2023 Citroen C5 Aircross Feel Singapore – Front right
2023 Citroen C5 Aircross Feel Review : A fresher-newer-same-thing
Singapore – Citroen has just updated their C5 Aircross SUV, and now it has a less friendly face. Other than that, and a few other small things, it is generally the same C5 Aircross we brought to you in the early months of 2022… which was again a facelift of a car which was introduced here somewhere in 2019.
If you are a fan of SUVs because they are less back-breaking when loading up the kids, C5 Aircross does the job well, while looking fancy-schmancy.
Under the bonnet, you get a 1.2 litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, which produces a Category A friendly “just under the line” 129hp and 230Nm. This is paired with an 8-speed automatic, which gets the car to 100km/h in a leisurely 10.3 seconds. The 1.2 does its best work within a narrow torque band. It does get the job done quite well actually, but push it harder, and the 3-cyl starts becoming flat. Overall, I nailed around 5.7km/100l, which is respectable, but Citroen’s official combined numbers stand at 4.9l/100km.
2023 Citroen C5 Aircross Feel Singapore – Front right
2023 Citroen C5 Aircross Feel Singapore – Rear right
While performance might be nothing to shout about, the focus here for the Citroen SUV is in its ride quality. It is equipped with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions, which iron out minor road imperfections; this is further complemented by the Advanced Comfort Seats, which are plied with 15mm thick textured foam. Speaking about the seats, they have been redesigned, with rear headrests borrowed from its Peugeot 3008 cousin. But unlike the “Lion car” the Citroen’s rear seats are full individually adjustable units.
There is also versatility here, with the boot being able to swallow 580 litres, and with the rear seats rolled forward, you can accommodate 720 litres. In full-on cargo mode, the C5 Aircross can swallow up to 1630 litres.
As with the pre-facelift car, the dashboard has a fair mix of good quality soft-touch materials, which contrast with some cheaper plastics on the lower bits. Other familiar bits are the 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster, and its 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen. It also retains one of my not-so-favourite features, which is that same top-down reverse camera which stitches imagery as you back-up, providing you with a blurred simulated 360-degree view of your surroundings.
2023 Citroen C5 Aircross Feel Singapore – Rear seats
2023 Citroen C5 Aircross Feel Singapore – Boot
The only major change to the front, is Citroen doing away with the “banana” shaped gear shift lever, in-favour of an in-set gear rocker “switch”, which is also found in the Peugeot e-2008 and Opel Mokka-e. It is neater, but it takes time to get used to.
Overall, the Citroen C5 Aircross does a good job for those who want a car which prioritises comfort for the family, over performance. Safety features like Active Safety Brake, Collision Risk Alert and Lane Keep Assist, might be common now, but add to the car’s appeal.
PHOTOS Clifford Chow
Citroen C5 Aircross SUV 1.2 Feel
Engine 1,199cc, turbocharged inline 3 Power 129hp at 5500rpm Torque 230Nm at 1750rpm Gearbox 8-automatic 0-100km/h 10.3 seconds Top Speed 188km/h
Fuel Efficiency 4.9L/100km
Keyword: 2023 Citroen C5 Aircross Feel Review : A fresher-newer-same-thing