It has returned with a host of new products, chief amongst which being the C5 Aircross, a funky-looking crossover that left me rather impressed after the flagship Shine model made its way to the Autodealer office for a week-long stay.
Attention seeker
When I first saw the C5 Aircross I was immediately intrigued by its unique styling. It looks modern, sporty and muscular. Modern because it features slim LED headlights just below the bonnet line and a sculptured side profile with a floating roof-line. It looks sporty thanks to large alloy wheels and a rear tailgate spoiler. The muscular look comes in thanks to its bold proportions, Airbump inspired lower door, wheel arch protectors and roof bars. I like the look because it is different from what’s out in the segment at the moment. The Koreans are trying to look like the Germans and the Germans are trying to be funky. The French nailed it in my opinion.
Interior
It gets better when you step inside. The interior trim is a sort of denim-like material which can be found on the dashboard, door panels and armrest. It is contrasted with leather elements on the seats. The facia design highlights horizontal shapes with items such as the air-vents being placed horizontally. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system takes centre stage and it is Apple CarPlay compatible. It also features a large storage area at the front of the central console, equipped for wireless smartphone charging. The interior is spacious and surprisingly practical with three individual sliding, folding and reclining rear seats and a best-in-class boot capacity of 520-litres which can be increased to 720-litres by sliding the seats forward. A total increase of 1 630-litres can be achieved by folding the rear seats down.
Engine
Powering the C5 Aircross is a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that develops 121 kW/ 240 N.m coupled to Citroen’s EAT6 automatic gearbox. The engine performs admirably and fuel consumption is not bad either with Citroen claiming an average of 7.9L/100km. One of the biggest highlights for me, however, was the ride quality. It is truly remarkable. The reason for this is down to the fact that the car features the brand’s new suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions. It glides over bumps and undulations with ease.
Verdict
Overall the C5 Aircross left me impressed in just about all aspects of its offering. The biggest concern is the support network of dealerships and the fact that it will most likely lose more of its R514 900 value over the years when compared to competitors from Volkswagen for example. However, if you do dare to be different then I can strongly recommend putting the C5 Aircross high on
