Citroen C5 Aircross review: Comfortable, practical, and pleasantly powerful
What's the story
The C5 Aircross is Citroen's entry ticket into the fiercely contested mid-sized SUV space but the emphasis on comfort along with its unique styling is what sets it apart from others. Citroen is offering the C5 Aircross with only one engine and gearbox configuration. But is it worth the hype? We have driven the car to tell you all there is to know.
Exteriors
Citroen C5 Aircross: At a glance
There is no doubt that the C5 Aircross stands out amongst the sea of crossovers with its unique design. Despite being a large SUV with a length of 4,500mm, the proportions are delicate and the surface is clean. We especially liked the floating roof design, two-tier grille with LED headlamps and rectangular-shaped tail lamps.
Interiors
Inside the cabin
Inside, Citroen has taken a different approach with a special upholstery made of wool and cloth. It has an ergonomic cabin, which is both spacious and practical with individually adjustable rear seating configuration. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen console dominate the dashboard. The cabin also gets square-shaped AC vents, a multifunctional steering wheel, and lots of physical buttons.
Features
From panoramic sunroof to wireless charging
The C5 Aircross will be available in two trims of Feel and Shine with fairly generous equipment levels. The list includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen, a powered driver's seat, panoramic sunroof, an air quality monitoring system, dual-zone climate control, puddle lamps, a tire pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, six airbags, LED lighting, and a hands-free tailgate.
Performance
Power and performance
The 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine in the C5 Aircross delivers an impressive 177hp of power and 400Nm of peak torque. Standard is an 8-speed automatic gearbox while drive and traction modes are also available. At low speeds, the power delivery is smooth while the gearbox is also quite responsive with its shift quality. However, the engine gets a bit noisy when driven at higher speeds.
Mileage
Mileage and ride quality
For a fairly large SUV, the C5 Aircross is quite frugal with an official fuel economy of 18.6km/l. However, in real-world conditions, you can expect a mileage of 13-14km/l. The other big talking point of the C5 Aircross is its suspension which uses hydraulic cushions to deliver a pliant ride. The ample 230mm ground clearance is also pretty impressive.
Our verdict
Is it worth your money?
The Citroen C5 Aircross successfully showcases the brand values that the French carmaker is known for. Apart from the interesting styling, the SUV's brilliant interiors along with the complaint suspension will certainly win over many buyers. With an expected price-tag of Rs. 30 lakh (ex-showroom), the C5 Aircross is one luxury SUV that should be on your shortlist.