The Citroën C5 Aircross is a
compact crossover SUV
Compact crossover SUV is an automobile classification used mainly in North America to describe a segment of crossover SUV, a type of sport utility vehicle, between subcompact crossover SUV and mid-size crossover SUV.
By the late 2010s, the segm ...
produced by the French automaker
Citroën
Citroën ()The double-dot diacritic over the 'e' is a diaeresis () indicating the two vowels are sounded separately, and not as a diphthong. is a French automobile brand. The "Automobiles Citroën" manufacturing company was founded on 4 June 19 ...
since 2017. The first generation model was previewed by the
Concept Citroën Aircross concept car which was unveiled at the
2015 Shanghai Auto Show. The production version was officially presented for the Chinese market at the
2017 Shanghai Auto Show.
The second generation model was released in April 2025, it is based on the
Stellantis
Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automaker formed in 2021 through the Mergers and acquisitions, merger of the Italian–American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group, PSA (Peugeot S.A.) Group. The company's hea ...
'
SLTA Medium platform, shared with a wider range of other Stellantis vehicles.
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First generation (C84; 2017)
In Europe, the model was presented at the
2018 Geneva Motor Show, and sales began later that year with the 2019 model.
In 2018 production of the C5 Aircross started as well in France at the
PSA plant in Rennes. The model takes advantage of the 100-million-euro investment share of
Groupe PSA
Peugeot S.A., trading as Groupe PSA () (formerly PSA Peugeot Citroën from 1991 to 2016) was a French multinational automotive manufacturing company which produced automobiles and motorcycles under the Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhal ...
. The C5 Aircross is also assembled in India as
CKD since January 2021.
File:2019 Citroen C5 Aircross Flair Plus BlueHDi 1.5.jpg, Rear view (pre-facelift)
File:Citroen C5 Aircross, Paris Motor Show 2018, IMG 0233.jpg, Interior (pre-facelift)
Features
On the technical side, the C5 Aircross is part of the
Citroën
Citroën ()The double-dot diacritic over the 'e' is a diaeresis () indicating the two vowels are sounded separately, and not as a diphthong. is a French automobile brand. The "Automobiles Citroën" manufacturing company was founded on 4 June 19 ...
"Advanced Comfort" program. Efforts have focused, in particular, on interior space and interior luminosity (notably through a large panoramic sliding roof) and on suspension comfort, via a new progressive hydraulic thrust system.
The C5 Aircross is equipped with optional 12.3-inch
TFT digital dashboard screen and an 8-inch capacitive
HD touchscreen
A touchscreen (or touch screen) is a type of electronic visual display, display that can detect touch input from a user. It consists of both an input device (a touch panel) and an output device (a visual display). The touch panel is typically l ...
. In terms of
driving aids, the C5 Aircross offers optional
automatic emergency braking,
blind spot monitor
The blind spot monitor or blind-spot monitoring is a vehicle-based sensor device that detects other vehicles located to the driver’s side and rear. Warnings can be visual, audible, vibrating, or tactile.
Blind spot monitors may do more th ...
ing or
adaptive cruise control
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is a type of advanced driver-assistance system for road vehicles that automatically adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead. As of 2019, it is also called by 20 unique names that ...
(with automatic stop). A
torque vectoring system marketed as the Grip Control and start assist are also available.
Lane-keeping assistance and
traffic sign recognition were optional.
The European version has a choice of two petrol engines: the 1.2-litre ''PureTech'' and the 1.6-litre ''PureTech'' , as well as two diesel versions: the 1.5-litre ''BlueHDi'' and the 2.0-litre ''BlueHDi'' . Depending on the version, these different engines can be coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, or an eight-speed ''EAT8'' automatic transmission.
The C5 Aircross is also the first Citroën vehicle equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Introduced in November 2019, the plug-in hybrid system combines a PureTech 180 petrol engine that develops with an electric motor, with a fully-electric range of around under WLTP testing standards.
Chinese market
Sales in China started in late 2017. The engine options in China are the standard modern
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...
1.6-litre (350THP) and 1.8-litre (380THP) engines that are used as well in the Chinese
Citroën C5
The Citroën C5 is a large family car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 2000 and 2018 in France, and between 2008 and 2022 in China, over two generations. It replaced the Citroën Xantia, in the large family car class, and i ...
and
C6 and the
Peugeot 4008 and
5008 and the
Peugeot 508
The Peugeot 508 is a mid-size/large family car produced by the French automaker Peugeot since 2010, and followed by the 508 SW, an estate version, in 2011. Since 2012, the 508 has been the flagship model by Peugeot, slotted above the 208 and ...
and some
DS models. All these models use the 6 speed third-generation Tiptronic automatic transmission. The European and Chinese cars are largely identical, apart from the engine and gearbox options. In the interior, the European version has three individual adjustable and foldable seats, while the Chinese model has a fixed folding 60:40 bench at the back.
File:2018 Dongfeng-Citroën C5 Aircross, front 8.9.18.jpg, alt=Front view, Front view (pre-facelift)
File:2018 Dongfeng-Citroën C5 Aircross, rear 8.9.18.jpg, alt=Rear view, Rear view (pre-facelift)
Facelift

The European C5 Aircross gets a facelift in January 2022, with a major redesign of the front end, minor redesign of the rear end and new interior features.
The Chinese version is facelifted in July 2022. With the similar exterior changes to the European model, it was renamed from
Dongfeng Citroën Tianyi C5 Aircross to Dongfeng Citroën Tianyi Beyond (or more rarely Dongfeng Citroën Tianyi Beyond C5 Aircross, as the name "C5 Aircross" is still present on the tailgate).
