Citroën C5 Aircross: Driving is changing and in the fast-moving world of automotive design at Citroën we have always pushed design to combine unique style with incredible comfort.
Their newest flagship SUV – the 2025 Citroën C5 Aircross – is perhaps the most spectacular jump so far: adopting electrification and going all in on the comfort-first mantra that has always attracted devoted fans across the globe.
Evolving an Iconic SUV — with an Electric Twist
The C5 Aircross has been leaving its comfort zones in the hyper-competitive SUV market as a comfy and practical alternative to more popular rivals for more than five years now.
Five years later, in 2025, Citroën has launched a thoroughly updated new version of that car that retains the original’s takes its idiosyncratic charm and adapts it for an all-electric future.
The new C5 Aircross looks noticeably beefier than its predecessor, thanks to slimmer LED lights, a beefier front bumper and a heavily sculpted bonnet that Citroen says has been designed to make the air move smoother around the car.
This isn’t just cosmetic, though- the aerodynamic advancements are key to eking the most out of the electric range on a rapidly expanding lineup of green-minded drivers’ list of automotive priorities.
But what is truly different about the 2025 C5 Aircross is that it will also exist as the very first Citroën available in a 100% electric variation in line with Europe’s commitment to the energy revolution.
It will see Citroën launch an all electric version in each of its ranges by 2025 (not including the C5 X), and marks a major milestone for Stellantis as it continues to make Citroën a leader in affordable electric mobility.
Powertrain Options: A Powertrain for Every Driver
Realising that the transition to electric vehicles is still in progress, Citroën has made a smart move by providing the new C5 Aircross with various powertrains options.
This driver-centric view allows motorists to have the best flexibility towards choosing an option that is in line with his or her lifestyle, driving needs, and environmental concerns.
For me, the e-C5 Aircross is being offered in two really interesting flavors. The former as a 213hp motor at the front with a 73kWh battery to achieve a fitting WLTP range of 520km (about 323 miles).
And for those who need more distance, a version with a 233hp front electric motor and bigger 97kWh battery for a mammoth 680km (around 422 miles) of range.
With these figures, the electric C5 Aircross competes with the likes of the Volkswagen ID. 4, plus up-and-coming rivals from Stellantis’s own ranks such as the Peugeot E-3008.
For those drivers who are not quite ready to make the complete electric leap the 2025 C5 Aircross is also available as two hybrid options – a plug-in hybrid and a mild hybrid.
The mild hybrid comprises a 1.2L 3-cylinder petrol engine and a diminutive 0.93 kWh battery. The stronger plug-in hybrid uses a 1.6L 4-cylinder petrol engine combined to a large 21 kWh battery for a total system power of 193 bhp and an electric range in pure mode of 85 km charged in one time.
This plug-in choice is a real sweet spot for drivers who want to cut emissions without having to worry about charging facilities on longer trips.
The Cozy on a Small Scale: The Living Room on Wheels
Citroën hasn’t established a reputation for class-leading ride comfort over the course of its existence for no reason, and it’s fair to say that the new C5 Aircross signals an adventurous take on that theme, adopting what it has confusingly termed the ‘C-Zen Lounge’ approach.
In terms of interior design, they’ve used some lessons from the living room, a dashboard dominated by a huge portrait-oriented touchscreen. Inside it’s a mix of tech and comfort too with physical controls for some functions, subtle air-vents and a digital instrument cluster — with an available head-up display.
The character of seating continues to take pride of place in Citroën’s approach to comfort. The ‘Advanced Comfort” front seats feature thick lower padding in the back rest and an upper part that “wraps around passengers’ shoulders like a shawl”.
Even the side bolsters are now electrically adjustable. These seats are the result of years of ergonomics research, focused on minimising fatigue during long trips by spreading pressure more evenly.
Speakers are aimed to please rear passengers, too. That new C5 Aircross offers 51mm extra space between the rear passengers’ knees and the front seats, and 68mm in terms of above-the-shoulders headroom.
In addition, there’s even more backrest adjustability — it can recline from 21 to 33 degrees. That should address one of the only weak points of the old model, which underwhelmed with rear seat room.
Technology That Enriches Rather Than Distracts
Contemporary cars can be bewildering for drivers with all the connected technology they contain, but the new C5 Aircross from Citroën, has put more thought into this lack of focus.
