Living with a Citroen C5 Aircross: it’s better than an EV in some ways, but worse in others
Car changing is a big deal
Video project manager Giulia McCarthy has been living with the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid for a few months, having spent around a year driving electric cars. Here’s how she’s getting on going back to fossil fuels.
It’s funny how quickly you get used to things, isn’t it? I’ve been driving petrol cars for years, yet after just 12 months or so in various electric long-term test cars, getting back into an SUV with an engine feels like stepping into the middle ages.
That’s not to say my Citroen C5 Aircross is old-fashioned – far from it. It’s just taken a bit of readjustment.
I got used to the instant acceleration from electric cars, but the C5 Aircross has a rather ponderous gearbox which can leave you hanging if you’re pulling out at a junction. Having an engine thrumming away in the background feels like a novelty as well, albeit one I got used to very quickly. It’s also a hybrid, so at low speeds it does waft around on the electric motor.
Even with the extra bit of noise, I’m finding the C5 Aircross to be a really comfy cruiser. The suspension soaks up the potholes of North London really nicely, and the seats are lovely as well. There’s no air of sportiness, but I like its laid-back, wafty nature.
I’m also enjoying not worrying about range anxiety. I have nowhere to plug in outside my flat, so I spent a year relying on the public charging network. Being able to drive long distances to see my family without having to find a place to plug in makes things much more relaxing.
There are lots of clever touches inside to make life easier as well. The wireless charging pad is in a great place for just chucking your phone when you get in, and the space under the infotainment screen is perfect for road trip snacks.
I didn’t think I’d like the portrait-oriented touchscreen, but it’s actually really easy to use. The climate controls are all at your fingertips, and the screen is really bright and clear. The head-up display has one annoying quirk though – it’s not quite centred in my line of sight. I do like having my speed in front of me though.
I really enjoy driving electric cars, but in my situation I think something petrol-powered suits me better. Charging using public stations gets tedious pretty quickly, and it’s not much cheaper than using petrol either. The C5 Aircross is pretty economical as well – I’ve been getting around 45mpg from it.
I’m about halfway through my time with this car, and so far it’s been plain sailing. Stay tuned for updates over the next few weeks.
Living with a Citroen C5 Aircross report 2: everything you need to know about this car
This Citroen C5 Aircross is the Max version, and that means it’s the poshest and best-equipped model you can buy. It also has the plug-in hybrid engine, so the starting price is £38,885. You can save an average of £3,000 on a new C5 Aircross through Carwow at the time of writing.
It uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, and combined they put out 195hp. It’ll also do up to 62 miles on electric power alone according to official tests, but I’ll be seeing how close it gets to this figure in reality over the coming months.
I’ve got loads of toys to play with as well. This C5 Aircross has a 360-degree parking camera, adaptive cruise control, a 13-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
My car is also finished in white metallic paint with a contrasting black roof, adding £945 to the price, as well as a detachable tow bar for £700 and a puncture repair kit at £20. This brings the total cost of this car to £40,055.
For that sort of money you could also have a Peugeot 3008 or a Kia Sportage, and the equivalent Jaecoo 7 is around £5,000 cheaper. So why did I go for the Citroen?
Why am I living with the Citroen C5 Aircross?
If you go back a decade or so, Citroens were cheap cars which had a bit of a stigma attached to them for being cheap-feeling and a bit naff to drive compared to the equivalent Volkswagen or Ford. Now though, things have changed dramatically.
Citroen is still selling affordable cars, but they feel much more posh inside and drive just as well as, if not better than the alternatives.
The latest C5 Aircross is a perfect example. When Mat Watson drove it late last year, he was really impressed with the high-quality interior and the amount of space on offer. He also loved how comfortable it was, and these plus points combined with the low price tag made it a shoe-in for a Carwow Award.
So now it’s time to see how this car handles everyday life – from short urban hops to long-distance slogs.
Living with a Citroen C5 Aircross report 1: My first impressions
I’m a few weeks into my time with the C5 Aircross, and so far, so good.
Pairing my phone to the infotainment system was a pretty straight-forward affair, and the portrait touchscreen looks good as well. I like the way it flows into the centre console. That said, my old Citroen e-C3 and e-Berlingo had proper climate control knobs, whereas this car has them in the touchscreen. It’s not as easy to use on the move.
Fitting my son’s child seat in the back was also made easy by the wide-opening doors and generous legroom, although the fiddly zips covering the ISOFIX points were a bit of a faff to undo, and the anchors themselves aren’t the easiest to locate. Thankfully, I don’t have to take his seat in and out much.
The 360-degree camera makes it much easier to park on my tight street in London, especially with the chunky rear pillars blocking the view over my shoulder.
I like the way this car looks as well. The chunky black cladding and bluff nose give it presence, and the way the rear lights jut out the side of the car is cool as well.
But the main thing I’ve noticed is just how comfortable the C5 Aircross is around town. I thought my old e-C3 handled bumps well, but compared to this it feels like being thrown down the stairs. It’s a really relaxing car to drive.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.