Citroen C5 Aircross: Our Test Drive
CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS
Words by Andrea Balti / Photos by Daniél Rikkard
To define it as an SUV would be objectively wrong, but limiting it to the crossover category would not do it justice. What is it then? For once I think that it is not the case to label the C5 Aircross at all costs, since in the end it is such a complete model that will not make you feel the lack of centimeters inside the passenger compartment, but you will not even regret not having opted for something a bit more compact in size, maybe to withstand the stressful coexistence in urban traffic. The fact is that Citroen once again confirms itself at the forefront in terms of design and ergonomics, managing its most practical side, now that the purest elegance and experimentation has been entrusted to the DS brand.
Let’s start immediately with what for some might represent a missing point, the lack of four-wheel drive. The C5 Aircross is in fact front-wheel drive, but it is still possible to equip it with Grip Control, which thanks to the special wheel located on the tunnel allows you to vary the response of the engine, brakes and traction control, in order to make easier driving on slippery or snowy terrain. I experienced it myself, finding a few kilometers of snow during one of the test days and even though it was not an obstacle that I would call difficult, the Aircross did not flinch. The model being tested is then driven by a 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, a 1.5 cc with 131 horses and 300 Nm of torque, numbers that together with a low weight that reaches the ton and a half with the driver on board, allow the car to move with fair agility. The steering works soft and extremely fluid, which means you will not have a frenetic experience, but then if you are looking for thrills and last minute brakes, you should look at a completely different type of car anyway, right? Finally, you can choose between the 6-speed manual gearbox, or the excellent 8-speed automatic, like the one that enriches our model and makes it an exceptional vehicle for everyday life.
If inside there is a lot of space for people and things, you can also appreciate the comfortable leather-mixed seats and the care for the assemblages of soft materials and never predictable solutions, as usual for the French company. At the center of the dashboard there is one of the two on-board displays, an 8” touch screen, through which to manage the car’s multimedia system, satellite navigator and the air conditioner, the latter preferable with physical keys, especially with the car moving. Behind the steering wheel there is an entirely digital 12.3″ display, the same i-Cockpit which for example is fitted on the excellent Peugeot 3008 and therefore ample opportunity to customize the information to be kept under control and a further example of how Citroen does not leave nothing to chance. But if the passenger compartment is an extraordinary environment in which to spend time, even the designers who have dedicated themselves to the outside have done a great job. The perceived dimensions are more abundant than the actual ones and this is due to the massive front, with the optical groups on two levels and the wide front grille that connects the two ends of the car. On this model there are red details that create an excellent contrast with the black of the body, both on the front and on the sides incorporated in the wide plastic protection profiles, while on the bonnet there are two indentations that arouse curiosity, but in reality define themselves as pure aesthetic elements.
The C5 Aircross is a car that knows its role, refreshes a segment that most often have to accept compromises in order to keep costs down and dominates it also thanks to excellent fuel consumption, with 4.1 l/100km in the mixed cycle. It won’t be a traffic lights predator, but thanks to its 300 Nm of torque, the engine offers good elasticity, useful on motorways and on secondary roads. The prices prove it right too, with the entry level petrol starting at just over € 25,000, while to switch to the diesel range it is necessary to spend at least 2,000 € more. An example like the one being tested and therefore complete in terms of equipment, with Grip Control, automatic transmission and 18-inch wheels, rises to 34,000, but at that point you have really ticked every possible box during the configuration process. It doesn’t matter if in the end the C5 Aircross will end up being considered a crossover – it’s not a sin yet – the reality is that we are facing a complete car, a further evolution of the smaller and already surprising C3 Aircross, also if in this case we can take advantage of a better on-board comfort, an adult look and an overall model that will satisfy even the most demanding motorists.
CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS
Layout – front-engine, front wheel drive
Engine – 4 cylinder 1.499cc turbodiesel
Transmission – 8-speed automatic gearbox
Power – 131 hp @ 3.750 rpm
300 Nm @ 1.750 rpm
Weight – 1.430 kg
Acceleration – 11,8 sec.
Top Speed – 188 kph
Price – from € 25.700 (as tested € 34.200)