Citroen C5 Aircross Review

Citroen’s comfort-focused family SUV is now in its second generation, with sharper styling, more interior space and a choice of hybrid and plug-in hybrid power. It looks considerably more angular and assertive than its predecessor, but the emphasis remains firmly on making everyday journeys comfortable.

The key ingredient is Citroen’s Advanced Comfort Suspension. This uses special hydraulic cushions to soften the impact of bumps, working alongside generously padded Advanced Comfort Seats to give the C5 Aircross an unusually relaxing character. It's a welcome alternative to family SUVs that sacrifice ride comfort in pursuit of sharper handling.

The C5 Aircross shares much of its engineering with the Peugeot 3008 and the Vauxhall Grandland, but its softer suspension and distinctive interior make it feel quite different from either.

Inside, there’s a bright, welcoming dashboard with fabric-covered surfaces and a large 13-inch portrait touchscreen. The arrangement is refreshingly straightforward compared with some rivals, even if the infotainment software occasionally hesitates.

The C5 Aircross is also considerably bigger than its predecessor. It's around 150mm longer, with an extended wheelbase providing more rear legroom. The 565-litre boot is competitive, and passengers benefit from generous headroom and comfortable seating.

There are currently two petrol-based powertrains. The Hybrid 145 combines a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a small electric motor and six-speed automatic gearbox. It doesn't need plugging in and can travel very short distances using electricity alone.

The Plug-in Hybrid 225 pairs a smoother 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a more substantial electric motor and rechargeable battery. It can cover up to 50 miles on electricity alone, according to official combined-cycle figures.

This version was originally badged Plug-in Hybrid 195 before Citroen revised its quoted output to 225PS in 2026. The change reflects a different method of expressing the same powertrain’s performance rather than a mechanical upgrade.

For buyers who want to dispense with petrol entirely, the Citroen e-C5 Aircross is available with electric power and is reviewed separately.

For most buyers, the Citroen C5 Aircross Plus Hybrid 145 is the best choice. The Hybrid 145 is considerably cheaper than the plug-in hybrid and doesn't require access to a charging point. It's economical enough for everyday use, and its automatic gearbox suits the car's relaxed character.

Performance is adequate rather than impressive. The small three-cylinder engine can sound coarse when accelerating hard, but it's perfectly capable of handling normal family duties.

Plus is the trim to target because it adds equipment that genuinely improves everyday comfort and convenience. You get more attractive upholstery, ambient lighting, front parking sensors, a reversing camera and a reclining rear backrest. These additions make the already spacious cabin feel more complete.

Max adds further luxuries, including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display and more advanced driving assistance, but none is essential.

The Plug-in Hybrid 225 makes sense if you can charge at home and regularly cover journeys within its electric range. It's substantially quicker and smoother, but the higher purchase price is difficult to justify otherwise.

The Citroen C5 Aircross starts at £31,030 for the Hybrid 145 in You trim. Moving to Plus increases the price to £33,670, while the range-topping Max Hybrid 145 costs £36,310. The Plug-in Hybrid 225 is available exclusively in Max trim, priced at £38,880. That makes the C5 Aircross competitively priced against established family SUVs, particularly considering its generous equipment and spacious interior.

The plug-in hybrid is more difficult to justify purely on price, although its longer electric range could deliver savings for drivers who charge regularly.

The Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland are the C5 Aircross's closest relatives, sharing much of their underlying engineering. The Peugeot has a more distinctive, futuristic interior, while the Vauxhall takes a restrained approach. Neither prioritises ride comfort quite as strongly as the Citroen.

The Volkswagen Tiguan is an excellent all-rounder, combining a polished driving experience with a practical cabin and a broad engine range, and while the Skoda Karoq is smaller and beginning to show its age, it remains a particularly sensible family choice thanks to its straightforward controls and clever practicality.

The Nissan Qashqai feels more agile and has an efficient e-Power hybrid option, although it can't match the Citroen for rear passenger space.

The Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offer generous equipment, strong warranties and several electrified powertrains.

The Mazda CX-5 is another alternative if cabin quality and driving enjoyment matter more than outright efficiency.

The Citroen C5 Aircross is a particularly spacious family SUV, with generous accommodation in both rows and plenty of useful storage. The front seats are wide, supportive and generously padded, making them extremely comfortable over longer journeys. There's plenty of adjustment for the driver, while the raised seating position provides good forward visibility.

The dashboard is also unusually practical. Its upright touchscreen leaves room for generous storage compartments, including a particularly large space beneath the central armrest. Citroen claims approximately 40 litres of storage space throughout the cabin, including door pockets, cupholders and the glovebox.

Rear passengers are especially well catered for. The second-generation C5 Aircross has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, providing an additional 51mm of rear legroom. Headroom has increased, too, making the rear seats comfortable for taller passengers. Even adults sitting behind tall front occupants should have little difficulty getting comfortable. Plus and Max models also feature reclining rear backrests, allowing passengers to adjust their seating position on longer journeys.

