Citroen C5 Aircross 157kW Plus 73kWh 5dr Auto

Ten Second Review

Perhaps the option of full-electric power will revitalise the fortunes of Citroen's mid-sized family SUV, the C5 Aircross. This electric crossover is certainly spacious, well priced and assertive. Dealers must wish they'd had this car years ago.

Background

Is it too late for a UK comeback for the long-running Citroen brand? After years of neglect from various parent groups, which saw the marque mainly turning out restyled Peugeots with quirky colour schemes, the company does at last seemed to have some direction - and a range of properly distinctive products. This is one of them - its first large electric model, the e-C5 Aircross. C5 Aircross customers are well used to being able to plug this model in, but with the first generation design, they could only do that with a Plug-in Hybrid powertrain. The PHEV option continues with this second generation model, but has now been joined by this full-electric e-C5 Aircross variant. As you'd expect, it borrows all its mechanicals from its other close Stellantis cousins - electric versions of the Peugeot 3008, the Vauxhall Grandland and the Jeep Compass - but is much better value than any of them and arguably even more distinctive. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Spec

There are two e-C5 Aircross powertrains. Citroen launched this car with the more affordable one using a 73kWh (usable) capacity battery capable of up to 322 miles of range. Thanks to 2132hp of front electric motor output, rest to 62mph takes 8.9s en route to 106mph. The alternative you can ask your dealer about is a 97kWh battery variant which uses 228bhp motor and offers a range of up to 423 miles. One of the things we criticised with all the Stellantis Group STLA-Medium-platform mid-sized SUV designs we tried before this one (namely the Peugeot 3008 and the Vauxhall Grandland) was heavy weight. And that meant a clunky ride, particularly in the EV versions. This C5 Aircross must use that overly weighty platform too, but the ride you get with it will be nowhere near as bad as it is on, say, a Peugeot E-3008 because Citroen has carried forward to this car a bit of clever damping tech. Namely the 'Progressive Hydraulic Cushion' suspension system that it introduced on the first generation C5 Aircross. The name of this model might suggest this to be an air-sprung set-up, while the current trend might suggest it to be driver-adaptive. Neither of these solutions though, fits with the approach Citroen must take at this price point. The company lost money building too much damping complexity into its affordable cars in the '60's and '70's and in developing this SUV, it wasn't about to make the same mistake again. So what we've got here instead is an ordinary everyday spring-and-damper set-up that's been re-imagined in a rather clever way. In ordinary cars, such a system usually works with rubber bumps stops that the suspension coil crashes against over bumps at the top and bottom of wheel travel. The 'Progressive Hydraulic Cushions' set-up replaces these stops with hydraulic dampers. These cushion those impacts over things like speed humps and tarmac tears and allow the fitment of softer springs and dampers, producing the exemplary ride quality that Citroen claims this car can deliver.

Design and Build

You'd have to look closely to tell this e-C5 Aircross apart from the Hybrid version. This second generation C5 Aircross design is quite different to the first, being all angular and techy - in contrast to the curvy original. The switch to a more advanced 'STLA Medium' platform has allowed it to become quite a lot bigger too, the 4,652mm length being 152mm longer than before. It's also much more aerodynamic than the original design, aided by a groove above the rear wheel arch that funnels air along the side through so-called 'light wings' - a couple of narrow rear light strips that protrude from the body. But there's still 200mm of ground clearance. And big wheel sizes up to 20-inches. Unusually, it's the rear that makes the biggest style statement. Instead of the light bar now fashionable in this class, the interesting graphic is made up of three red horizontal strakes linked by a black gloss panel. It's equally striking inside, were Citroen's tried to create what it calls a 'C-Zen Lounge' where 'occupants are seated as if in a living room'. Hence the sofa-like foam padding on the dashboard and quilted 'Advanced Comfort' seats you sink into that can be adjusted in ten directions and can include a massaging function. The upper part of the seat is shaped to 'wrap around you like a shawl'. The 'Cascade' centre monitor which flows out of the centre console is the largest yet fitted to a Stellantis Group model, plus there's a 10-inch instrument screen and a head-up display. In the back, the big disappointment is the lack of the previous model's individual sliding seats. There's just a fixed bench, but you will have more room to move about, with 51mm more knee space and 68mm more head room than before. Plus the backrest can be reclined between 21 and 33-degrees, 'adding to the sensation of travelling first class'. The boot is also bigger, now 651-litres, with a 75-litre space beneath the floor. There are no catches to fold the rear bench but with everything flat, up to 1,668-litres of space is available.