Of course the center of attention is the large infotainment system touchscreen presented in its nosy landscape orientation, which takes care of navigation, entertainment and vehicle settings.
Yet Citroën still offers proper dials for the climate functions – so that we don’t have to start jabbing at things when all we want to do is make it colder.
The C5 Aircross’s infotainment system includes ChatGPT AI integration, so presumably your car will be able to answer deep questions about life even as you drive.
There’s also a big panoramic glass roof that floods the cabin with light, and four USB-C charging points to keep everyone’s devices powered up. This smart use of technology boosts the driving experience without being intrusive.
Electric model owners benefit from an infotainment system that integrates full charging management. Drivers are able to check the battery status, program the charging for off-peak hours and search for suitable charging stations on their route.
A 20-80% recharge can take as little as 30 minutes using a public rapid chargepoint with the ability to recharge the e-C5 Aircross at its peak rate of 160kW.
Driving: The floating carpet feeling
Whereas most electric cars are focused on performance figures such as 0-60 times, Citroën have kept their eyes on good old ride comfort.
The new C5 Aircross is an evolution of the firm’s ingenious Progressive Hydraulic Cushions suspension system, which uses hydraulic stops in the front and rear suspension to improve the way road imperfections are soaked up.
This results in a widely-vaunted ‘flying carpet’ effect, in which the car appears to skim along the road rather than passing on surface irregularities to the occupants.
In fact the weight of the battery pack in the electric version works in favour of this suspension set-up, as a lower centre of gravity actually makes it more stable without affecting its plush ride.
The electric powertrain has a few more advantages than just being a low-emissions solution. And it feels like nothing else – there’s no delay in power delivery, everything is immediate, instantaneous and silky smooth, all with a chassis that is tuned as such in an attempt to make those cylinder banks the perfect complement – in both power delivery, and refinement.
With its smooth and silent electric operation, the cabin is a very tranquil place to spend time, especially around town where there is little of the vibration and noise inherent in a combustion engine.
Practical Implications for the Electric Age
In the new C5 Aircross, Citroën has prioritised practicalities of electric ownership. The new C5 Aircross is 4,652 mm long, with a wheelbase of 2,784 mm.
Length is up by 150 mm and wheelbase by 60 mm over its predecessor. These added dimensions also result in a roomy cabin with ample storage that hasn’t been compromised by stowing away a battery pack.
On the electric versions, the battery pack is housed in the floor structure and does not change the interior space available in the vehicle for occupants and boot space in comparison to hybrid versions.
“Maintaining the practicality and versatility of an SUV, this sustainable concept.Seamlessly enables you to achieve the perfect balance with its strikingly sleek design.
Market Position & Value Proposition
Like the models that came before it, Citroën is pitching the new C5 Aircross as a value-led alternative in its segment. We anticipate Citroen to launch the C5 Aircross EV in H2 2025.
In the UK the FWD should cost from about £50,000, I would think. This is competitive pricing for a vehicle with this sort of electric range and features.
The hybrid versions will of course come at a more competitive entry-point, expect to pay somewhere in the region of £33,000 for the base model mild hybrid – which is still cheaper than what you’ll have to fork over for the C5’s distant relatives.
This value tiering approach will enable Citroën to both continue its well established tradition of making innovative technology affordable, and to bring the benefits of the latest electric power units and technology to a wider audience of customers.
The future is now!
The 2025 Citroën C5 Aircross is an important step, not only for the French manufacturer but also for the successful mass-market transition to electric mobility.
In blending great electric range with the comfort-first approach the brand is becoming known for, Citroën has not only constructed a compelling package, but one that plays to both the heart and head of vehicle buyers.
Launching initially into Europe in the second half of 2025, the new C5 Aircross will be a barometer for how long-established automotive brands can replicate the success of their most popular models in transitioning from internal-combustion power to electric drivetrains without sacrificing their distinct character.
For Citroën, the ideal interpretation has always been ticked off with an exquisite comfort, and innovative design and pricing – values that are preserved in tact with this new generation.
At the same time, the 2025 C5 Aircross is not simply another electric SUV; rather, it represents a forward statement in which the brand traditions respectful future designs against the new technological changes. In an automotively homogeneous world, that’s something to celebrate.