Citroën C5 Aircross (2025): Diesel out, electric drive in, 15 cm stretched

With new models like the small C3 and a host of facelifts, from the C4 to the high-roof Berlingo station wagon, the French brand Citroën has completed a comprehensive renewal of its model range. The design reorientation, which was anticipated with the Oli concept car in 2022, culminates in the new C5 Aircross. The SUV is set to take the crown as the brand's new flagship, while the C5 X hatchback sedan will likely be discontinued without a successor in the foreseeable future.

The STLA medium platform from parent company Stellantis, which also forms the basis for the Opel Grandland and the Peugeot twin of the 3008 and 5008, brings a noticeable and visible increase in size to the Citroën C5 Aircross. Length increases by 15 centimeters to 4.65 meters – making the predecessor the same length as a VW Tiguan, while the new model is almost as long as a Tayron. Width increases by five centimeters to 1.90 meters. At 1.66 meters, height remains almost unchanged, giving the new model generation a more imposing appearance.

The C5 Aircross reinterprets the brand's signature lighting design with three daytime running light elements at the front. Instead of a vertical line, there are two light cubes in the front mask – they are reminiscent of ice cubes. The LED headlights are optionally available with adaptive matrix functions. 20 individual elements per side can be individually controlled. The small colored strips are familiar from the C3 and C4 and can be inserted into the front bumper for customization, as well as into the front doors. The side view is accentuated by the unpainted side skirts with clearly defined fins and air deflectors on the D-pillars. The latter, according to the designers at the presentation of the new C5 Aircross in Paris, are reminiscent of the ventilation slits behind the rear doors of the mid-size Citroën BX model from the 1980s. Depending on the equipment, the roof is painted in a contrasting black color, and a panoramic glass sunroof with opening function can be ordered as an option. The same applies to the up to 20-inch alloy wheels. The most distinctive design element of the new C5 Aircross is undoubtedly the taillights, which have been adopted almost unchanged from the 2024 concept car.

The vertical LED lines protrude from the sides of the body, which is drawn in at the top. Behind the large hatch is a 565-liter trunk, which can be expanded to a maximum of 1,668 liters if necessary. The rear seat backrest folds down into three parts in a 40:20:40 split. The new C5 Aircross also offers more space for passengers than its predecessor, as our test drive demonstrates.

While tall people previously complained about the limited knee room and the three individual rear seats, although adjustable, were extremely narrow, the new SUV generation is ideal as a family touring car. The wheelbase, stretched by six centimeters to 2.68 meters, is largely reflected in the rear seat. There's plenty of room up front, and the seat is mounted comfortably high above the interior floor. Nevertheless, you'll appreciate the generous headroom, even under the frame of the panoramic glass sunroof. For greater travel comfort, the backrest can be adjusted for angle, and seat heating is optionally available for the two outer seats in the second row.

The "Advanced Comfort" seats have been redesigned for use in the new flagship SUV. As always, they provide the driver and front passenger with thick, yet by no means overly soft, cushioning. For the first time, in addition to seat heating, ventilation and a massage function are available.

The cockpit is quite flat, which provides good visibility from the front and all around. The 13-inch infotainment display in the Citroën C5 Aircross is not located at the top of the dashboard, but is vertically integrated and extends into the center console at the bottom. Despite the screen's steep incline, no reflections bothered the driver when sitting outdoors. The touchscreen is divided, with the lower third reserved for climate control functions. There are also physical buttons further down, such as the windshield defogger, and a roller for adjusting the audio volume. The voice control system, which also draws on information from ChatGPT, responds to the call "Hey, Citroën!"

Another display behind the two-spoke steering wheel gathers all driving-related information; depending on the equipment, a head-up display is also available. In contrast to the makeshift solution of a small plastic disc on the instrument panel, the information will now be projected directly onto the windshield, directly into the driver's field of vision. Speakers protrude from the outer edges of the cockpit like small ears. Fabric inlays and ambient lighting that can be configured in eight colors create a cozy atmosphere.

Four engine variants will be available at market launch, with no diesel engine among them. The base model is the familiar Hybrid 145. This is a mild hybrid with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine, delivering a system output of 107 kW/145 hp. The 0.9 kWh battery powers an electric motor with a peak output of up to 21 kW (28 hp). Shunting and short distances at low speeds should be possible entirely on electric power.

The plug-in hybrid is capable of more. Thanks to a battery capacity increased to 21 kWh, it should be able to travel up to 85 kilometers on electric power, and even offer an electric range of around 100 kilometers in pure city traffic. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine produces 110 kW / 150 hp, and the electric motor up to 92 kW (125 hp). The French company claims a system output of 143 kW / 195 hp. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sorts the gear ratios. Electric driving is possible up to a speed of 135 km/h, but after that you need to plug in quite quickly. This is where the Citroën C5 Aircross Plug-in Hybrid parks for a while. The standard single-phase charger with 3.7 kW output remains, meaning the car can be parked on an 11 kW wallbox for over five hours. The charging time can be reduced to just under three hours if you order the optional on-board charger for two-phase power consumption with 7.4 kW output.

The STLA medium platform makes it possible for the Citroën C5 Aircross to be offered for the first time with a purely electric drive. With a 73 kWh battery and an engine output of 157 kW (213 hp), the crossover has a range of 520 kilometers, according to the manufacturer. The model with 170 kW (231 hp) engine output and 97 kWh battery storage capacity achieves up to 680 kilometers according to the WLTP standard.

Citroën specifies a maximum charging power of 160 kW via the CCS connection, which corresponds to the data of its technically closely related sister companies Opel and Peugeot. The 73 kWh battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in 30 minutes, while the 97 kWh battery pack takes just 27 minutes due to a different charging curve. The electric SUV draws three-phase alternating current at 11 kW. From 2026, there will be an optional 22 kW charging option, as well as a V2L (Vehicle to Load) function. Using paddles on the steering wheel, recuperation in the electric Citroën ë-C5 Aircross can be controlled in three stages. A heat pump can be ordered for an additional charge, which can ideally provide up to 25 kilometers of range in winter.

All engine variants drive the front wheels; all-wheel drive will still not be available. The brand aims to deliver on its comfort promise with the new SUV, too, with the "Advanced Comfort" suspension. The suspension has been redesigned for the C5 Aircross. The front shock absorbers have two hydraulic stops, one each for rebound and compression, and one at the rear for compression (i.e., during compression).

Production of the new Citroën C5 Aircross will begin in Rennes, France, in the second half of 2025, with market launch expected in late autumn. Prices have not yet been announced. The predecessor, as the Hybrid 145, currently starts at €34,070; the entry-level model cost a good €10,000 less at launch . As a plug-in hybrid with 224 hp, the current model already starts at €47,500. The new PHEV is expected to be significantly cheaper, also to compete with its platform sibling, the Opel Grandland. It is available with a plug-in connector starting at €40,150. Prices for the electric Citroën ë-C5 Aircross are expected to start at around €45,000.