FLAMBOYANT FAMILY FARE
THERE’S STYLE AND FLAIR TO SPARE
French cars are known for their bold designs and the Citroen C5 Aircross is no different. It hasn’t pushed the friendship too far, though. The styling is different enough to turn heads, but not too extreme. Splashes of colour on the bumper and distinctive two-tier LED front headlights make it stand out from the crowd, while 19-inch alloy wheels fill the arches to give the SUV a purposeful stance. Inside, supple leather and mottled grey cloth seat upholstery looks like it’s just come off a Parisian runway, while chrome and piano-black surfaces exude a premium feel.
LOOKING THIS GOOD COSTS MONEY
Choosing the right C5 Aircross is easy, as there is only one variant available on its local website.
The C5 Aircross Shine we tested is priced at about $51,000 drive-away, which plants it firmly at the top-end of the mainstream mid-size softroader pile.
Toyota has a more expensive RAV4 and Mazda asks for more for a top-spec CX-5 but these rivals come with extra equipment including all-wheel drive grip and or fuelsipping hybrid power.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS MISSING
There is a decent level of kit included but a few key items are missing.
A hi-tech 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver provides some wow factor and the display can be configured to suit individual tastes, from information-heavy to minimalist.
An eight-inch central touchscreen is compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto and a wireless device charging pad complements the two USB ports – one servicing the front row and the other the second.
Standard safety kit includes autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitor and lane departure assist but rear cross-traffic alert is a notable omission. The lack of heated seats and radar cruise control is also disappointing at this price. The rear seats are roomy and the boot is massive. A power tailgate is handy.
GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES
The C5 Aircross’ 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine sounds a little small for a vehicle this size but it makes a handy 121kw of power and 240Nm torque.
Max torque is made from just 1400rpm, which translates to plenty of zip off the mark. The C5 Aircross is no traffic-light dragster, taking almost 10 seconds to reach 100km/h. Acceleration feels adequate around town, though.
Citroen claims the SUV drinks 7.9L/100km, which is decent for an SUV this size. We achieved that mark in a mix of highway and city driving. It’s a comfortable drive, too, with great sound insulation keeping the outside world at bay and comfort-focused suspension that irons out imperfections on the road.
This softer suspension set-up means there is some lean through corners but it’s a capable highway cruiser, eating up the kilometres and overtaking with ease.
OWNERSHIP IS AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB
The elephant in the room is Citroen’s poor sales record. The brand has sold just 95 vehicles through the first nine months of this year, which is 30 per cent less than in 2020. Only 30 C5 Aircrosses have found a new home.
That’s a concern for resale and peace of mind in the long term, as the brand is struggling to stay relevant in a crowded market against more popular rivals.
The brand has said it is committed to the Australian market, but how long can it last when Ferrari and Aston Martin sell more cars?