C5 Aircross – The French tend to always have a knack in the car industry for creating cars that have a left off field approach in design and functionality.
The C5 Aircross is certainly different in its super bold eye catching design and has been imported for Australians in direct competition to other medium sized SUV models like the Hyundai Tucson and the highly rated Mazda CX-5.
This nifty French model has serious appeal in both its functional interior space to the cabin, boot space and driver’s area and its new generation technology and controls system.
Paired along with a very stylish outside shell has certainly placed the Aircross in direct thoughts of Australian SUV shoppers!
Exterior
From first looks the C5 Aircross is very eye catching.
The bold white coat of paint tastefully paired with the unique Citroen style black grille and large silver and black wheels is visually striking and pleasing. The elegant tapered black roof racks with a line of bright orange/jaffa like colour really pops as well.
The vehicle has a very gentle back to front end sloping taper giving off a sleek look to the eye. For me the standout was the 19 inch tyres which gave this vehicle an authentic SUV style look without making the vehicle feel higher off the ground, thanks to the underlying black trim around the underline of the vehicle and around the wheel arch.
Compared to similar models in the medium SUV market I couldn’t help but be impressed with how individualistic they have gone, being a young adult I felt a strong appeal to this “groovy” look.
Interior
The interior gives off a vibe of luxury and space.
My personal experiences with some other Citroen models recently has been one of slight annoyance with the lack of space for the driver and general cabin space, however I was pleasantly surprised by the openness of the C5 Aircross as well as the high end material for the seats.
I felt comfortably positioned with the controls and displays all easily accessible allowing good control and ergonomics.
The Infotainment and media system were a step above the norm, certainly next level with everything controlled by a 12.3inch touch screen equipped with an automatic light adjustment setting for night and day driving,
I felt that the middle divide was “clutter free” of unnecessary knobs due to the media screen. The touch panel for the media screen had a surprising amount of sensitivity making it very comfortable to make adjustments or access features while driving.
The steering wheel was the perfect thickness for me providing comfortable feel. Both side view mirrors were well shaped and highly functional with blind spot sensors providing an extra measure of safety.
The three back seats were equally as comfortable as the front driver’s seat but the space was a lot more compressed due to the generous sized boot space the C5 is equipped with.
The three back seats could all be individually moved forward or tilted forward till flat which was a nifty little design feature Citroen implemented, allowing for even more space if needed for boot storage space.
My only gripe with the interior was the frustrating dilemma of trying to fit a water bottle or large drink cup into the cup holders, the two middle cup holders in the drivers area were awkward and frustrating to use with a “click in” system rather than just a normal cavity to easily place your bottle or cup. The cup holders in the door were almost unusable due to their size and depth and didn’t really need to be there.
Features
The Citroen C5 Aircross has packed in a very generous assortment of features including:
- Apple CarPlay and android Auto
- Bluetooth compatible 12.3inch multimedia screen for entertainment, climate control and navigation
- Head-up display
- Speed limit safety recommendation and warning
- A reverse car parking camera
- Cruise control
- Large 720 litre boot space
- Large 19 inch alloy wheels
- Advanced comfort material seats
- Led front and rear headlamps
- Sports mode and 6 speed automatic transmission
- 230mm ground clearance
- Roof racks
Drive and Engine
The Citroen C5 is fitted with a 1.6L THP turbocharged petrol engine and EAT6 six-speed automatic transmission. The power output is 121Kw @ 6000rpm and torque output is 240Nm @ 1400rpm. This particular model is front wheel drive and comes with an equipped sports mode and column-mounted paddle shifters.
I found the manoeuvrability and handling to be very satisfactory thanks to the smooth steering column system. The suspension more than handled the suburban roads and was adequate for the occasional semi-rural road I had to commute on.
The automatic transmission was actually relatively smooth compared to the C3 Aircross models I’ve driven in the past, with a slight amount of lag/delay from start but wasn’t a major concern for me. The fuel efficiency was fairly good averaging at around 6.9l/100km when I was on the highway and around 11l/100km when in the suburbs. One thing I noticed was how quiet the ride was which gave me an impression of smoothness and comfort.
Safety
C5 Aircross has a four star ANCAP safety rating and features a great amount of both active and passive safety features including:
- Active safety braking
- Forward and rear collision alert
- Close proximity alert
- Automatic light adjustment for front headlamps and interior screen
- High beam assist
- Front side and curtain airbags
- Lane departure warning system
- Electronic stability control
Good bits
- Striking exterior design
- Modern user friendly touchscreen media controls
- Very handy generous sized boot space
Not so good bits
- Awkward cup holders
- Back seats could have been a little bit more spacious
- Fuel efficiency around town
Summary
Overall I was both impressed with the striking individualistic look and the comfortable modern interior of the C5 Aircross.
This SUV model is jammed packed with exciting innovative accessories and looks super cool at the same time.
At a price tag of $43,990 MLP I think Citroen have put an exciting splash into the ultra-competitive medium sized SUV market.
While being slightly unorthodox in its looks the C5 will provide a great option for motoring consumers who want something a little bit different.
Also Look At
Facts and Figures: 2019 Citroen C5 Aircross Shine
- Engine: 1.6L four-cylinder turbo Petrol producing 121kW/240Nm
- Transmission: EAT6 six-speed automatic
- Warranty: 5 years/ unlimited km
- Safety: Four stars
- Origin: France
- Price: from $43,990 MLP*
*MLP – Manufacturers List Price includes GST and LCT but excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and dealer delivery. See your dealer for RDAP. Does not include price of any options.
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