Unlike the previous C5 Aircross, which had three individual rear seats, the latest car has a conventional bench with a 40:20:40 split-folding backrest. There are ISOFIX mounting points on the outer rear seats.

The boot holds 565 litres, making it larger than the luggage area in a Nissan Qashqai and slightly more spacious than that of the related Vauxhall Grandland. It's a good, usable shape, with a wide opening and adjustable boot floor. Fold the rear seats and luggage capacity increases to 1,668 litres, providing enough room for bulky household items or holiday luggage.

Importantly, the plug-in hybrid has the same quoted boot capacity as the regular hybrid, so choosing the larger battery doesn't mean sacrificing luggage space. There’s no seven-seat option, however.

The Citroen C5 Aircross measures 4,652mm long, 1,936mm wide (2,108mm with the mirrors extended)and approximately 1,690mm high, depending on version. The wheelbase measures 2,784mm, helping provide the generous rear passenger space. It's noticeably larger than the previous C5 Aircross and sits comfortably within the family SUV class.

A turning circle of approximately 10.9 metres makes it reasonably manageable around town despite its size. Rear parking sensors are standard, while Plus and Max add cameras and further parking assistance.

The C5 Aircross uses a 13-inch portrait touchscreen, which Citroen calls its Waterfall Screen. Unlike the wide, shallow displays fitted to the related Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland, the Citroen's screen stretches vertically down the centre of the dashboard. That arrangement works particularly well for navigation, providing a useful view of the road ahead.

The display responds quickly to touch, although the operating system can occasionally lag when opening menus or switching functions. Built-in navigation is standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so drivers can easily use familiar smartphone apps instead. There's also a 10-inch digital instrument display, providing clear information directly in front of the driver. Max adds an extended head-up display, projecting additional driving information into the driver's line of sight.

Smartphone connectivity is straightforward. There are two USB-C ports in the front and another two for rear passengers, along with three 12-volt sockets positioned around the car. Wireless phone charging is included across the range. Citroen's connected services provide remote vehicle information and maintenance notifications, while plug-in hybrid drivers can use the smartphone app to manage charging and cabin preconditioning.

The standard six-speaker sound system is surprisingly good, although there's no premium audio upgrade.

Overall, the C5 Aircross combines a modern infotainment setup with a relatively straightforward layout, even if the software isn't quite as polished as the best systems available.

The C5 Aircross has a distinctive interior that uses fabric and padded surfaces to create a more welcoming environment than many rivals. Large sections of the dashboard are covered in fabric with foam padding underneath, giving them a pleasantly soft feel. There are cheaper plastics lower down, but these aren't especially objectionable given the car's competitive price.

You comes with black and grey fabric upholstery and an Urban Grey interior finish. Plus introduces a Metropolitan Blue interior with additional leather-effect materials and more extensive ambient lighting. Max uses a richer Hype Blue finish, combining blue upholstery with premium leather-effect trim and further decorative details.

An optional Hype Grey interior adds additional luxury features, including upgraded seat adjustments and ventilation.

The C5 Aircross doesn't have the most expensive-feeling cabin in its class, but the combination of colour, fabric and comfortable seating gives it genuine character.

There are two petrol-based powertrains in the current Citroen C5 Aircross range, both driving the front wheels through automatic gearboxes.

The entry-level Hybrid 145 combines a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with a small electric motor. The petrol engine produces 136PS, while the electric motor adds assistance for a combined output of 145PS. A six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox is standard.

Citroen describes this as a hybrid rather than a mild hybrid because it can drive on electricity alone for short distances. In slow-moving traffic, the electric motor can take over from the petrol engine more frequently than in a conventional mild-hybrid system. Nevertheless, it isn't a full hybrid in the same mould as a Toyota RAV4 or a Renault Austral.

Performance is modest. The Hybrid 145 takes 11.2 seconds to reach 62mph, with a maximum speed of 125mph. The small petrol engine can sound strained when accelerating and doesn't have much performance in reserve, particularly when the car is fully loaded.

The alternative is the Plug-in Hybrid 225, which uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 150PS, paired with a 125PS electric motor. Combined output is 225PS, although earlier cars were advertised as having 195PS; Citroen revised the official output figure in 2026 without changing the basic powertrain hardware. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox is standard.

The plug-in hybrid reaches 62mph in 8.3 seconds and has a 137mph maximum speed. It's noticeably more effortless than the smaller hybrid, with stronger acceleration and smoother engine operation. A rechargeable 21kWh battery also provides up to 50 miles of electric driving on the official combined test, or up to 67 miles in urban conditions.

There's also an all-electric model, called the e-C5 Aircross, but that's covered in a separate review.

Comfort is where the Citroen C5 Aircross really earns its keep. Its suspension uses Citroen's Advanced Comfort system, incorporating progressive hydraulic cushions that help soften the impact of bumps and reduce the jolts transmitted into the cabin. The result is a wonderfully supple ride, particularly over broken road surfaces. Speed bumps, potholes and rough urban streets are dealt with more gently than in most similarly priced family SUVs.

It's not quite the floating sensation associated with older Citroen models, and some particularly sharp imperfections still make themselves felt. Nevertheless, the C5 Aircross is one of the most comfortable mainstream family SUVs available.

There is a compromise when cornering, though. The body leans more noticeably than in a Kia Sportage or a Volkswagen Tiguan, while the steering doesn't provide much feedback. That makes the Citroen less rewarding to drive enthusiastically, but the softer setup is a far greater advantage in everyday family use. The car doesn't encourage you to hurry, and its light controls make driving around town particularly relaxing.

Refinement is generally good. Wind and road noise are well controlled, although the Hybrid 145's three-cylinder engine can become intrusive when accelerating hard. The Plug-in Hybrid 225 is a better match for the car's relaxed character. Its four-cylinder petrol engine is smoother, while the electric motor allows quiet driving at lower speeds. It can still sound strained when pushed hard, however, and the gearbox occasionally hesitates when switching between electric and petrol power. The plug-in hybrid's additional weight also gives its suspension a slightly different feel, although it remains comfortable.

Overall, the C5 Aircross excels at making ordinary journeys calmer and more relaxing, rather than trying to entertain enthusiastic drivers.

Independent safety organisation Euro NCAP awarded the second-generation Citroen C5 Aircross four stars in 2025. The rating is based on testing of the closely related Peugeot 3008, which shares the Citroen's underlying structure and safety systems. It scored 80% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child protection, 79% for vulnerable road users and 62% for safety assistance.

Those are respectable results, although several rivals have achieved five stars. Every C5 Aircross gets autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, driver attention monitoring, traffic-sign recognition and adaptive cruise control. Max adds more sophisticated assistance, including lane positioning, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The C5 Aircross Hybrid 145 doesn't need plugging in. Its small battery charges automatically when slowing down and through the petrol engine.

The Plug-in Hybrid 225 has a much larger 21kWh battery, with approximately 17.8kWh usable for driving. A 7.4kW home wallbox can recharge it in around three hours, while using a conventional domestic three-pin socket takes approximately eight and a half hours. There's no DC rapid-charging capability, so the plug-in hybrid is best suited to home or workplace charging.

A full charge should typically cost around £5–£7 on a standard domestic electricity tariff, depending on the unit rate and charging losses. An off-peak EV tariff can reduce that substantially. The official electric range is up to 50 miles, so regular charging could cover many everyday journeys without using petrol.

The Hybrid 145 officially returns between 45.2mpg and 53.3mpg, depending on specification and configuration. That's respectable for a family SUV, although some full-hybrid alternatives can be more economical, particularly in town.

The Plug-in Hybrid 225 has an official weighted figure of 82.2–122.8mpg. However, those figures assume substantial driving on electricity. Actual petrol consumption will depend heavily on how often the battery is charged and the type of journeys undertaken.

When regularly charged, the plug-in hybrid could use very little petrol during shorter journeys. Without regular charging, its additional weight and purchase price make it much less attractive.

Company-car drivers also benefit from a lower Benefit-in-Kind rate for the plug-in hybrid.

Citroen provides a three-year manufacturer warranty, with unlimited mileage during the first two years and a 60,000-mile limit applying in the third. The plug-in hybrid's high-voltage battery is covered separately for eight years or 100,000 miles, with a minimum 70% capacity guarantee.

Citroen's We Care programme provides additional protection for certain major components after the original warranty expires. This can continue until the car reaches eight years old or 100,000 miles, provided servicing is completed through the authorised Citroen network in accordance with the programme's terms. The additional coverage is renewed after each qualifying service and is transferable to subsequent owners.

Both hybrid versions require regular servicing, with the precise schedule depending on engine, mileage and operating conditions.

The Citroen C5 Aircross occupies insurance groups 18 to 29 (of 50), depending on engine and trim. Hybrid 145 models are relatively affordable to insure, with You in group 18, Plus in 19 and Max in 20.

The Plug-in Hybrid 225 sits considerably higher in group 29. That's partly a reflection of its stronger performance and more complex powertrain, although insurance premiums depend on far more than the group rating.

The regular hybrid is therefore likely to be the more sensible choice for drivers trying to minimise annual running costs.

All versions of the C5 Aircross will cost £200 a year to tax. Opt for the Plug-in Hybrid plus add a few options and it’s possible to push the car beyond the £40,000 threshold for the Expensive Car Supplement. That being the case, you’re in line to pay an extra £440 annually from years two to six.