Citroen C5 Aircross review - MPG, CO2 and Running Costs

The fuel economy champion of the Citroen C5 Aircross range is the 1.5 BlueHDi diesel, which returns a claimed 68.9mpg – and that’s regardless of whether you opt for the six-speed manual gearbox or the eight-speed auto. CO2 emissions are 108g/km and 107g/km respectively. There is also a larger diesel, the 2.0 BlueHDi, which returns 58.9mpg and emits 126g/km.

If you opt for petrol power, the PureTech 130 engine returns a claimed 55.3mpg and emits 121g/km of CO2 – not quite on a par with the diesels, but still offering a decent economy and performance blend in other PSA Group cars we’ve tried. The more powerful PureTech 180 petrol is, as you might expect, the least efficient of the range. 

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However, if you’re not in a hurry, from early 2020, the C5 Aircross will be available as a plug-in hybrid. This uses the PureTech 180 engine, but with an electric motor sandwiched between the power unit and the eight-speed automatic gearbox. Citroen claims it will give an all-electric range of around 30 miles.

Insurance groups

Insurance groups for the C5 Aircross are still being calculated. However, we’d expect them to start around group 11 for the lower-powered diesels, and 16 for the petrols. Top-spec models will probably sit in group 22 or 23.

Depreciation

Citroen has a history of offering dealer incentives and discounts, which should mean the car can be had with an appealing monthly finance rate. This is, in some respects, a safer way into an Aircross than outright purchase, because it insulates you from depreciation – a factor that has not been particularly kind to Citroens in years gone by.

As it competes in one of the most hotly contested segments of the new-car market, the C5 Aircross is inherently desirable, helping maintain values, particularly to those keen on its unique selling points of comfort and design. Even the entry-level Feel model is well equipped, so the outlay needed to get a decently specified model is also reduced.