Citroen C5 Aircross 2019 review
Content
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
- How practical is the interior space? 8/10
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 7/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
- Verdict
The new Citroen C5 Aircross is a midsize SUV like the Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5, only different. I know, I've counted the differences and there are at least four that make the French SUV better in certain ways.
Citroen is well known for giving its cars an unusual style.
The thing is, most Australians will never know the best differences because they will be buying more popular SUVs like the RAV4 and CX-5.
But not you. You will learn. Not only that, you'll also find out if there are any areas where the C5 Aircross can be improved.
| 5 Citroen C2020: Aerocross feel | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 1.6 L turbo |
| fuel type | Regular unleaded gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | 7.9l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $32,200 |
Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
Citroen is well-known for giving its cars quirky styling, and the C5 Aircross has a face similar to recent fancy SUVs like the C4 Cactus and C3 Aircross, with high-mounted LED running lights above the headlights.
He also has a stocky face with a high cap. And it looks even thicker thanks to the layered effect of the horizontal grille elements connecting the headlights.
He has a stocky face with a high cap.
At the bottom, there are shapes that Citroen calls squares (one of them houses an air intake), and molded plastic "air bumps" on the sides of the car protect against fleeing shopping carts and casually opened doors.
Citroen refers to LED taillights as XNUMXD because they "float" inside their housings. They're beautiful, but I'm not a big fan of the upright rear end design.
That squat look suits the smaller C3 Aircross rather than a midsize SUV like this one, but Citroen has always done things differently.
This difference is present in the style of the cabin. Other brands, with the exception of Citroen subsidiary Peugeot, simply don't design interiors like those found in the C5 Aircross.
Citroen refers to LED taillights as XNUMXD because they "float" inside their housings.
Square steering wheel, squarer air vents, nose shifter and superior seats.
The entry-level Feel has cloth seats, and I prefer their 1970s chair texture to the leather upholstery in the top-of-the-line Shine.
There are hard plastics in places, but Citroen used design elements such as dimpled door trims to add character to what would otherwise be soft surfaces.
What are the dimensions of the C5 Aircross compared to competitors like the RAV4 or even its Peugeot 3008 sibling?
Compared to the Peugeot 3008, the C5 Aircross is 53mm longer, 14mm wider and 46mm taller.
Well, at 4500mm, the C5 Aircross is 100mm shorter than the RAV4, 15mm narrower at 1840mm and 15mm shorter at 1670mm. Compared to the Peugeot 3008, the C5 Aircross is 53mm longer, 14mm wider and 46mm taller.
How practical is the interior space? 8/10
Appearance is not the only difference between the new C5 Aircross and its main competitor. Well, in a way.
You see, the back seat is not the back seat, singular. They are plural back seats because each one is a separate chair that slides and folds individually.
Each rear seat is a separate chair that slides out and folds individually.
The problem is that there's not much legroom in the back, even if you slide them all the way back. At 191 cm tall, I can only sit in my driver's seat. However, with a headroom there everything is in order.
Slide those rear seats forward and boot capacity rises from a respectable 580 liters to a huge 720 liters for this segment.
Storage throughout the cabin is excellent.
Storage throughout the cabin is excellent, except for the glove compartment, which will fit a glove. You'll have to put the other glove somewhere else, like the storage box on the center console, which is huge.
There are rock pool-like storage cubbyholes around the shifter and two cupholders, but you won't find cupholders in the second row, although there are decent bottle holders on the rear doors and those in the front are huge.
There are storage wells around the switch that look like a rock pool, as well as two cup holders.
The Feel class omits the wireless charger that comes standard with the Shine, but both feature a front-panel USB port.
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
There are two classes in the C5 Aircross lineup: the entry-level Feel, which costs $39,990, and the top-of-the-line Shine for $43,990.
