Citroen C5 Aircross Shine Pack - the French have done it differently
The Citroën C5 Aircross is a consistently executed idea for an SUV that breaks away from the mainstream. And this car really does look very different from its rivals. Having tried out certain styling solutions in other models, Citroen has come up with a raised car with a strong character and eye-catching styling details, such as the Airbump panels. Thanks to three independent sliding and folding second-row seats with adjustable backrests, the Citroen C5 Aircross SUV is more modular than many of its competitors.
The car is 4.50 m long and catches the eye with its wide, bold front end, high bonnet line and interesting lines along the sides of the body. The rear is not boring either; the eye is drawn to the tail lights, each made up of four rounded LED light modules.
A spacious interior and seats
The interior of the Citroen C5 SUV is spacious. The dashboard has a horizontal design, with a panel running along its entire length. The digital instrument cluster in front of the driver can be configured, and its 12.3'' screen displays a selection of driving information. The C5 Aircross interior makes a really good impression, not least thanks to a feeling of solidity and originality with no loss of comfort. I really liked the materials used inside the car, and in particular the way the seats are stitched. They look a bit like..... IKEA furniture, but you can tell someone had an idea of how to dress a functional frame in an unusual form. And I have to admit that they are very comfortable on the move. The boot holds 460 litres, 120 less than in the combustion-engined version.
Plug-in powertrain, driving modes and suspension
The C5 badge has been familiar to car enthusiasts for years, as Citroen used the name for its models for almost 20 years. But the C5 is no longer a stately saloon; it has returned to the market as an SUV, adopting the body style that is so popular today. Recently, this model has also become available as a plug-in hybrid. As part of sharing components and design solutions, Citroen makes use of what has already been introduced in other models, namely the Opel Grandland X and the Peugeot 3008. The C5 Aircross is built on the same platform as the Peugeot and the Opel, but the "Frenchman" definitely looks the most original of the three. The most important thing Citroen shares with its "brothers" is the powertrain. It consists of a 1.6 petrol engine producing 180 hp and an electric motor generating 109 hp, complemented by a 13.2 kWh battery. Together, the powertrain delivers 225 hp. The car comes as standard with a 3.7 kW on-board charger, and a 7.2kW unit is available as an option, almost doubling the AC charging capability. Top speed in zero-emission mode is 135 km/h.
The driver has three driving modes to choose from: Electric, Hybrid and Sport. According to the manufacturer, the first should let you drive 55 km without starting the combustion engine. During my test, the maximum electric range shown by the car was 42km. While charging, the car shows the "rate" at which it is taking in energy, also expressed as "how many kilometres you will be able to drive after an hour of charging", which is a useful figure.
In its advertising for this model, Citroen highlights the unusual suspension components. It uses the term "progressive hydraulic cushions" to convey its aim of absorbing energy better when driving over uneven surfaces. And the car really is comfortable to drive. The side effect is less stiffness and slight body roll in corners, but you cannot have everything.
Test summary
All in all, the Citroen C5 Aircross is a successful car. It looks original and is comfortable to drive. Credit goes to the designers, who had the courage to present a vehicle outside the mainstream. And the car loses nothing in terms of practicality.
