Driving report: Citroën C5 Aircross Facelift

Citroën has given the C5 Aircross a facelift after around four years of construction. The compact SUV is entering the second half of its life with a more angular front end and a subtly revised cockpit. However, the focus is still on the highest possible level of comfort, which is also shown by the first driving report.

The Citroën C5 Aircross immediately became one of the best-selling models of the brand with the double chevron. No wonder, after all, there is currently no other segment that is as popular with customers as compact SUVs. Since the series was introduced around four years ago, the French have been able to sell 325.000 of them.

So that the volume model can defend its strong market position against the multitude of competitors in the second half of its product cycle, Citroën has now added a discreet one to the C5 Aircross Facelift donated. In the case of the latter, the Stellantis daughter but limited exclusively to the design and the interior. The refreshed version, which starts at 32.550 euros and is therefore roughly at the level of its predecessor, can already be ordered. The first copies are to be delivered in the summer.

From the front, the SUV is unusually angular. The "four-eyes face" with the headlights mounted deep in the front apron and the daytime running lights enthroned above is a thing of the past with the facelift. Instead, Citroën is now using more conventionally designed LED lighting units whose design matches the double-angled brand logo spielt.

Two dark crossbars form the radiator grille, which merge directly into the illuminated signature and are decorated with a large number of small silver rectangles. The brand logo will be black and silver in the future. Overall, the double angle looks more massive than before. While the horizontal air inlets in the front apron were dummies in the first version of the C5 Aircross, the revised model actually has airflow wind through the openings. At the rear, the changes are limited. The rear lights have a modified light graphic and are slightly flared, making the SUV look a bit more angular from behind. New 18-inch wheels and the color “Eclipse Blue”, which is available for the first time, round off the visual revision.

In the interior, Citroën has retired the bulky selector lever of the Aisin eight-speed automatic. Thanks to the contemporaryShift-by-Wire technology In the future, a comparatively tiny switch will suffice to change gear. In addition, a new 10-inch touchscreen is moving in, under which the horizontally arranged ventilation nozzles are located. The touch screen of the infotainment system reacts pleasantly quickly to the commands of the passengers - which unfortunately cannot be said of the rather rudimentary voice control. What's also annoying is that the speed dial touch surfaces are unfortunately covered with smudges within a very short time. The armrests and parts of the dashboard are covered with a kind of artificial leather for the first time. The refreshed C5 Aircross is also the first Citroën in which Alcantara is used - but only from the higher equipment "Shine".

With the rest of the choice of materials, you can still feel a little after the facelift that the Citroën is the most affordable of the four platform brothers C5 Aircross, Peugeot 3008, Opel Grandland and DS 7 Crossback. Hard plastics dominate, especially on the center console and in the lower area of ​​the door panels. But these, like the rest of the cockpit, are cleanly processed.

During the first test drive in the Rüsselsheim area and in Wiesbaden city traffic, the revised "Advanced Comfort" seats with an additional layer of foam made a positive impression. Compared to previous chairs, the latest version is just as comfortable as before, but at the same time offers significantly more support.

Citroën has neither suspension tuning touched the range of engines. After both the 181 hp petrol engine and the 177 hp diesel were discontinued due to insufficient demand in the past two years, the customer can only choose between a 1,2 liter petrol engine with 131 hp and a straight combustion engine choose a strong diesel engine with a displacement of 1,5 liters. By far the most popular, however, is the plug-in hybrid with a system output of 224 hp and a pure electric range of 61 kilometers, which now accounts for around half of all sales.

In the case of the 39.530 euros according to the list test car in the Feel equipment, the three-cylinder was coupled with the optional automatic transmission, but in the bare base, the C5 Aircross comes with a six-speed manual transmission. The automatic converter switches smoothly and forms a harmonious unit with the quietly running little engine. The unit only pushes itself to the fore with a pithy sound when the gas is pushed harder, while the transmission seems similarly overwhelmed. The 130 hp are more than enough to swim relaxed in traffic. It only works on the freeway three cylinders runs out of breath above 130 km/h.

The C5 Aircross has remained true to its comfort-oriented character, with which it stands out from the crowd of pseudo-sporty competitors. This is particularly noticeable in the fluffy suspension with hydraulic stops, which irons out almost all bumps. Only short bumps are passed on to the cockpit quite harshly. The smooth and not exactly direct steering, which together with the slight rolling movements of the body also prevents overly dynamic ambitions, also goes with the soft tuning. However, this should hardly bother the traditional Citroën clientele, since they deliberately opted for a decelerating travel glider. This orientation, which is unique in the segment and typical of the brand, should C5 Aircross also bring decent sales figures in the second half of his life.

Elias Holdenried/SP-X

Specifications – Citroen C5 Aircross:

Five-door, five-seat compact SUV, length: 4,50 meters, width: 1,97 meters (width with exterior mirrors: 2,10 meters), height: 1,65 meters, wheelbase: 2,73 meters, trunk volume: 600 - 1.510 liter

gasoline

Pure Tech 130 manual
1,2 liter three-cylinder turbo with direct fuel injection, manual six-speed gearbox, 96 kW/131 hp at 5.500 rpm, maximum torque: 230 Nm at 1.750 rpm, 0-100 km/h: 10,5 sec ., Vmax: 195 km/h, average consumption (WLTP): 6,2 - 6,3 l/100 km, CO2 emissions (WLTP): 140 - 143 g/km, emission standard: Euro 6d-ISC-FCM, efficiency class n/a, price: 32.550 euros

Pure Tech 130 automatic
1,2 liter three-cylinder turbo with direct fuel injection, eight-speed automatic, 96 kW/131 hp at 5.500 rpm, maximum torque: 230 Nm at 1.750 rpm, 0-100 km/h: 10,3 sec. , Vmax: 188 km/h, average consumption (WLTP): 6,5 - 6,7 l/100 km, CO2 emissions (WLTP): 147 - 151 g/km, emission standard: Euro 6d-ISC-FCM, efficiency class kA , price: 36.250 euros

Diesel

Blue HDi 130 automatic
1,5 liter four-cylinder turbo diesel, eight-speed automatic, 96 kW/131 hp at 3.750 rpm, maximum torque: 300 Nm at 1.750 rpm, 0-100 km/h: 10,6 s, Vmax: 189 km/h, average consumption (WLTP): 5,2 - 5,3 l/100 km, CO2 emissions: 136 - 139 g/km, emission standard: Euro 6d-ISC-FCM, efficiency class not specified, price: 37.900 euros

Plug-in hybrid

Hybrid 225 Stop&Start ë-EAT8
1,6 liter four-cylinder petrol engine with turbo, 133 kW/181 hp combined with an 81 kW/110 hp electric motor. Total output: 165 kW/224 hp, maximum torque: 360 Nm, front-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic, 0-100 km/h: 8,9 sec; Vmax: 225 km/h, lithium-ion battery with 13,2 kWh, electric range (WLTP): 60-61 kilometers. Standard consumption (WLTP): 1,4 -1,5 liters/100 kilometers, CO2 emissions (WLTP): 31 - 33 g/km, emission standard: Euro 6d-ISC-FCM, efficiency class kA, price: 43.350 euros

Citroën C5 Aircross – brief characteristics:

Why: because you are looking for a comfortable touring vehicle with a special charm
Why not: because you prefer it hard and sporty
What else: VW Tiguan, Peugeot 3008, Opel Grandland X, Seat Ateca, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage