2019 All New Citroen C5 Aircross Review

The new C5 aircross is an interesting SUV. Across the board, SUVs are becoming more aggressive and sporty but Citroen are resisting this trend. Where every other SUV manufacturer has been tightening, sharpening, and creating more angles and edges on their models, Citroen have designed something almost organic, something almost fluid. It gives the appearance of strength and ruggedness without being hard.

As is rapidly becoming de rigeur with models new to the irish market, we find a digital, virtual cockpit, a nice, easy-to-use touchscreen, connectivity for your smartphone with Android Auto and Apple Carplay as well as a wireless charging spot. Citroen are also installing built-in dash cams that can send footage straight to your social networks, their idea being you’re saving the best bits of your drive for posterity, but it could equally be used for sharing others’ poor driving or accidents.

Citroen have ripped the front seats straight out of a luxury brand car and installed them in this new model. They are far more comfortable than you would expect, supporting and cushioning in all the right ways.

Quite a lot of thought has gone into the rear seating arrangements too. The Aircross C5 is designed to be family friendly, by its nature quite versatile. Rather than the standard rear bench we find in most SUVs Citroen designed the C5 aircross with three individually adjustable rear seats, each can be slid into the necessary position or folded down independently. Your teenager, toddler and baby can all be accommodated safely and comfortably. Or you can leave them at home, fold down the seats and take a trip to a big, blue and yellow home store and fill the boot with Smörgåsbords and Billy Bookcases.

The fact that this model is front-wheel drive puts it apart from its competitors in a number of ways but one of the important knock-on effects of this for your passengers is that there is more leg-room in the rear. Nowhere to be seen is the huge hump of the four-wheel drive transmission tunnel in the footwell of the central seat.

As with the exterior of this car, Citroen aren’t emphasising oomph with this one. The C5 Aircross is all about comfort. The hydraulic, cushion suspension works a charm. The ride is as smooth as marshmallows without feeling too soft in the corners. Steering is light but precise. You never feel like you have to fight with this car. You ask it to do something, it does it. All this coupled with the aforementioned, very, comfortable front seats, means that long drives won’t seem daunting.

Citroen haven't gone down the same route as their apparent competition. Where everyone else is building snarling, sporty SUVs trying to attract Irish car-buyers with impressive 0-100km/h stats or aggressive styling. The C5 Aircross offers something different. It's practical, clever and comfortable. If you're looking for an SUV that will suit your family you probably won't find more apt than this.