The stylish and practical Citroen C5 Aircross has been updated and we recently put a 1.6T Shine derivative through its paces. It faces stiffer competition than ever, so do the French medium SUV’s charm and quirks give it an edge over conventional rivals?
We like: Ride comfort, interior practicality, safety features, refined driving experience.
We don’t like: Engine not the most frugal, issues from pre-facelift have not been addressed, pricey compared with its rivals.
FAST FACTS
- Model: Citroen C5 Aircross Shine
- Price: R683 900 (February 2023)
- Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol
- Power/Torque: 121 kW/240 Nm
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic
- Fuel consumption: 7.9 L/100 km (Claimed)
- Luggage/Utility space: 720–1 630 litres
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Where does the 2023 Citroen C5 Aircross fit in?
As professional motor journalists, we try our best to keep our biases in check, but we won’t lie: we like the Citroen C5 Aircross. When the French brand launched the medium SUV upon its return to the local market in 2019, Cars.co.za testers lauded the vehicle’s fresh styling, the abundance of space and tech, as well as its competitive asking price. In fact, back in 2021, the pre-facelift Citroen C5 Aircross went up against the Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5 in the Best Family Car category of #CarsAwards.
The C5 Aircross has received a facelift and upgrade for 2023. The changes are substantial – both inside and out – but sadly, some of the family car’s eye-catching design quirks have been omitted – it now looks more conventional. While the cabin gets a nip and a tuck, the vehicle’s unchanged, mechanically.
The new-vehicle market’s medium SUV segment is nothing short of a cutthroat environment in 2023 – frankly, it’d be easier to count the brands that don’t offer a family car priced around the R650 000 mark. As of February 2023, your best offerings are the Kia Sportage, a stylish and accomplished family SUV brimming with tech, and the Toyota RAV4 hybrid, which is light on fuel and features all-wheel drive.
Compare the Citroen C5 Aircross 1.6T Shine with the Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4.
Also consider the Haval H6, Hyundai Tucson, Opel Grandland X, Nissan Qashqai and Honda CR-V.
How the Citroen C5 Aircross fares in terms of…
Design and Packaging
Styling is subjective, but we feel the facelifted C5 Aircross now looks a bit boring; it’s missing some of its predecessor’s visual appeal. In an era when car design seems rather safe and sadly, stagnant, Citroen’s styling cues should remain quirky and interesting. The previous car was arguably more eye-catching…
The new-look front end is characterised by a restyled bumper, -headlight clusters and -daytime running lights, while the rump features a revised tail-lamp arrangement. The most notable changes appear in the cabin: the conventional transmission lever has been replaced by a smarter, neater selector switch, which frees up space, plus drive modes have been introduced (Eco, Normal and Sport). On the pre-facelift car, there was a sport button only – it essentially forced the transmission to hold onto the gears a bit longer.
From the driver’s seat, it’s apparent that Citroen has updated the fascia and infotainment setup with the slightly larger touchscreen repositioned for a better user experience. The fit-and-finish is generally okay, but there are some cheap-feeling materials that feel out of place in a vehicle that costs almost R700 000.
Space and practicality remain major strengths of the C5 Aircross package. Thanks to a wheelbase that measures 2 730 mm, the Citroen has plenty of space for all occupants and second-best-in-class load capacity (it loses out to the Toyota RAV4). The seats look stylish (and are superbly comfortable), there’s an abundance of interior storage solutions (the central armrest is deep enough to take a pair of 2-litre bottles) and rear legroom is generous (even for adults). Rear occupants also get a USB charging point.
Ride and Handling
Meanwhile, the Citroen C5 Aircross continues to deliver a refined, comfortable driving experience.
The range-topping 1.6T Shine derivative’s 18-inch alloys look the part and they’re shod with 235/55 tyres that have adequate sidewall depth to help the suspension soak up road imperfections, which is just as well, seeing as many of our roads, not just the minor ones, are in a sorry state (with myriad potholes).
The 1.6T Shine’s general ride quality favours occupant comfort, which is praiseworthy, considering that so many carmakers have tried to imbue their medium SUVs with a sporty bent – often at the expense of refinement. Citroen has done no such thing – the C5 Aircross rides pliantly and the cabin is well insulated from road-, wind- and engine noises; this model is one of the best in the segment, refinement-wise.
As before, the steering setup is lighter than average (it would benefit from more heft), but that lightness is a boon when you need to execute tight parking manoeuvres within the confines of a bustling city.
Citroen claims its family car has a ground clearance of 230 mm, which means there’s some breathing room if you do decide to venture off-tar or hop on a pavement, but there’s no all-wheel drive capability.
Performance and Efficiency
The 1.6T Shine is powered by the same 121 kW/240 Nm 4-cylinder turbopetrol motor as its predecessor, which remains mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Citroen claims a 0-100 kph time of 10.5 sec and, when we tested the SUV’s acceleration, our gear showed that that time was almost bang-on.
Granted, 10.5 sec doesn’t sound brisk, but the C5 Aircross’ in-gear acceleration feels livelier than that. There are shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel, but, as before, the car’s transmission swaps cogs so slickly and efficiently that they seem a bit superfluous; we can’t say they’re a joy to use either…
A staple of Stellantis-group products, this engine-transmission combo is tried and trusted. Some of the Citroen’s rivals, such as the CX-5, have naturally aspirated (non-turbo) engines, which can feel sluggish in Gauteng’s thinner air. The C5 Aircross, however, is almost unaffected by altitude-related power loss.
Citroen claims an average fuel consumption of 7.9 L/100 km for the C5 Aircross and, by the end of the test unit’s tenure in our fleet, the 1.6T Shine indicated a return of 8.0 L/100 km. That looks quite okay, but then we drove on the open road most of the time, so we assume that the French car’s consumption will increase with prolonged town driving, where it will be thirstier than its rivals. It has a 53-litre fuel tank.
Tech and Safety features
All C5 Aircross derivatives are well equipped; the 1.6T Shine comes with nice-to-haves such as LED daytime running lights, front fog lights, dual-zone climate control, cruise control with speed limiter, 6-speaker audio system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and 2 pairs of USB-A ports and 12V power outlets.
Flagship Shine trim adds the following: powered tailgate, roof rails, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, keyless start, front/rear park distance control, reverse-view camera, 180-degree park assist, as well safety technologies such as active safety braking, collision detection alert and blind spot monitoring.
Frustratingly, our criticisms of the pre-facelift C5 Aircross have not been addressed with this new model. You are still unable to adjust the climate control unless you access a relevant menu on the touchscreen. There are no physical ventilation controls, so if you have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto running, you’ll have to exit these connectivity apps to adjust your cabin temperature… and then activate them again.
Price and After-sales Support
The Citroen C5 Aircross 1.6T Shine retails for R683 900, which includes a 5-year/100 000 km warranty as well as a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
Verdict
Has Citroen done enough with the updated C5 Aircross to stay competitive now that the medium SUV segment hosts new arrivals from several brands? We don’t think so, and the problem is two-fold: the package has not been improved in notable ways, plus the price of the vehicle has increased significantly.
Back in January 2021, the C5 Aircross retailed for R509 000 and now, merely 2 years later, there’s been more than a 25% increase in price, with very little other than a new face and updated trim to show for it.
It’s a pity, because the Citroen’s nice to drive, spacious and generously specced – in those respects, it is every bit good as the best models in the segment. Its predecessor was priced keenly, which was quite the sweetener, but that’s no longer the case; most of the C5 Aircross’ rivals offer superior value.
