The updated Citroen C5 Aircross is still the same familiar urban SUV, but with a new face

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SINGAPORE

On the hunt for a new car that has to be an SUV, is reasonably big, is very efficient on fuel, and also a continental brand if possible? French brand Citroen has the answer for you in the form of its newly refreshed C5 Aircross.

After a couple of supply chain related delays worldwide, the facelifted C5 Aircross has arrived in Singapore as the first new car that CarBuyer Singapore is reviewing for 2023, and the big news is, it’s actually almost the same car as the last version of the C5 Aircross from 2022, but with new cosmetic bits and bobs for 2023.

That’s not a bad thing though, as the car has kept all the good qualities of the older model but wrapped it in a slightly more angular, less cheery bubbly sheet metal design. It’s most visible from the front end, with a more upride nose and slimmer front intake grille.

The engine is still the tried-and-true 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo engine from before, with a maximum power output of 129hp that just keeps the car in the lower priced Category A COE bracket. This same engine can also be found across a range of cars from the Stellantis Group, including the Peugeot 5008.

There’s a reasonably big change in the cabin though, with a mostly new dashboard that borrows some styling cues from the smaller Citroen C4 from 2022 as well. The gear selector lever has been binned in favour of a small selector switch, once again a component shared with current Stellantis Group models including the electric cars, Opel Mokka-e and Peugeot e-2008.

It’s a decently tidy and well-planned out cabin, with storage spaces for all you little items everywhere.

The seats are also of a new design, made with various combinations of foam densities that really do add a lot to the experience of riding around comfortably in the C5. It’s not on the same level of comfort as the legendary seats of a Lexus RX, but for this price bracket they really punch well above their weight. Plus, the rear bench has individually adjustable seats across the whole row.

Interior room is as you would expect for an urban SUV of this size and the roomy boot is great for hauling stuff around easily. 

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Citroens have never really had a reputation for building dynamic urban vehicles, and the C5 Aircross is much the same. The progressive suspension dampers fitted to the car do give the car a steady composure over imperfect road surfaces, and it was the same for the previous-gen car but on the whole, but the ride quality is comfortable and wafty rather than sharp and dynamic.

It’s not very quick either, and when fully loaded with five adults it’s best to plan your moves rather than try to dart into small gaps in traffic. You do get great efficiency with the small turbo engine however, with a realistic fuel economy of around 5.5l/100km totally achievable.

The medium family SUV space is a very popular segment in Singapore, but high COE prices have made it a space where buyers are always looking for more value for money. The Citroen C5 Aircross is roomy and comfortable, and the Peugeot 5008 is the car’s direct competitor. However the smaller, but larger engined Kia Niro Hybrid is arguably better specified and targets a similar audience. Yet, as a comfortable family car, the C5 Aircross does have a lot going for it too and at a slightly cheaper price of entry.

Citroen C5 Aircross

Drivetrain Type	Petrol engine
Engine	1,199cc, online 3, turbocharged
Power	129hp at 5500rpm
Torque	230Nm at 1750rpm
Gearbox	8-speed automatic
0-100km/h	10.3 seconds
Top Speed	188km/h
Fuel Efficiency	4.9L/100km
VES Band / modifier	A2 / – $15,000
Agent	Cycle & Carriage
Price	S$153,999 with COE and VES
Availability	Now
Verdict	The same comfortable family driving experience, wrapped in a new skin