Citroen C5 Aircross 2019 Review

In spite of the SUV influx that has taken Australia (and the world) by storm, Citroen asserts the modern high-rider has three distinct weaknesses: poor habitability and comfort, poor modularity and a small boot.

Fear not, however. Citroen Australia officials have presented an all-encompassing remedy: the new Citroen C5 Aircross.

Arriving in Australian showrooms this month as the latest Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson competitor, the mid-size SUV is Citroen’s first real play in the Australian market under a new product renaissance for the French brand. Following in the wheel tracks of the smaller C3 Aircross launched in April, the C5 Aircross was first unveiled at the 2017 Shanghai motor show before being released in Europe last year.

In Australia, the Citroen C5 Aircross is available in two grades, the entry-level Feel ($39,990 plus on-road costs) and the flagship Shine ($43,990 plus on-road costs). Those figures position the C5 Aircross at a much higher price point than many competitors, but Citroen argues the additional outlay is countered by more equipment.

Our pricing story has the full rundown, but in essence, all C5 Aircross variants get: 18-inch alloy wheels, foot-operated electric tailgate, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 8.0-inch touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic lights and wipers with LED daytime running lights and a 180-degree reversing camera with parking sensors.

The flagship Shine brings niceties such as 19-inch alloys, wireless phone charging pad, electric driver’s seat, leather-fabric combination seats, laminated windows and windscreen and aluminium pedals.

The Citroen C5 Aircross’ standard safety suite includes six airbags, automated emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, along with three child anchorage points across the rear bench, the outboard pews with ISOFIX attachments.

Each Citroen C5 Aircross variant employs the same 121kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, driving the front wheels only, and makes use of the car-maker’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension.

A braked towing capacity of 1200kg applies across both models, and each is fitted with a space-saver spare tyre.

Citroen’s revitalised showroom in Australia is matched with new servicing and aftersales provisions. The Citroen C5 Aircross is covered by the manufacturer’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, while servicing costs are rated at $3010 for the first five years and includes consumables including brake fluid.

The C5 Aircross plays up to Citroen’s reputation for customisation, offered in seven exterior hues with contrasting colour packs.

From a brand not known for sticking to convention, the new Citroen C5 Aircross offers some genuinely pleasing interior solutions that not only go against the grain, but make you wonder why they haven’t been done before.

Settling into the high-set driver’s chair is a case in point. In the flagship Shine variant, Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort seats’ are literally up front.

These feature 15mm-thick padding along with structured foam and high-density foam familiar with bedding/mattress technology. The result is comfortable and supportive, underlined by a suppleness that would make it well-suited to longer journeys.

At the same time, an open forward vista and generous side mirrors mean the C5 Aircross’ 4.5m long, 1.8m wide and 1.6m high dimensions never feel overly bulky. Rear vision is mildly restricted by a hefty C-pillar, though it’s not deal-breaking.

Further back comes the C5’s biggest party trick. It is the only five-seat SUV on the market that offers separate sliding and tilt adjustment for the three rear seats. Each offers 150mm worth of fore-aft adjustment along with a backrest angle adjustment between 19 and 26.5 degrees.

The second row manoeuvrability allows the boot area to be tailored between 580 litres and 720 litres (measured from floor to ceiling). That endows the C5 Aircross with a sizeable 280-litre cargo space advantage over the CX-5.

The cabin generally feels well put together, with a clean centre fascia interface that uses minimal switchgear and liberates strong storage, plus a digitised instrument cluster with umpteen functionality.

Up front there are two centrally-mounted cupholders, deep door pockets and two USB points, along with wireless phone charging in Shine variants.

The rear seats are serviced via face-level air vents and a solitary USB point. They offer adequate knee space for a 180cm adult, while headroom is likewise strong – the only exception being the roofline tapers down heavily at the outer edges to meet the window line.

The C5 Aircross’ rear door aperture is relatively tight when pitted directly against something like the seven-seat Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, but the Citroen makes up key ground in the boot with a low-set loading area and broad aperture, four tie-down points, shopping hooks and a 12V charging outlet.

The heavy emphasis on comfort in the new Citroen C5 Aircross is most apparent on the road. The mid-size SUV treads a decidedly different path to the way it tackles lumps and bumps, with a ride and handling package that is unashamedly focussed on plushness.

This was immediately apparent upon wheeling out of the carpark at this month’s national launch of the new medium SUV. The comfort bias is heralded by light, slow steering that probably isn’t as reactive as some driver’s requirements. While still accurate, the slow responses are matched by more body roll than that of, say, a Mazda CX-5.

At the same time, the Citroen C5 Aircross’ suspension dispatches small amplitude bumps without a sweat and wafts along major arterial roads admirably.

Rougher B-roads common in Australia pose more of a challenge for the hydraulic suspension technology, however, thudding over sharper imperfections and struggling to regain control and composure as quickly as rivalling SUVs. The C5 Aircross is also prone to occasionally skipping over mid-corner bumps in the rear and transferring some unwanted feedback through the steering wheel.

All told, the ride and handling mix is considered for an SUV though, mated too strong but not leading noise suppression.

The C5 Aircross’ 1.6-litre engine feels well-attuned to family duties. The turbo-four belies its modest capacity and output with a linear power delivery, one that allows it to make light work of overtaking manoeuvres and building up to highway speed.

Officially, the C5 Aircross can notch 0-100km/h in 9.9sec, but more importantly, forward progress is always refined and willing, aided by a six-speed automatic that is well-timed in its shifts and promotes efficiency.

Across a mix of conditions, we are able to match Citroen’s 7.9L/100km claim.

There’s good reason Citroen Australia is treating the C5 Aircross as its most important model in decades.

This mid-size SUV has some impressive character traits, and while it doesn’t resolve every weakness of the modern SUV, it takes the French brand into genuinely uncharted territory – the mainstream!

2019 Citroen C5 Aircross pricing and specifications:
Price: $39,990 (Feel), $43,990 (Shine) *plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 121kW/240Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, FWD
Fuel: 7.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 179g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP