Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Long Range MAX review

By Oliver Kensington 22 October 2026 at 20:33 8 min read

In this article

A Citroën C5 Aircross that feels at home on faster roads
Strong range, disappointing charging
A Citroën C5 Aircross with a basic electric set-up
Relatively nimble in town
Spacious and comfortable
An unmistakably distinctive Citroën C5 Aircross
Smart design, but reduced quality
A well-equipped Citroën C5 Aircross
Our verdict on the Citroën C5 Aircross
Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Long Range MAX

Plump-looking and endowed with a childlike stare, it has the appearance of an oversized toy. The new Citroën C5 Aircross has been redesigned from front to back and gains a new electric variant. We take this 680 km-range sofa for a drive.

Although it is not as tiny as its Peugeot cousin’s, the Citroën C5 Aircross steering wheel remains vastly easier to turn. Rest your little finger on one of the wheel spokes and off you go: a three-point turn is dispatched with remarkable ease. Since taking a wrong turn is not an everyday occurrence – at least, I hope it is not for you – the ultra-light steering is hardly a decisive advantage.

Its supple ride matters far more, and this is where the C5 Aircross delivers. Speed bumps, uneven road joins and manhole covers are dealt with effortlessly. While the hydraulic bump stops can still thump at low speed, overall ride comfort is of a very high standard. It is soft and, inevitably, not especially dynamic, as body movements are plentiful.

A Citroën C5 Aircross that feels at home on faster roads

Pair this with heavily assisted steering and the result is a combination that does little to communicate what is happening beneath the wheels. Take it easy, then, especially as performance is clearly nothing startling: our Long Range version should only just dip below 9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. That is sufficient in absolute terms, but rather lethargic alongside faster rivals.

There is no disguising the fact that the Citroën C5 Aircross would rather cover motorway miles in calm comfort. The standard semi-autonomous driving system on the top-spec MAX trim works faultlessly and also includes automatic lane changes. Sound insulation is equally impressive: it reduces turbulence to little more than faint streams of air, despite the lack of laminated glass. The route planner performs well and its predictions prove accurate.

Strong range, disappointing charging

Based on the Stellantis Group’s STLA Medium platform, the Citroën C5 Aircross uses the 97 kWh battery fitted to the Peugeot 3008. Produced by French specialist ACC, this substantial battery offers a 680 km WLTP range. This is promising, as motorway consumption of 23 kWh/100 km equates to 420 km of range.

The appeal quickly fades when it is time to replenish those lost kilowatt-hours. Although the 400V platform supports 160 kW DC rapid charging, reality is quite different. The battery pack behaved rather unpredictably, peaking at just 50 kW even with the state of charge at 40%. This is difficult to understand, given that we carefully preconditioned the battery before charging.

A Citroën C5 Aircross with a basic electric set-up

At another charging station with a similar battery level, the Citroën C5 Aircross this time hovered close to 105 kW consistently up to 60% charge. That is better, but still insufficient to reach the promised figures. Moreover, charging performance remained rather inconsistent throughout our test. It is a troubling issue which, we hope, was limited to our test vehicle.

Moving on to home charging, the SUV can accept up to 11 kW via a wallbox. We strongly recommend this option given the battery capacities available (73 or 97 kWh). Off-peak electricity subscribers will, however, have one small frustration: it is impossible to schedule a charging end time. Only the start time can be set, after which the car charges continuously to 80 or 100%.

Relatively nimble in town

The Citroën C5 Aircross has undeniably grown compared with the previous generation. Yet, at 4.65 m long and 1.90 m wide, it is still not especially imposing. This makes it reasonably easy to handle in urban areas. Its sharply defined 360° camera deserves praise, making obstacles easy to assess. The turning circle is another strong point, unlike visibility. The particularly long bonnet can hinder manoeuvres, while the windscreen is narrow.

