New Citroen C5 Aircross first impressions – could this 422-mile electric car be a Tesla-beater?
April 29, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
We’ve been to Paris to take a closer look at the new Citroen C5 Aircross to find out if it stands out against its mechanically-similar stablemates.
- New Citroen C5 Aircross revealed
- Citroen’s Kia Sportage alternative goes electric…
- …But petrol and hybrid engines are still available
- Carwow gets hands-on
- Posh-looking interior with new infotainment tech
- On sale later this year for around £30,000
This is the new Citroen C5 Aircross, and it’s here to take on SUVs such as the Kia Sportage and Ford Kuga. It also faces stiff competition from within its own family, because the Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland are both pretty much identical under the skin.
| Cash* | £24,900 |
| Average savings* | £4,700 |
| Lease* | £260 per month |
| Used* | £9,000 |
*Prices correct at the time of writing
The new C5 Aircross will be available with petrol, hybrid and all-electric power options, and you can expect it to cost around £30,000 when it goes on sale later this year.
New Citroen C5 Aircross first impressions
We’ve managed to get hands-on with the new Citroen C5 Aircross at the launch event in Paris, and things are pretty promising on first impressions.
That bright green paintwork certainly helped, however this shade will only be available in limited numbers which is a shame. Up front the new C5 Aircross has a pretty familiar face if you’re familiar with the rest of the Citroen range, with a bluff nose and C-shaped headlights.
It’s at the rear where things get more interesting, because the rear lights jut out of the bodywork like a couple of fins. They not only look cool, they also help with aerodynamics.
Moving inside this new C5 Aircross feels like a massive step-up over the outgoing car. We love the current model for its fantastic value for money, but the cabin was never its strong suit thanks to a dull design and dark plastics.
This new one feels much more posh, with soft-touch materials across the dashboard and door tops helping up the sense of quality. It’s also brighter because of the light fabrics, and it looks much more high tech with that massive portrait screen in the centre of the dashboard.
At 13-inches across it’s about the same size as the screen you’ll find in a Volkswagen Tiguan, and it’s pretty slick and easy to use. Some of the graphics are a bit dark, but at least it’s responsive to your touch.
Cabin storage is decent on the whole as well. You get a massive cubby under the armrest and big door bins, however we’re not so sure about the cupholders. You get a small one behind the wireless charging pad which can fit a can, however if you want to have a larger coffee then you’ll have to use the ones underneath the floating console. It’s a bit awkward to get to, and we can envisage plenty of spilled lattes over those fabulously comfortable white seats.
Speaking of the seats, they’re like armchairs. Citroen has used 50% more foam compared to the old car, and you simply sunk into them. Long journeys should be no bother. That extends to the rear seat occupants as well who get loads of legroom, plenty of headroom and the option to recline.
The boot offers 650 litres of space, making it 60-litres bigger than both a Kia Sportage and the uber-sensible Skoda Karoq. There’s no load lip to lift stuff over, and you get some extra space under the boot floor for your charging cables.
New Citroen C5 Aircross engines, motors and range
The big news here is that the new Citroen C5 Aircross is available as an EV for the first time. It shares a lot of parts with the Vauxhall Grandland Electric, and you can get it with a massive 97kWh battery which delivers up to 422 miles of range.
That’s 35 miles more than you’ll get from a Tesla Model Y Long Range, and it’s over 80 miles more than a Volkswagen ID4 can manage. There will also be the option of a smaller battery which can deliver 323 miles of range.
If you’re not quite ready to make the switch to a pure EV then there’s a plug-in hybrid option. This pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine to an electric motor, and it can do up to 62 miles on electric power alone. A 1.2-litre self-charging hybrid will also be available.
New Citroen C5 Aircross verdict: does it do enough to stand out?
This is the million-dollar question, because Stellantis, the company which owns Citroen and a bunch of other brands, offer a few other SUVs which use all the same parts as the C5 Aircross.
The Peugeot 3008 is more striking to look at and has a nicer interior, however it’s more expensive than we expect the Citroen to be. The electric C5 Aircross is likely to start from around £35,000, whereas the 3008 is £10,000 more.
It’s the Vauxhall Grandland Electric which throws a spanner in the works, because every version costs less than £40,000 which makes it very close in price to the Citroen. The boot is around 100-litres smaller than the C5 Aircross, but it’ll come down to the driving experience to set these cars apart. With Citroen’s focus on comfort, it could massively improve upon the Vauxhalls bumpy ride, giving it an edge.
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.
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