Market and Model

Prices for this e-C5 Aircross start from around £34,000 with base 'YOU!' spec. It's around £36,500 for mid-level 'PLUS' spec; and around £39,500 for top 'MAX' trim. You can take £1,500 off all these figures thanks to the government's Electric Car Grant. Which leaves this EV model costing only a couple of thousand more than the equivalent C5 Aircross Hybrid. Top 'MAX' trim is necessary if you don't want to have to pay extra for a heat pump to maintain range in cold weather. The EV can also be upgraded to include a 22kW onboard charger. And can come with vehicle-to-load charging so that you can power external devices from the car's drive battery - like laptops and lights. Despite the value pricing, equipment levels are strong. Base 'You!'-spec includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with High Beam Assist, a 13-inch touchscreen with 3D navigation, a wireless smartphone charger, adaptive cruise control and an 'Urban Grey' interior with Sofa fabric. Mid-range 'Plus'-spec includes a 'Metropolitan Blue' interior with premium fabrics, ambient lighting, dark-tinted windows, proximity keyless entry, front parking sensors and a 180-degree reversing camera. Top 'Max' trim adds a 'Hype Blue' interior with premium materials, an extended head-up display, heat for the front seats and steering wheel, a hands-free electric tailgate and the brand's 'Drive Assist Pack 2.0' with semi-autonomous features. 'Max' versions also gain a standard heat pump for improved winter efficiency. That 'Drive Assist 2.0' pack includes extended blind spot detection (scanning up to 75-metres behind the car) and a lane-change system that allows semi-automated motorway lane changes above 43mph with a press of a steering wheel button. There's also a 'VisioPark 360' camera system offering a whole range of manoeuvring views.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the 322 EV range figure for the 73kWh model in our 'Driving' section; which rises to 414 miles in urban traffic. The e-C5 Aircross DC charges at up to 160kW, regardless of your choice between the 73kWh or the 97kWh battery. That means a 10-80% DC charging speed of 27 minutes - the class norm. At home using a typical 7.4kW wallbox, the standard range 73kWh model AC charges from 20-80% in 6 hours and 45 minutes - or 4 hours 30 minutes with an 11kW three-phase supply. The bigger battery 97kWh e-C5 Aircross model AC charges from a 7.4kW wallbox from 20-80% in 8 hours and 55 minutes - or 6 hours 30 minutes with an 11kW three-phase supply. All versions of this model will be covered by the brand's usual unremarkable three year/60,000 mile warranty. Citroen wants to emphasise this model's eco-credentials. Some of the plastics used in the doors and centre console are partly made from harvested burgundy vines that would otherwise be burnt. And around 160kg of this model's metal parts are recycled, while 47kg of the car's plastic comes from environmentally-friendly sources. Recycled fabric is used for the seats and there's no real leather upholstery option.

Summary

If you've decided to choose a mid-sized full electric family SUV and you've one eye on a budget, we'd have to no hesitation recommending this e-C5 Aircross to you as one of our top picks. It's certainly difficult to see why you'd pay quite a lot more for the alternative versions of this design from Peugeot, Vauxhall or Jeep. It's disappointing that the rear seat flexibility of the first generation C5 Aircross couldn't have been retained for this MK2 design. And enthusiastic drivers need not apply. But for a typical family customer in this segment, there's an awful lot to like here.