Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Citroen C5 Aircross e-Series Hybrid 136 eDSC6
Price: £35,275 as tested
Motors: 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol with 21kW electric motor
Transmission: six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 136hp
Torque: 230Nm
Emissions: 130g/km
Economy: 45.6-53.3mpg
0-62mph: 10.2 seconds
Top speed: 124mph
Boot space: 580-1,630 litres
Styling
There's no obvious sign of difference between the hybrid- and petrol-powered versions of the C5 Aircross, which has grown up a little since its original arrival. Now a little more premium than before, it has quite a cool and chunky image, a bit like a child's toy. In keeping with the Citroen brand, there's nothing sporty about it, but it looks interesting and quirky, and that has worked for plenty of small SUVs. With ski-like roof rails and some cool colour schemes, we actually think it's one of the more interesting-looking family SUVs out there.
Interior
Citroen has a reputation for the weird and wonderful, and while we wouldn't use either of those words to describe the interior of the C5 Aircross, it definitely has a bit of character to it. Take, for example, the seats, which are more like armchairs than car seats, and though they don't provide much support on a long drive, they're really soft and comfortable for driving to the shops. Similarly, the cabin's minimalist feel, with only vital information displayed on the instrument cluster, may not appeal to the mechanics and petrol-heads, but for those who just want to get where they're going and leave the car to the tricky bits, it's ideal and fuss-free.
Unfortunately, the same can't quite be said of the touchscreen. The C5 Aircross' screen has come on since the car's inception, but it's still a bit clunky and things are still hidden in the display when they should just be readily available at the touch of a button. Admittedly, some 'hotkey' shortcuts have helped on this front, but the fact remains that you'll spend too long looking at the screen to use some pretty basic functions.
However, Citroen should take some credit for its cabin quality, which has improved a bit in recent years. Some of the materials are still a bit cheap and sharp, but everything is fairly well screwed together and feels robust enough to last the course, even if you'd never call it premium. Considering Citroen sees itself as more of a value brand than an upmarket offering, that's pretty good going in our book.
Practicality
As the biggest model in Citroen's SUV range, the C5 Aircross ought to be pretty practical, and the statistics back that up. The boot measures 580 litres with all five seats in place, and that's much more than you get from a Skoda Karoq or a Nissan Qashqai, while it expands to a very useful 1,630 litres when you fold the back seats down.
But there's more to the C5 Aircross than just numbers, because the three rear seats move and slide independently, and they're all full sized, which means you can fit five adults into the C5 Aircross. But while the Citroen's boot is massive, the space in the back isn't quite so impressive. While six-footers can fit back there reasonably happily, it doesn't quite have the head- or legroom that some of its rivals can boast of.
Performance
The C5 Aircross' hybrid system is based around the 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine that has become such a staple of the Citroen range, combining that engine with an electric motor to produce a combined total of 136hp. That isn't huge power, but then the C5 Aircross isn't a performance vehicle, so a 10.2-second sprint (well, lope) to 62mph is just about enough to keep up with traffic, and that's perfectly adequate. As is the 124mph top speed.
More importantly, the 21kW electric motor finds itself driving the wheels for a surprisingly large proportion of the car's time on the road, taking over whenever there's little or no load on the powertrain, or at low speeds in town. Admittedly, the system sometimes feels a mite clunky with its six-speed automatic gearbox, but it works well most of the time, and it leaves the C5 Aircross with solid economy figures. Officially, it'll manage something between 45.6 and 53.3mpg, and having achieved that on a long motorway run during our test, it seems likely to improve on that if it's used in a way that suits the hybrid system more favourably. As a combination of power and economy, then, it's diesel-esque in its returns, which is presumably why there's no oil-burning engine available in the C5 Aircross line-up.
Ride & Handling
Rather than pursuing sportiness or off-road capability, Citroen has chosen to favour comfort with the C5 Aircross, and that's a refreshing approach. The Aircross has clever dampers that are designed to iron out every surface possible, and they definitely work to an extent, but they can't save your backside from the rigours of British road surfaces completely. So while the C5 Aircross is enormously comfortable at anything above 40mph and over sleeping policemen and cats' eyes. It struggles a bit with deep potholes though, which will still make their presence known to those in the cabin. Perhaps not as much as in some rivals, but the C5 Aircross doesn't quite offer the comfort Citroen promises.
Naturally, such a focus on comfort means handling has rather been neglected, although we suspect that won't be an issue among the C5 Aircross' target customers. Nevertheless, while there's a degree of body roll and the seats aren't especially good at holding you in, the Aircross isn't a complete disaster in the corners. It isn't fun, but it won't leave you flailing at the wheel or fearing for your life if you try to throw it about a bit. It just won't thank you for it.
Value
Citroen has quietly set about making its cars some of the most value-orientated on the market, with the C5 Aircross range starting at £24,280. That makes it barely more expensive than the MG HS, which is already one of the cheaper options on the market. But that doesn't mean the basic Plus model is short of kit, with satellite navigation, keyless start and a reversing camera all thrown in, along with two-zone climate control and automatic lights and wipers. To get the Hybrid powertrain, though, you need the Max model, which starts at £27,375 and gets a black contrast roof, along with a few other upgrades. And to get the Hybrid, you're going to need to spend a minimum of £30,740.
Verdict
The C5 Aircross has always been a somewhat kooky, if refreshing choice in the family SUV arena, and this hybrid (but not plug-in hybrid) version feels like a niche among niches. It’ll only really appeal to those not quite ready for plug-in power – or those who can’t charge at home – but it’s a very efficient choice and it’s surprisingly well suited to the C5 Aircross.
