By Sala Masindane

The Citroën C5 Aircross competes in a segment that is locally dominated by the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage to mention a few. It is commendable that the Stellantis Group is still persisting with bringing the Citroën in particular the C5 Aircross. It has gone through a midlife update and the French manufacturer has gone for the attitude of, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. We recently spent time with mid-sized SUV to see if the updates have elevated it higher in the ranks.

Exterior

Out of the bag, it is still a head turner and that is thanks to its quirky exterior design. Upfront, the updated car adopts a new grille, logo and single unit headlights, and does away with the split headlights. The side profile sports Citroën’s signature Airbumps, and the rear gets redesigned three-dimensional LED taillights.

Interior

The bulk of the updates are experienced inside the cabin but this has not resulted in any dropping of the high standards that have been accustomed to in the C5 Aircross. Inside, the cabin features a re-positioned 10-inch touch display infotainment screen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) which sits atop the dashboard with the vents now located below the screen. 

The centre console of the updated C5 Aircross has been reworked and includes the new e-Toggle gear and Drive Mode selector. Other notable comfort features are the two USB ports, panoramic sunroof and rear individually sliding seats.

The cabin feels premium and is comfortable across most terrains. The rear individual sliding and recline seats enhance the comfort. Space is also generous across the mid-sized SUV with 580-litres of boot space

Performance and Drive

The C5 Aircross is still powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine making 121kW and 240Nm, and paired to a 6-speed automatic. The retained 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine glides along with no fuss and the ride quality is good thanks to the impressive suspension. It was a reliable companion during city or long drives. Our stint in C5 Aircross also resulted in a commendable fuel consumption of 7.8 l/100km.

Final Word

It is unfortunate that we don’t see more these on our roads as its offering is compelling but we do hope the manufacturer is working tirelessly on improving this. Pricing for the family friendly Citroën C5 Aircross range starts at R633,900.