Citroen C5 Aircross review – a quirky family SUV

Verdict – is the Citroen C5 Aircross a good car?

The C5 Aircross is a quirkily styled family SUV that’s practical and surprisingly cheap to run, thanks to its choice of mild-hybrid petrol, conventional diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. If you’re in the market for a smooth and quiet family mover, it should be possible to find a version that suits your motoring budget. A focus on relaxation means there’s little fun for the driver, though, and the trade-off hasn’t really delivered in terms of comfort on UK roads.

Citroen C5 Aircross models, specs and alternatives

The Citroen range expands into more and more niches with each new model introduced. Previously, it was divided up between hatchbacks, MPVs and SUVs; however, because of the rise in popularity of SUVs, all the brand’s models now embrace several SUV-esque design features. 

The Citroen C5 Aircross is the brand’s largest SUV and sits alongside the also high-riding Citroen C5 X. It shares its underpinnings with the Peugeot 3008 and fights an army of rivals that include the Nissan Qashqai, Renault Symbioz, SEAT Ateca, Skoda Karoq, Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage.

Given how distinctive the C3 Aircross is, Citroen had the awkward task of making the C5 Aircross sufficiently individual to make it desirable, without building a larger clone of the C3 Aircross. The result is a car that isn’t quite as eye-catching as the C3, with a more formulaic SUV shape. A mid-life update in 2022 gave the softer, funky Citroen a more brutish and rugged look to separate it from its pseudo-SUV siblings. This includes a reworked grille and LED headlight design plus some extra body cladding to create a more imposing appearance.

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There's arguably more design flair inside, where the C5 Aircross matches the Peugeot 3008 for high-tech style but goes about things in a totally different way. The 2022 update introduced a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster alongside a new separate 10-inch infotainment screen shared with the C5 X, although the latter still runs the older software from the Citroen C4. All models feature Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, as well as built-in Citroen Connect navigation. There aren't any major changes for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, but it does get a blue LED light in the windscreen, letting pedestrians see when it's in electric-only mode. A shortcut button gives faster access to hybrid-specific information within the infotainment system.

Another update in 2023 saw the introduction of a 134bhp mild-hybrid petrol engine, called the Hybrid 136. Although they’ve become a rarity in new cars, the C5 Aircross is also still offered with the option of a diesel engine called the Blue HDi 130. The range-topper is a plug-in hybrid which boasts an electric range of up to 64 miles, which could come in useful for shorter trips around town. The latter is likely to be the company-car of choice thanks to having the lowest emissions of the range, putting it into a lower BiK band.

All C5 Aircross cars come fitted with Citroen's 'Progressive Hydraulic Cushion' suspension technology, designed to iron out imperfections in the road. However, our test car was equipped with the biggest 19-inch alloy wheels, which thudded uncomfortably into potholes; this was far from the legendary Citroen smoothness of years gone by. On smaller wheels it's comfortable most of the time, with only the worst road imperfections catching it out.

Sadly, while the C5 Aircross is generally comfortable, it can't match rivals in terms of handling. The Citroen offers little in the way of reward for an enthusiastic driver, with scant feel from its light steering, a reluctance to turn into corners with any zeal, and a tendency to lean if driven with vigour.

Although the rear seats aren't as generous on legroom as you might hope, the C5 Aircross is still a genuine five-seater and has a sizeable boot, so it's more than a match for most rivals when it comes to practicality. It's competitively priced – competing directly against the excellent Skoda Karoq – and beats many rivals for standard equipment too.

Citroen has performed well in the most recent 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, coming in fifth place – reliability seems to be better than average, too. With standard active emergency braking (AEB) and even a built-in dashcam on some models, the C5 Aircross in UK-spec scored the full five-star rating from Euro NCAP.

Citroen C5 Aircross alternatives

The Citroen C5 Aircross sits in a hot area of the family SUV market, going up against well-known names such as the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga, as well as some new models hoping to make a splash in the segment.

• Nissan Qashqai
• Renault Symbioz
• Ford Kuga
• Kia Sportage
• Skoda Karoq
• SEAT Ateca
• Hyundai Tucson

Should you buy a Citroen C5 Aircross?

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The Citroen C5 Aircross is arguably a more left-field, quirky choice as a family SUV, but it’s let down by the fact that it fails to excel in any one specific area. As you might expect from the comfort-focused Citroen brand, it’s not the most inspiring car to drive, and yet it’s not the most comfortable over UK roads either, which is disappointing.

It’s not all bad though – you get a lot for your money as standard, and while ride quality may not be a strong point, it’s at least very refined and serene to ride in, blocking out the wind and road noise well. All versions of the C5 Aircross are frugal on fuel, too, and you get a respectable electric range in the Plug-in Hybrid.

What is the Carbuyer pick of the Citroen C5 Aircross range?

The Hybrid 136 version of the Citroen C5 Aircross will suit the majority of buyers best, especially because not everyone has a home wallbox charger to keep a PHEV charged up. It's almost as frugal as the diesel, but will be better suited to a range of roads rather than a majority of motorway journeys. We’d stick to Plus trim, because the hike up in price for the Max Edition really doesn’t seem worth it with the meagre amount of extra kit you get, and Plus feels well equipped in any case.