In a time where competition in the SUV industry is at an all-time high, Citroën has been able to step up to the plate and given competition a run for their money. Citroën’s reliability is no news to car enthusiasts, as the then president of France famously vowed to never use another brand since Citroën “saved his life from an assassination attempt” in 1962. Citroën has, with their C5 Aircross, produced a product speaking to the essential needs of a driver, with comfort being the leading quality.
Citroen launched the C5 Aircross in Gauteng, South Africa on 10 November 2022. Motoring journalists we shown an artistically designed vehicle with, coming in two forms: the C5 Aircross Feel and the C5 Aircross Shine. The front profile shows a meticulously designed chrome accompanied by daytime LED lighting.
The interior can comfortably be themed ‘Luxury’ with the attention to detail displayed in the design. Although one might however critique the placement and size of the hazard switch, the car design and features are both user friendly and accessible to divers of ranging experience.
The quality materials, spacing design accompanied by the astounding air suspension provides for an unmatched comfortable drive. On that note, one must commend Citroen as neither comfort or performance is sacrificed for the other. On the road, the 1.6l Turbocharged petrol engine produces 121Kw of power and 240Nm of torque.
This performance is evident in the three driving modes, Eco, Normal and Sport, although there is a noticeable lag in the zero to hundred in the Eco and Normal driving modes. Switching to the manual 6-speed gear shift, can eliminate the lag.
Overall the car shows to be a competitive bet in the market, when compared its counterparts. It comes at a reasonable price of R633 900 for the C5 Aircross Feel and R683 900 for the C5 Aircross Shine! This price buys you the full pack of all the high-end features, however, if one can spare R17 000, spending it on inserting a sunroof will enhance your overall experience.
A comprehensive Maintenance Plan is now standard on the C5 Aircross which covers all service and maintenance items. With the C5 Aircross you get a five-year/100 000km Maintenance Plan along with a five-year/100 000km Warranty and Roadside Assistance. The aim is to leave new “Citroëners” with nothing to do but enjoy the journey, because at the end of the day, nothing moves like Citroën.