Which of these two fantastic Citroen SUVs should you spend your money on?

Citroen has pulled a blinder with the new C5 Aircross and e-C5 Aircross, to be honest, because they’re both excellent family cars. The simple fact that they’re both so similar to drive is a testament to how good a job the French brand has done developing them.

That’s not to say they’re exactly the same, because as the name would suggest, the e-C5 Aircross is the electric version of the C5 Aircross, which is available with both self-charging and plug-in hybrid engines. I drove both the PHEV C5 and the EV e-C5 on the same routes, in the same conditions, to work out whether you’re better off going full-electric or sticking with an engine.

Like a bodybuilder with a soft touch – and a sharp outfit

The old C5 Aircross was a frumpy-looking thing in my eyes, with its blobby corners and odd – but kind of cool – ‘air pocket’ body cladding. The new version has clearly gone hard at the gym, because it’s bigger, leaner, sharper and more defined. The front end features slim headlights mounted high up with aggressive LED strips below.

Sculpted flanks lead some of the coolest taillights I’ve seen on a family car, pushed right out to the SUV’s corners on little fins, and the big Citroens look even better at night as a result.

Citroen has massively improved the cabin design too, taking inspiration from the smaller C3 and e-C3, with an arrow-straight dashboard that contains the clear-to-read driver’s display, uber comfortable seats and a 13.0-inch infotainment screen that looks like it’s resting against the dash, which is nice, but it’s annoying to use, which isn’t nice. There are a lot of hard surfaces, in fact every plastic in the cabin is scratchy, but key areas on the dashboard and door cards have been trimmed in funky fabrics which are nice to the touch.

Room inside for the kitchen sink

Where the C5 Aircross and e-C5 Aircross will appeal most to families is the interior space and storage, because there’s a lot of it. Not only do you get miles of headroom all-round and a lot of legroom in the back, but the rear seats recline for extra comfort and there are huge door bins to go with the capacious centre console storage, too.

Thanks to some clever battery packaging, the boot capacities are identical across all C5 and e-C5 models – which is genuinely impressive. You get the same 565 litres of storage room plus underfloor space for charging cables or odds and ends, and hooks so your shopping bags don’t roll around. Both cars are neck-and-neck for now…

Cushy to drive…

Yet it’s not the interior space where the C5 Aircross and e-C5 Aircross shine the brightest, it’s out on the road. Full disclosure, they are very dull cars to drive. If you’re looking for a family SUV that’s fun to chuck around some bends, look at a Ford Kuga or BMW X1 instead – you’ll have a far better time.

But where the Citroens win is in the way that they simply ignore speed bumps, potholes and ruts, whether you’re in town or on the motorway. The C5 Aircross felt absolutely unfazed by any broken or cobbled road that I encountered in Mallorca, and while it had noticeable body lean on the twistier mountain roads, it glided over motorway sections too.

This is where the e-C5 Aircross falls behind – but only just. The full-electric e-C5 weighs a few hundred kilograms more than the PHEV C5, which means it needs stiffer suspension to keep that extra weight in check around bends, and it’s just a smidge less comfortable over broken road surfaces as a result.

…and they go the distance

This is where the e-C5 is pleasantly surprising, because while the PHEV C5 Aircross offers up 403 miles of range, there’s a long-range electric version coming soon with an even better 422 miles to a charge. If you have a home charger and an EV suits your lifestyle, then that’ll offer a good blend of cheap running costs and road trip ability.

At the moment, however, you can only have an e-C5 Aircross with a smaller battery and 319 miles of range. The PHEV model is also around £800 cheaper, quicker and marginally better to drive, too.

Which one would I choose?

Citroen C5 Aircross pros:

• Smooth plug-in hybrid engine
• Ridiculously comfortable
• No range anxiety woes

Citroen e-C5 Aircross pros:

• Constant silent motoring
• Also very comfortable
• Handy 422-mile range…once the big battery model goes on sale

I’ve yet to get behind the wheel of the basic hybrid – and I’ve not had a chance to test the true range of the big battery EV either, but between the two I’ve driven, the PHEV was a touch more impressive.

That’s why I’d spend my money on the C5 Aircross over the e-C5 Aircross – for now.

How I tested the Citroen C5 Aircross and e-C5 Aircross, and why you can trust my opinion

I’ve been a motoring journalist for seven years with international experience driving cars in all sorts of conditions. It’s my job to test cars thoroughly and write about them in-depth, to make sure you’re equipped with the information you need when deciding what car to buy next.

I hopped on a plane to Mallorca, Spain, in September 2025 as part of the international launch of the Citroen C5 Aircross and e-C5 Aircross models, where I did my testing for this review. I had a comprehensive test route for both versions of the car, driving coast to coast through tight towns with unforgiving speed bumps, on long stretches of high-speed motorway and along winding sections of mountain roads.

To make sure the Citroens suit a variety of lifestyles and family needs, I spent time comparing their boots and back seats while also taking a deep dive into their infotainment systems to make sure they’re up to snuff.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.