New Citroën C5 Aircross: Meet an SUV like no other

After discovering the concept car that heralded it at the Paris Motor Show last October, I was eager to discover the production version, which was to be 90-95% faithful to the concept, to see how Citroën had managed to go from concept to reality without losing the boldness and character of its high-end SUV. A few days after its official unveiling, here is my report on the few hours I spent with this new generation of the C5 Aircross.

A distinctive exterior

When I saw the green version, my first impression was of the concept. It took me a while to fully realise that this was the production version, even though the famous green colour isn't exactly the same as the concept. The resemblance between the production version and the concept was striking.

The first thing I noticed was that the new C5 Aircross certainly has character, with a front end that sits firmly on its wheels and proudly displays the brand's new logo without overdoing it. It has smooth, relatively simple shapes designed to optimise airflow for an SUV that aims to be aerodynamic. On closer inspection, however, we notice that this front end is clean, as if chiselled, and we feel that the brand is coming to the end of a first cycle of renewal, with an identity that is found almost throughout the range, which, without being quite the same, signifies a great coherence of the range and is very personal, we will not see such a light signature elsewhere. However, the new C5 Aircross has a personality of its own, with a front end in the direct line of its predecessor, it does not impress, but it is sufficiently assertive without having to do too much.

Of course, it is impossible to talk about the style of the C5 Aircross without talking about the incredible Citroën Light Wings rear lights, which lend all the audacity of the brand's latest SUV and undeniably give it a unique character that really makes it an SUV like no other. However, we should not limit ourselves to these lights, as spectacular as they are, because the C5 Aircross is really designed for aerodynamics, with a series of small details that contribute to give it an excellent sCX to give it a good autonomy in 100% electric. You could really spend hours examining the slight crease in the rear bumper, or the indentation in the rear bumper that guides the air. It would be impossible to explain everything in detail, but it's clear that an enormous amount of work has gone into making this new generation as efficient as possible.

In short, the design of the C5 Aircross gives it a lot of charm and personality, with a typical Citroën boldness that's a pleasure to see. Above all, the C5 Aircross is a large SUV, despite being 15 cm longer at 4.65 m, but strangely it doesn't feel like it. It doesn't look bulky like some of its competitors, but rather "fit", confident, without having to go overboard to be noticed.

A clean and welcoming interior

Inside, the new C5 Aircross offers a unique ambience, whether in light or dark colours. The atmosphere Citroën has created is pleasant and warm, with a decidedly modern feel, but again, without going over the top, just the right amount where it's needed.

Unsurprisingly, the dashboard makes a big impression with its speakers pushed to the outer edges and, of course, the large vertical screen that the brand calls the Cascade Screen, which ensures excellent visibility of the information. It's also beautifully ergonomic. Everything feels in its place, very relevant, although I have to admit one drawback. The climate controls are touch-sensitive but still visible, except that when you click on them to adjust the temperature, a new display takes over the entire screen where you have to adjust the temperature. It's a shame because the touch controls themselves are large enough to be easily manipulated, but it remains to be seen if this can be fixed before the product is launched.

The interior also boasts a number of pleasing details such as the floating door handles, the transparent door compartments, the colour clips on the dashboard and seats, the Rennes factory badge on the glove compartment lid and the Paris emblems on the rear window. In short, a very well made interior with nice materials on the dashboard and seats that blend with more basic materials on the upper part of the dashboard, the door panels and the headliner, creating a somewhat uneven overall appearance in terms of perceived quality. We'll have to wait for the press tests to draw a definitive conclusion, but we feel that Citroën has tried to put its money where its mouth is, benefiting from a selling price that should be around €3,000 cheaper than an equivalent Peugeot 3008; this bodes well.

Lastly, Citroën promises more spaciousness, which I can confirm without reaching that of the C5 X in the rear, although here too we will have to wait for the press tests to judge, as the front seat is not adjusted to my height.

In conclusion, the C5 Aircross appears to be an exceptional SUV in the sense that it stands out from the crowd in a very codified segment, it is proof of the brand's retained audacity that must be congratulated. Similarly, the C5 Aircross, intended as the future flagship of Citroën, is not at all low-cost or entry, but certainly modern, neat, worked with money put where it is needed to ensure the occupants a cabin that is certainly warm, welcoming and comfortable. It represents the future high-end of Citroën with its own personality, halfway between those who make tons of it and the design of the previous generation that did not do enough, here everything seems perfectly balanced, at every level, between the sanitised and the exaggerated of certain competitors, a specific path, very Citroën in short.