All-New Citroën ë-C5 Aircross – A Redefined Electric SUV That Majors on Comfort.
All-New Citroën ë-C5 Aircross – A Redefined Electric SUV.
The all-new Citroën ë-C5 Aircross is clad in streamlined body styling because aerodynamics is the guiding principle behind its eye-catching design. It validates the brand’s new formal language, and boasts a confident presence underpinned by unprecedented proportions – a height of 1.66 metres and a length of 4.65 metres. The silhouette is based on widened tracks with pronounced shoulders, giving it a strong stance and an assertive attitude on the road.
Three-Point Light Signature.
At the front, the new three-point light signature, characteristic of the brand’s latest models, is based on slender segments that form a piercing gaze and reinforces the car’s expression of width. The rather fluid and muscular design language of the wings and bonnet contrasts with the technical aspects of the grille and headlamps. At the rear, the black strip on the tailgate has been raised to give the car a real presence and make it appear wider. While retaining the spirit of the 3-point light signature, two points of light are detached from the body side moulding and appear to float like two fins on the side of the vehicle to form what the brand call ‘Citroën Light Wings’. This design element helps to manage the complex aerodynamics in this area of the car by guiding the airflow across the bodywork.
Citroën’s C-Zen Lounge.
With the new ë-C5 Aircross, Citroën offers the most comfortable electrified C-segment family SUV on the market. The interior has been designed using the precepts of Citroën’s C-Zen Lounge architecture, which aims to offer a lounge atmosphere in a space of well-being for both passengers and the driver. Citroën’s ‘Sofa Design’ is a long and airy horizontal dashboard, designed like a piece of living room furniture. The lower part of the dashboard is covered in a high-quality foam fabric that extends to the door panels and seats, creating a unified and comfortable atmosphere. The new Citroën Advanced Comfort seats are a key element of well-being on board the ë-C5 Aircross and are standard on all models. With the culmination of Citroën’s research, and the experience gained on other Citroën models, the Citroën Advanced Comfort seats achieve an unparalleled level of comfort. Rear passengers also benefit from all the qualities of Citroën Advanced Comfort, including a bench seat and backrests fitted with high-quality foam. Another element to the exceptional comfort of the new ë-C5 Aircross is the Progressive Hydraulic Cushions suspension, also standard on all models, which absorbs imperfections in the road, giving the car a “magic carpet” feel. They ensure optimum contact between the wheels and the road surface, and define a perfect level of comfort for passengers, while making the vehicle fun to drive. Unlike the mechanical stop in a conventional shock absorber – which absorbs energy and reduces comfort by releasing some of it in the form of shock – the progressive hydraulic stop absorbs and dissipates this energy.
More Space Than Ever.
Thanks to its generous wheelbase of 2.78m, the ë-C5 Aircross offers interior space that sets a benchmark in the segment, and marks a clear improvement on its predecessor. This is particularly evident in the rear seats, with knee room 51mm longer and the 68mm headroom increase in row 2 compared to the previous generation. The backrests can be reclined between 21° and 33°, adding to the sensation of travelling in comfort class. The new Citroën C5 Aircross features the largest central HD touchscreen ever offered by Citroën. With its vertical design, it floats in front of the dashboard, then cascades down in a single movement to connect seamlessly with the centre console. The large customisable area displays 3D navigation, controls the infotainment system, and allows widgets to be programmed for direct access to certain functions, and positioned as desired on the screen, in a choice of sizes. This area offers several pages, allowing you to multiply the content and display up to 16 widgets per page, easily accessible by scrolling them across the screen with the tip of your finger. All models feature a 10″ digital instrument cluster, which is ideally positioned and highly customisable. The range of technology on board the new ë-C5 Aircross is complete with latest-generation Citroën driving and parking assistance systems. The new ë-C5 Aircross offers one of the best boot volumes in its segment, with 565-litres of space behind the rear seats, and up to 1668-litres available with the rear seats folded.
Three Trim Options.
