2023 Citroën C5 Aircross Sport: The Good and The Bad

Citroën has downsized its operations in Australia, as it reduced the range, ejected the DS brand, and merged with Peugeot. Despite all that, the brand’s sales are bijou to sat the least. 26 Aircross units have been sold in the first 6 months of 2023, with total Citroën at a miserable 116, around 33% less than the almost-as-miserable figure last year. Sister brand, Peugeot, has contributed a further 1186 sales, but that is still pretty grim. Why is that?

Citroën C5 Aircross Sport is less polarising than previous Citroëns, but it is nowhere near as sex-o-lishus as the divine Citroën C5 X. The latter harkens back to a halcyon era where French cars innovated the feck out of their design. The DS and CX models had heavenly hydro-pneumatic suspension that carried occupants on a cloud of rarified gallic air. Every event should have been accompanied by the strains of The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, but alas.

Citroën C5 Aircross Sport is the only C5 Aircross model, but the “sport” moniker falls a trifle short of delivering that expectation. Perhaps potential buyers would be better disposed if the lifestyle element was more prominently promoted, especially to gay buyers. Like Jaguar buyers, newcomers to the clan are rare, and the older ones are slowly sinking into the sunset. With them goes any hope of the brand’s salvation in Australia. There has been a string of importers over the decades, each failing to fan the embers of Francophilia into a comforting blaze.

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ABOVE: 2023 Citroën C5 Aircross Sport

There are several reasons for it, and they relate to perception of value for money, and the caché that comes with rarity and exclusivity. At almost $55,000, buyers expect either more space, more luxury, more capability, or more gadgets. One had hoped the marriage that formed Stellates might have yielded fruit by now. It hasn’t, but as a founding brand, Citroën will live on as long at Stellantis does.

Download BROCHURE here: citroen_C5_Aircross_Sport_Brochure_Spec_Sheet_0423

It isn’t that the C5 Aircross Sport isn’t a nice car, but “nice is often the bagger that spells the death knell to sales prospects.

The looks are little changed from the original car launched a few years ago. The headlights have been updated, with little else being touched. Nonetheless, the cabin has that certain indefinable premium feel, but falls at the last hurdle with scratchy plakky bits on the dash and doors.

The driver has an LCD screen and a larger centre screen than the old model. Wireless apple CarPlay is handy, yet moody, sometimes refusing to reconnect at startup. Drive modes add a little zip, and the gear toggle negates the need for a large selector clogging up the console. The look is clean and fresh, with lashings of flare and fun.

Unlike Peugeot, the C5 Aircross Sport has a cockpit more familiar to drivers. The steering wheel is nicely placed, and the new seats have extra support and cushioning covered in acres of sumptuous cow.

C5 Aircross Sport’s biggest asset is, that it isn’t German.

Our drive exposed one or two foibles. Although there is a little extra power, 133kw/250Nm is not enough to make the C5 Aircross Sport feel sporty. Although it gets off the mark quick-smart, it is in no danger of breaking a land speed record. Instead, the drive is a comfortable leisurely affair, something every Citroën must do, otherwise why spend the money?

Steering is incredibly light, and ride uses special dampers to create the je ne sais quoi essential for the full Citroën boom-shakala. C5 Aircross Sport’s 1.6L turbo puts down the power through an 8-speed EAT automatic, and is front wheel drive in true Citroën style.

There is a raft of driver and safety aids that are especially at home on the open road. The cruise is effortless, with active aids doing much of the hard work. Steering isn’t too intrusive at keeping the car centred in the lane. I can imagine storming down a big, fast European freeway with the loafer planted firmly on the floor.

In town, Citroën C5 Aircross Sport is well mannered, if a little too lady-like. The experience is calm and quiet, and the boot floor has a surface flush with the entry lip, yett can be lowered for extra space. under the floor is a space saver spare, HOORAH!

The gadgets are all easy to use, but the sound system could do with extra oomph.

The rear end has a torsion beam set up, and even with the fancy dampers, doesn’t have the much-needed poise should a bump be encountered mid-corner. It has the nasty habit of twitching sideways, and although is not in danger of turning turtle, is enough to cause code brown moments for the unsuspecting.

Conclusion:

We drove the Citroën C5 Aircross Sport shortly before the C5 X, and had that not been the case, the Aircross might have gotten a bigger nod. The C5 X is just delicious, and although the SUV of the family, the C5 Aircross Sport doesn’t look or feel as elegant.

Having said all that, there is a spot for the C5 Aircross Sport in the garage of someone who wants something classy that isn’t German. Buyers will be looking closely at everything in the price bracket, and if they do, will notice the Koreans have better value. Kia has a longer warranty too.

Who is the Citroën C5 Aircross Sport aimed at? Gay buyers love a badge that usually means Germany or the UK are under consideration. Citroën certainly doesn’t market at gay buyers, and seems disinterested in trying.

I fear for my beloved Citroën, and wonder how much longer it can limp on. It isn’t that C5 Aircross Sport isn’t a delight to drive, it’s just that in the crowded segment, others do it better, for fewer shekels.

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Citroën C5 Aircross Sport review, gay Citroën

PECIFICATIONS

ENGINE
1.6L Turbo Petrol PureTech Stop & Go system
Capacity: (cc) 1598cc
Cylinders: 4
Max power: 133kW @ 5500rpm
Max torque: 250Nm @ 1650rpm
Fuel system: High pressure direct injection

TRANSMISSION
8-speed Efficient Automatic Transmission (EAT8)

CITROËN PROGRESSIVE HYDRAULIC CUSHIONS SUSPENSION
Front: Pseudo MacPherson strut, integrated pressurised hydraulic shock absorbers with progressive dampening
Rear: Deformable crossmember, hydraulic pressurised shock absorbers with progressive dampening

WHEELS & TYRES
Wheel Size & Tyre: 19″ diameter, 205/55 R19
Space saving spare wheel

CONSUMPTION & EMISSIONS^^^
City cycle (L/100KM): 6.3
Highway cycle (L/100KM): 5.4
Combined cycle (L/100KM): 5.7
CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) emissions (G/KM) combined: 130

WEIGHTS (kg)
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): 1995
Tare weight: 1402

BRAKES Front/Rear
Ventilated front discs. Solid rear discs.

CAPACITIES (Litres)
Fuel tank: 53

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS (mm)
Length: 4500
Width: 1859 (excluding mirrors)
Height: 1695
Wheelbase: 2730

BOOT VOLUMES (L)
Boot volume seats up (2nd row seats most rearward): 580L
Boot volume seats down: 1,630L

Model	*Price (MLP)**	Standard Paint Colour	Metallic Paint Colours ($690)!	Premium Paint Colour ($1,050)!
Citroën C5 Aircross Sport	$54,990	Polar White	Perla Nera Black Platinum Grey Steel Grey Eclipse Blue	Pearlescent White

CITROËN ASSURED SERVICE PRICING^^

Model	20,000km/ 12 months	40,000km/ 24 months	60,000km/ 36 months	80,000km/ 48 months	100,000km/ 60 months	Total
Citroën C5 Aircross Sport	$415	$744	$415	$758	$429	$2760