Three-quarter rearward visibility is similarly restricted by an especially thick C-pillar. The brake pedal also feels spongy at the start of its travel, which does not inspire much confidence. This weakness can partly be offset with the steering-wheel paddles that adjust regenerative braking across three levels. The strongest setting is surprisingly powerful, but never provides a one-pedal function, which would be useful in town.

Spacious and comfortable

Fortunately, there are fewer compromises when it comes to life on board. The Citroën C5 Aircross offers generous room both front and rear. Replacing its individual seats with a fixed bench reduces versatility, but comfort seems marginally better: the rear seat cushions are exceptionally soft, while the reclining backrests are generously padded.

The central tunnel is low enough to accommodate a third passenger properly, although that person must make do with a firmer backrest than those at either end. Rear occupants have air vents, but no ventilation controls, unlike the 3008, which can be fitted with three-zone climate control. Boot capacity stands at 651 litres with the rear seats in place, or as much as 1,668 litres with the bench folded. Storage spaces are generous.

An unmistakably distinctive Citroën C5 Aircross

How could a Citroën avoid taking the unconventional route? The C5 Aircross follows the family tradition with a particularly distinctive design. First seen on the facelifted Berlingo, the C-shaped front lights here gain Matrix LED technology, a first for the double-chevron brand. Along the sides, substantial plastic cladding is joined by optional 20-inch wheels, a size never previously offered by the marque.

The rear is even bolder, featuring striking Y-shaped light clusters that extend into the C-pillar. The effect is eye-catching and inevitably draws attention. Small coloured inserts at the front and along the doors provide further personalisation. That is just as well, as the C5 Aircross colour palette is surprisingly muted for a brand as naturally original as Citroën.

Smart design, but reduced quality

The Citroën C5 Aircross completely reworks its cabin presentation, with a straight-edged dashboard and a 13-inch portrait-format touchscreen. The interface is fairly intuitive, and although the ventilation controls are touch-operated, they remain permanently within easy reach. In front of the driver sits a 10-inch instrument display, supplemented by a head-up display. The whole arrangement represents a major leap in modernity over the previous model.

However, the newcomer takes a step backwards in perceived quality. The upper dashboard is made entirely from hard materials, which also appear on the front and rear door panels. It feels a little basic, with only the plentiful recycled-fabric inserts attempting to compensate. Covered with glossy trim, the steering-wheel controls do not feel particularly premium. The piano-black finish on the centre console is also vulnerable to scratches.

A well-equipped Citroën C5 Aircross

The C5 Aircross keeps its prices low, starting at €34,300 as a mild hybrid and €39,490 in electric form. These are still substantial sums, of course, but they undercut the Peugeot 3008’s entry price. Nevertheless, the double-chevron SUV does not skimp on equipment, providing adaptive cruise control, keyless start, the 13-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control and 18-inch wheels as standard.

The mid-range PLUS trim, from €37,240, adds a reversing camera, keyless entry, tinted rear windows, navigation, ambient lighting and rear air vents. Finally, the range-topping MAX, available from €40,180, adds Matrix LED headlights, an electric tailgate, a 360° camera, a head-up display, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and a heated steering wheel.

Pricing is competitive given the equipment on offer. However, the range is currently incomplete, as the Long Range electric version we tested is not yet available to order. ACC batteries are being allocated first to the Peugeot e-3008 and DS N°8. Citroën will have to wait. For an indication, the Citroën C5 Aircross MAX with the standard battery costs €45,370. Given that the long-range Peugeot e-3008 requires nearly €6,000 more than the standard version, it is almost certain that the identically equipped C5 Aircross will not qualify for the ecological bonus in MAX trim.

Our verdict on the Citroën C5 Aircross

Comfortable, distinctive and spacious, the Citroën C5 Aircross also has the good sense to be priced below its cousins. Yet it still offers modern equipment and the long-range battery, which will soon join the catalogue. As an added benefit, it is built in France at the Stellantis Rennes-La Janais plant. Could it be the best-value proposition in the Stellantis Group?