like a cumbersome process, due to the height of the centre console. Although it’s not something we noticed in the automatic cars, constant engagement with the lofty manual gearlever – around town, for example – can prove tiresome. The long, baggy throw doesn’t help matters, either.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The rest of the interior seems logically designed, however, with a big touchscreen and a nice digital dash panel. Those moving from older models will revel in the myriad connectivity options, but the lack of physical climate control buttons is a continued frustration of many PSA cars.

On a monthly PCP finance deal, the 3008 and C5 Aircross are separated by a hair’s breadth, with both costing around £338 over 48 months and 10,000 miles per year. That central screen is standard on all Citroen models, and every version comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Basic Feel cars offer rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels and a full suite of safety kit, including autonomous emergency braking.

Step up to Flair and you’ll add bigger rims, an integrated dash cam, sat-nav and tinted windows. Flagship Flair Plus gets keyless entry, a panoramic roof, wireless phone charging and an automatic bootlid.

Raise that tailgate and you’ll uncover a generous 580-litre load area. That beats the Karoq even without sliding the seats forward, although doing so reveals a more impressive 720 litres. Folding the seats gives a Skoda-matching 1,630 litres.

Room in the back is adequate. There’s no seven-seat model yet, which is a shame – especially as the larger Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 satisfy such needs – but the rear bench is big enough to carry kids and average-size adults in relative comfort. The flat floor helps, while sliding the bench back should help those with long legs. Cabin storage is good, with various pockets and a big central cubby for loose items.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the our team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024