Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid - long-term review

Citroen has always tried to be a bit different. From the DS and 2CV to the Ami, it has a habit of doing things avant-garde. Sometimes brilliantly. Sometimes less so. Case in point, the C3 Pluriel.

The new C5 Aircross tries to retain some of that quirkiness while appealing to the mainstream family SUV buyer. The kind of person who wants space, comfort and ease of use, rather than anything remotely sporty.

On the outside, it largely succeeds. Remember the weird Citroen Oli concept from a couple of years ago? Some of that bold, angular design has carried over. It’s got presence, which is no bad thing in a world of samey SUVs.

But then you start noticing the details. The rear lights are busy to the point of distraction. The D-pillars have little plastic flourishes that feel like they’ve been added simply because they could be. It’s not inherently ugly, but it does feel slightly overdesigned in places.

Inside is where things really get very Citroen. Visually, it’s a clear step on from the previous car, more modern, more design-led, and a lot more interesting to look at, even if not all of it works in practice.

Let’s start with the good. As previously mentioned, the seats are excellent. Wide, soft, and properly comfortable. They feel more like furniture than car seats, which is exactly what Citroën is going for with its much-talked-about ‘sofa design’.

Space is another win. There’s loads of room in the back, and adults can sit comfortably. The rear seats recline, but they no longer slide, which feels like a step backwards. The boot, though, is very usable, especially with the height-adjustable floor. 565 litres with the seats up, 1,668 with them down. This is a genuinely practical car.

The new waterfall screen is the largest ever fitted to a Citroen, something the brand is very keen to point out. It’s sharp and responsive, though not the most intuitive to navigate. The 360 camera is genuinely useful when manoeuvring a large SUV, and the standard stereo is better than expected, although the speakers jutting out of the dash are an acquired taste.

And then… the rest of it. Some of it feels a bit less thought through.

The wireless charger and cupholders feel like they’ve been installed in the wrong order, with the main cupholders tucked awkwardly under the centre console. Not ideal when you’re trying to juggle hot drinks. There’s also a secondary cupholder that seems too small to be particularly useful, located right next to the wireless charger.

Then there’s the door pull, a large glossy block that looks interesting but doesn’t really fit your hand particularly well.

That said, there’s plenty of storage throughout the cabin, and the central bin is even air-conditioned, which is a nice touch to keep a few cool beverages.

Fortunately, Citroen hasn’t said goodbye to all physical buttons in favour of the giant screen. Among a handful of climate controls there is a dedicated driver assistance button. Press it once and you get your personalised settings, hold it down and everything switches off. Nothing revolutionary, but being a proper button means you can actually find it without looking. A steering wheel shortcut would still be better, mind.

The head-up display feels like a case of bigger isn’t better. Citroen has made it much larger than before, which sounds great, until you actually have to look through it. It’s big, bright, and more intrusive than useful. It is adjustable, in theory, but the adjustments are buried in the menus, so it’s permanently switched off here.

Despite a few annoyances, the cabin is still a nice place to be. It strikes a good balance between comfort and a slightly more premium feel, without losing that distinctive Citroen character.

The design is bold, even when the usability isn’t. Which, from Citroen, should come as no surprise. And in a world where most SUVs are about as memorable as a kitchen fridge, that might just be enough.