The Feel comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The list of standard equipment in the base class is great and provides almost no reason to upgrade to Shine. The Feel comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital cluster and 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat-nav, digital radio, 360-degree rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, and dual-zone climate control. controls, cloth seats, paddle shifters, proximity key, automatic tailgate, LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights and wipers, tinted rear window, 18-inch alloy wheels and roof rails.
Complementing the Shine is a power driver's seat, leather/cloth combo seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, a wireless charger, and aluminum pedals.
Complementing the Shine is a power driver's seat, combined leather and cloth seats.
Yes, wireless charging is convenient, but I think cloth seats are more stylish and feel nice.
Both classes come with very conventional halogen headlights. If Shine offered LED headlights, then there would be more reason to do so.
Is it worth the money? Feel is the best value for money, but the list price of the mid-range RAV4 GXL 2WD RAV4 is $35,640 and the Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport 4×2 is $36,090. The Peugeot costs about the same with the $3008 Allure classification.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10
Both classes are powered by a 1.6-liter turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with 121 kW/240 Nm. Fun fact: this is the same block under the hood of the Peugeot 3008.
Peugeot also uses a six-speed C5 automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
How does this engine pull a 1.4-ton C5 Aircross? Well, there were times when, during my road tests, I felt like it could have been more grouchy. Particularly when I pulled into the fast lane and started to worry that we wouldn't get past that giant truck before the left lane ended. We just did.
In the city, you will hardly notice that the engine is a bit weak. It works well, as does the six-speed automatic, which became a bit reluctant to shift when riding harder on winding back roads.
What is it like to drive? 7/10
Flying carpet makers are going to start advertising their floor mats as Citroen C5 Aircross cars, because that's how this midsize French SUV feels comfortable at any speed.
The ride is incredibly comfortable at any speed.
I'm serious, I just stepped out of a couple of big German luxury SUVs that don't drive as well as the C5 Aircross.
No, there is no air suspension here, only cleverly designed dampers that (despite oversimplification) contain mini-shock absorbers to dampen the dampers.
The result is an exceptionally comfortable ride, even on speed bumps and poor road surfaces.
There is no air suspension, only well-thought-out shock absorbers.
The downside is that the car feels too smooth and leans a lot in corners, although tire squeal was notable for its absence even when cornering hard.
It felt like the entire SUV could lean over and touch the door handles on the ground without losing tire contact with the road.
Hit the brake and the soft suspension will see the nose dive and then roll up as you accelerate again.
The steering is also a bit sluggish, which, combined with the buoyancy, doesn't make for a particularly cohesive or engaging ride.
However, I prefer to drive a C5 Aircross over a Peugeot 3008, mainly because the 3008 handlebar covers the dashboard in my driving position and its hexagonal shape doesn't go through my hands when cornering.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
Citroen says the C5 Aircross will consume 7.9L/100km combined with open and city roads, nearly exceeding the 8.0L/100km reported by our trip computer after 614km of motorways, country roads, suburban streets and traffic jams in the central business district.
Is it economical? Yes, but the hybrid is not economical.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
5 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
Both Feel and Shine trims come with the same standard safety equipment - AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist and six airbags.
The C5 Aircross has not yet received an ANCAP rating.
For child seats, you'll find three top belt attachment points on the second row and two ISOFIX attachment points.
The spare wheel can be found under the boot floor to save space.
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
The C5 Aircross is covered by Citroen's five-year/unlimited mileage warranty and roadside assistance is provided for five years.
Service is recommended every 12 months or 20,000 miles, and while service prices are unlimited, Citroen says you can expect a $3010 service charge over five years.
The C5 Aircross is covered by Citroen's five-year/unlimited kilometer warranty.
Verdict
Citroen C5 Aircross is different from its Japanese and Korean competitors. And it's more than just looks. The versatility of the rear seats, good storage space, large trunk and comfortable ride make it better in terms of ride and practicality. In terms of driver interaction, the C5 Aircross isn't as good as these competitors, and despite having a lot of equipment, it's expensive and expected maintenance costs are higher than most of its competitors.
Note. CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, providing transportation and food.
