2022 Citroen C5 X Confirmed For Australia: Flagship Crossover To Take On The Volkswagen Arteon And Peugeot 508 Next Year

Citroen's flagship is coming to Australia, but will it be a plug-in hybrid?

Speaking to Australian media at the unveiling of the next-generation Citroen C4 crossover, Citroen's Australian representatives confirmed that its larger brother, the C5 X, will also go on sale.

The C5 X is described by Citroen as a sleek, off-road-style elevated fasbtback and will take its place as the brand's flagship model in Australia in the third quarter of 3 as a sort of alternative to Peugeot's 2022 fastback and station wagon.

Citroen Australia said: “We are thrilled with the C5 X and are currently in the planning stages. It touches on many elements of classic Citroen design."

Asked if a plug-in hybrid model available in Europe would be available in Australia, the brand said: “What we are working on is the right spec. PHEV is absolutely on the table. More details will be available closer to launch."

Earlier this year, the C5 X was introduced in both conventional combustion and plug-in hybrid versions. The traditional combustion version is expected to go to parent company Stellantis with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an Aisin eight-speed gearbox (the same combination used in the Peugeot 508 lineup, with which the C5 X will share a platform). ).

Meanwhile, the PHEV delivers up to 168kW of hybrid power while delivering a range of more than 50km in pure electric mode at speeds up to 135km/h. It is worth noting that the Peugeot 508 PHEV version will appear in Australia in early 2022.

The C5 X is equipped with plenty of technology in the cabin, just like its upscale Peugeot siblings.

Elsewhere, the C5 X also offers a relatively large 12-inch multimedia touchscreen, USB-C connectivity, a digital instrument cluster, a safety kit capable of Level 2 autonomy, and 545 liters (VDA) of boot space.

Citroen's strategy for its latest products has been to launch one well-defined variant in Australia, as seen with the single-class C4 crossover, but it remains to be seen if this means the C5 X will be single-transmission or single-variant. . Either way, we wouldn't be surprised to see a price similar, if not higher, to the $56,990 MSRP currently being asked for the Peugeot GT.

Despite just 112 vehicles sold in Australia since the start of the year, Citroen's local team stressed that the brand will remain here despite a difficult 2021, saying there is a Citroen customer in Australia who is looking for something different and that he can benefit from it. design and comfort as a key attraction of the brand.

The C5 X is based on Citroen's new crossover concept, which it shares with the new generation C4.

However, it will not seek to import other models from its right-hand drive catalog abroad, such as the Grand C4 Spacetourer passenger car or the Berlingo light commercial vehicle.

Stay tuned for local pricing and features closer to the C5 X launch in 2022.