This was actually my first opportunity driving the C5 and after spending only a few minutes in it, I did wonder why there were not a lot more on the road. Perhaps it is because the SUV market in South Africa is a highly competitive one and even if the SUV faults for little, the French brand does come in a bit more expensive than a few competitors.
The drive
The Citroën C5 Aircross is an all-round capable vehicle. Particularly, if you drive around with the kids often or if you travel locally more than on the highway. You’ll find that it is a comfortable car to drive in every sense of the word. This is not to say that it doesn’t perform well on the highway. It reaches speeds capably. In fact, it’s one of those cars you could accidentally find yourself speeding in quite often because it handles so well and confidently on the road.
During most of my time
with the SUV I didn’t struggle to gain power but I did feel it could be slightly more energetic. Again though, driving locally this shouldn’t be a bother. The only time I experienced this was in an intersection when another driver opted to not stop and I wanted a little bit of a burst of power to move out of the way and it didn’t quite respond as hoped. That was the first and only time I noticed it but if you like to take off with your foot flat, you might be slightly disappointed.
The C5 is powered by a 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder, turbopetrol engine. This provides drivers with a power output of 121 kW and torque of 240 
Nm. This is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Claimed fuel consumption is set at 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres. Despite being a sizable vehicle, I was able to achieve very close to this and believe that on a long trip it could potentially be bettered.
Design updates
The latest Citroën C5 Aircross boasts most of its changes to its design. These are primarily focused on the front of the vehicle giving a more assertive and dynamic style that amplifies its presence and elegance. There is a move away from roundness towards more structured lines. Vertical taut lines make the car appear wider, more imposing and confident.
It Is also one of the first
Citroëns to have black lacquered chevrons tunderlined with Chrome as opposed to being fully chrome. Black and chrome piano keys are also gradually blended into the daytime LED running lights as part of its signature look. It is intended to enhance the tech feel of the C5 while also making the headlights more discrete and compliment the black grill.
The air intake has been widened which adds to its imposing stance. The side scoops are also open which helps improve aerodynamics. A protective skirt was added to the lower area of the front bumper as part of the facelift.
While much of the focus 
was on the front, the rest is not neglected either. Some changes to the SUV include a high and horizontal bonnet line, a 360° glazed surface, chrome C-pillar, increased ground clearance and wheel arches with 360° protection covers. The 18-inch PULSAR 2-tone diamond cut alloy wheels creates a contrast between the aluminium and gloss black finish. Gloss black is also introduced to the mirror caps to make them more discreet and blending it into the windscreen pillars and the roof bars feature the same colour.
From the rear, the LED light signature seen at the front is continued. It also has the piano key animation to reinforce the 3D effect.
Stepping inside
Changes to the interior are intended to add dynamism
and refinement. Some of these changes include a higher driving position, improved quality of materials and ergonomics, and greater practicality of interfaces to increase modernity.
One of the biggest changes to the interior is the inclusion of a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The larger screen is meant to improve ergonomics and provide easier access to the AC controls. Personally, I didn’t find access to these controls to be easier, especially if you’re concentrating on the road and you want to adjust your AC and have to use a touchscreen instead of a toggle. The new vents below the entertainment screen are meant to give a more modern look but I found them useful to turn the air away from me if I wanted to turn the AC down but didn’t have a safe opportunity to look at the touchscreen.
The floating screen, while meant to create a more immersive experience for drivers and passengers, also had the unfortunate downside that it would catch the sunlight quite easily and effectively make it useless because you cannot see anything on the screen.
A customisable digital
instrument panel for the driver is also added to the C5. I am a fan of digital instrument panels to get all the information that you need directly in front of you without having to look elsewhere or fiddle with anything.
For long distance trips, the C5 will be an excellent vehicle because of the sheer comfort of the leather seats that the test vehicle had. This is because it has the new generation Citroën Advanced Comfort Seats made of high-density foam and have extra thickness, which is also designed to last longer. Citroën says it is meant to provide visual, seating and driving comfort and it certainly does that.
The leather adorning the seats can also be found on the armrests, centre console, dashboard and the steering wheel. This combines to add to the feeling of luxury and refinement in the interior.
The centre console has a number of upgrades as well which are intended to improve ergonomics. One of these is an e-toggle gear selector positioned by the driver’s hand. While it wasn’t difficult to use this toggle, I wasn’t 100% sure why this change was made. Citroën says it has grip control to allow for intuitive choice. I don’t quite see how. This is one thing I do find in Citroën sometimes, that it’s different just for the sake of being different.
Something else that the C5 offers that you do not see that often in the segment is individual sliding, reclining and retractable rear seats. The area is also very spacious and positions it as an ideal family car. With a boot that has 720 litres capacity it is more than suitable for a family.
The C5 also has some tech that make its price tag hurt a little less. It has keyless entry, a start button, electronic seat adjustment, electronic boot, adaptive cruise control, stop/start function and lane departure warning.
There is very little on which to fault the Citroën C5 Aircross. It is spacious, has a luxurious interior and performs well. An excellent choice as a family car.
Good to know
The specs
Engine: 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder, turbopetrol
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 121 kW
Talk torque: 240 Nm
Price: starting at R633 900
Warranty and service plan: 5-year/100 000km warranty and roadside assistance with a standard comprehensive 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan
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