Quirky practicality will make C5 Aircross SUV a sure winner
The flagship of Citroën’s new offensive on these shores will be the C5 Aircross SUV, which personifies the manufacturer’s marketing strategy of selling vehicles based on their unique French character.
It boasts a unique and assertive personality and won’t be mistaken for any other car.
Sitting on 18-inch alloy wheels in 235/55R18 rubber, it is 4 500mm long, 1 969mm wide. and 1 689mm high.
It has a ground clearance of 230mm, which along with lower door and wheel arch protectors, windscreen grille with halogen headlights, large wheels and roofbars gives it a cartoonish appearance that will appeal to millennials as being “funky”.
It comes powered by a four-cylinder, turbocharged, 1 598cc petrol engine that produces 121kW of power at 6 000rpm and 240Nm of torque at 1 400rpm. An automatic sixspeed gearbox transfers them to the front wheels.
Comfort plays a large role in the vehicle’s offerings, starting with progressive hydraulic cushion suspension, where buffers at either end of the suspension setup all but eliminate bounce over rough terrain.
Adding to that is advanced soundproofing with reduced road and wind noise, thanks to double-glazed laminated front windows with an insulated layer, plus specific soundproofing of the engine compartment.
Inside, there is space for five adults, with a variable boot size that starts at 520 litres and expands to 720 litres due to three individual sliding and reclining seats in the rear.
Citroën says their advanced comfort seats have an unrivalled ability to offer peerless ride comfort.
A wide range of comfort features come as standard – refreshing, at a time when ticking additional feature boxes can quickly double the price of cars.
They include keyless start and entry, front and rear parking sensors, follow-me-home lights, a reverse camera, tinted rear windows, climate control, electric windows all round, a multi-function leather covered steering wheel, an eight-inch touchscreen with USB, Bluetooth, a 12V socket, sound system with six speakers, an on board computer, plus a mirror screen with Apple carplay and Android auto.
Safety features include disc brakes all round with anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, hill-start assist, airbags for all occupants, blindspot monitoring, an active lane-departure warning system, a driver attention alert, automatic hazard lights during sharp braking, automatic drive-away door locking and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
The gear changes are too smooth to be noticeable but it is not fast – Citroën claim it will go from standstill to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds with a top whack of 189km/h.
That does not matter – this car will sell on presence, quirkiness, comfort, practicality and uniqueness.
C5 Aircross Feel 1.6 THP AT .................... R469 900 C5 Aircross Shine 1.6 THP AT ................. R509 900 The price includes a five-year/100 000km warranty, service plan and roadside assistance, plus a 12-year anti-perforation and three-year paint warranty.