The all-new ë-C5 Aircross is available in 3 trim levels: YOU, PLUS and MAX. Entry-level YOU trim comes with rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function, dual zone automatic air conditioning, 13” HD Waterfall Vertical Touchscreen with wireless mirroring, wireless smartphone charger, automatic ECO LED headlamps with High Beam Assist, 19” diamond-cut alloy wheels, Advanced Comfort Suspension, Urban Grey Ambience with Citroën Advanced Comfort Seats in Black & Grey fabric upholstery, along with many more standard features. Additional standard features in mid-spec PLUS trim includes front parking sensors, reversing camera with washer, keyless entry & start, rear air vents, auto-dimming interior rear view mirror, rear privacy glass, Metropolitan Blue Ambience with Citroën Advanced Comfort Seats in Blue fabric and leather-effect combination upholstery, driver seat lumbar support, 8-colour extended ambient lighting, and reclining rear passenger seats with armrest and double cup holders. Range-topping MAX versions also feature 360 vision parking assistance with front and rear cameras (with a camera washer), extended head-up display projected on the windscreen, matrix LED headlights, power tailgate with hands-free access, heated front seats, 8-way power adjustable driver seat with memory function, heated steering wheel, Hype Blue Ambiance with Citroën Advanced Comfort Seats in Blue Premium leather-effect and fabric combination upholstery, along with a Heat Pump, and gold colour clips on the front bumper and front doors. In the interest of sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint, the new ë-C5 Aircross introduces a lot of sustainable solutions, starting with the seat covers that are made from recycled fabrics. Overall, the car contains 47kg of plastic made from recycled or bio-sourced materials, 160kg of recycled metal parts and 20% recycled tyres. It is also the first car in the world to incorporate vine shoots into its design. Additionally, the vehicle contains no leather, and the use of chrome is very limited.
Two Battery Options.
The new ë-C5 Aircross is available with two 100% electric powertrains, a 210bhp motor combined with a 73kWh battery offering a WLTP range of up to 520km, and a 230bhp motor paired with a 97kWh battery offering a WLTP range of up to 680km. The driver can choose between three driving modes – Normal, Eco and Sport – to suit the road and weather conditions, or individual driving style. A three-stage regenerative braking system optimises the use of the car’s kinetic energy to recharge the battery. Using the paddles behind the steering wheel, the driver can select one of three levels of deceleration force. The new ë-C5 Aircross offers segment-leading charging performance. It is fitted as standard with an 11kW three-phase charger, or an optional 22kW three-phase bi-directional charger for ultra-fast charging. When connected to a 160kW fast charger, the ë-C5 Aircross can charge from 20% to 80% in as little as 27-30 minutes. The same charge via an AC wall-box charger will take around 4h 30m.
Test Car Details.
My test car was a new ë-C5 Aircross Max, which was finished in elegant Astoria Green metallic paintwork (a €735 cost option) and standard-fit 19” diamond-cut “Moondust” alloy wheels. Signature dual-level LED lighting gives the front a distinctive and instantly recognisable face, updated for the electric era. Body side lower door mouldings provide protection with a design flourish that sets the vehicle apart from the crowd, while aerodynamic refinements across the body help maximise electric range without sacrificing the SUVs commanding road presence. There is excellent headroom both front and rear, and rear seat occupants also benefit from plentiful leg and knee room behind the front seats. Wide opening rear doors make it particularly easy to get in and out, and this is a feature that parents of small children will love. The new ë-C5 Aircross offers optimum performance thanks to the front-mounted electric motor which delivers 210bhp and an impressive 343Nm of instant torque. This enables a 0-100km/h sprint to be completed in just 8.9-seconds, on the way to a top speed of 170km/h (where permitted). With three levels of braking regeneration to choose from, the driver can easily find the level that suits their driving style the best. The strongest setting stops short of full one-pedal driving, but it does instil confidence when selected. As you would expect from Citroën, the ë-C5 Aircross is an easy-going car to drive, and the level of comfort on-board is exceptional. The car is intuitive in its operation, and relaxing on the go, and drivers can choose the Sport drive mode in order to benefit from a spirited driving experience. However, in order to maximise efficiency, many drivers will be happy to select Eco mode to experience a more fluid sense of pace. Either way, the new ë-C5 Aircross is a beautiful car to drive in every respect, and it can transport up to 5 occupants in supreme comfort and luxury. It is a handsome car to look at, and the upmarket cabin definitely raises the bar in terms of material choice, build quality and overall durability. I absolutely loved driving the ë-C5 Aircross for my week-long road test. It really is that good.
Verdict, Pricing & Warranty.
The new Citroën ë-C5 Aircross is a highly commendable 5-seat family-focused SUV that combines practicality, versatility, supreme comfort and an effortless driving experience, with a distinctive style that stands out from the crowd. Pricing starts at €39,939 for the ‘YOU’ trim, and from €42,492 in ‘PLUS’ trim, with my ‘MAX’ test-car specification priced from €47,190. Additionally, PLUS and MAX versions are available with the larger battery, and are priced from €50,380 and €54,140 respectively. All prices quoted are inclusive of current EV incentives, which consists of an SEAI Grant of €3,500 and VRT Relief for private buyers. Dealer delivery and related charges are not included. All Citroën passenger cars come with a 5-year manufacturers’ unlimited mileage warranty as standard, along with a 3-year roadside assistance package.
Visit www.citroen.ie for further information.