In India, the facelift model was launched in September 2022.
From 2023, CKD C5 Aircross are sent by Stellantis Chinese partner Dongfeng Motor Corporation to the former Stellantis Kaluga plant, in Russia. Stellantis being out of this country since the sanctions against Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, these operations are done without its endorsement. Stellantis states having lost control of its Russian entities. The company based in Russia that assembles these CKD kits using the Kaluga plant is named "Automotive Technologies".
Plug-in hybrid
In November 2022, the C5 Aircross received a plug-in hybrid version. Its petrol engine develops , less than the hybrid version that also has electric range.
File:Citroen C5 Aircross Plug-in-Hybrid, Paris Motor Show 2018, IMG 0193.jpg, alt=Front & side, C5 Aircross Hybrid Concept (front view)
File:Citroen C5 Aircross Plug-in-Hybrid, Paris Motor Show 2018, IMG 0207.jpg, alt=Rear & side, C5 Aircross Hybrid Concept (rear view)
File:2022 Citroën C5 Aircross Plug-in-Hybrid 1X7A6945.jpg, Front view (facelift)
Technical data
Europe
China
Concept model
The Citroën C5 Aircross was previewed by the
Concept Citroën Aircross shown at the 2015
Shanghai Motor Show, measuring in length and fitted with 22-inch wheels.
File:Festival automobile international 2017 - Citroën Aircross Concept - 004.jpg, Front view
File:Citroën Aircross Concept Back IAA 2015.jpg, Rear view
Safety
Second generation (CR3; 2025)
Concept model
The second-generation C5 Aircross concept was unveiled on 14 October 2024 at the
2024 Paris Motor Show
The 2024 Paris Motor Show (in French ''Mondial de l'automobile de Paris'' or ''Mondial de l'Auto'') took place between October 14 and 20, in the Porte de Versailles exhibition pavilion, the first day the show was open to the public on October 15, ...
.
Production model
The second-generation C5 Aircross was unveiled on 29 April 2025, with pre-orders opened in June 2025 and deliveries set to commenced in the final quarter of 2025. The second-generation model is the fifth vehicle to be based on the
Stellantis
Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automaker formed in 2021 through the Mergers and acquisitions, merger of the Italian–American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group, PSA (Peugeot S.A.) Group. The company's hea ...
'
SLTA Medium platform, shared with the
Jeep Compass
The Jeep Compass is a compact crossover SUV, introduced in 2006 for the 2007 model year. The first generation Compass and Patriot, its rebadged variant, were among Jeep's first crossover SUVs. The second-generation Compass debuted in Septem ...
,
Opel Grandland
The Opel Grandland (Vauxhall Grandland in the United Kingdom) is a compact crossover SUV produced by the German manufacturer Opel and its British twin-sister brand Vauxhall. It was originally known as the Opel and Vauxhall Grandland X, until the ...
and
Peugeot 3008
The Peugeot 3008 is a compact crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Peugeot. It was first presented to the public in Dubrovnik, Croatia in 2008, and then again in 2010 at the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris, by the French manufacturer ...
/
5008. Like the previous generation, the second-generation model continued to be produced at the
Rennes Plant in
Rennes
Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...
,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
.
Development
Sébastien Moraux, the C5 Aircross product manager, justified the choice for the C5 Aircross to use the SLTA Medium platform instead of an entry-level platform to meet the vehicle's ambitions, particularly in terms of electric range. This platform choice has enabled Citroën to offer a true C-segment crossover SUV while retaining its core values which is comfort. This is reflected with the integration of the Advanced Comfort suspension, seats with revised padding, and a carefully designed interior that contributed to a serene on-board experience.
''"We didn't want to undertake the sole development of a platform. So, we aligned with the platform of others because we needed to offer a vehicle with greater electric range, and this platform allowed us to achieve 500 to 680 km."''
The C5 Aircross line-up was simplified with three trim levels and a limited number of options, along with the availability of four powertrains. Price accessibility was also a priority, with its price positioning lower than that of the previous model.
Unlike the
Berlingo and
C3 Aircross, the second-generation C5 Aircross is not available with the seven-seat configuration. Moraux explained that integrating seven seats within the chosen length of the C5 Aircross would have compromised the comfort of the rear passengers, and the rear design with its rather "fastback" roofline after the second row seats would have required lengthening the vehicle, impacting aerodynamics. Citroën has therefore prioritised a compromise between interior space and size, considered its configuration to be the most relevant.
Design
The exterior of the production model largely identical to the
C5 Aircross Concept previewed at the
2024 Paris Motor Show
The 2024 Paris Motor Show (in French ''Mondial de l'automobile de Paris'' or ''Mondial de l'Auto'') took place between October 14 and 20, in the Porte de Versailles exhibition pavilion, the first day the show was open to the public on October 15, ...
and the design team, was led by Pierre Leclercq.
The front fascia features two horizontal strips and two cubes forms the LED
daytime running lights and surround the
matrix LED
A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the device itself and ''headlight'' is the term for t ...
headlights which are optional. The lighting setup contains 20 LEDs which automatically switch on and off to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic or the driver from road sign reflections. The front also features Citroën's new logo, moulded grooves on the front bumper mimics the grille's chevron pattern, and the front end is completely closed to optimise aerodynamic efficiency.
The second-generation C5 Aircross retains the two-box silhouette of the previous model, but with a focus on aerodynamics. The side features a character line traced in a single gesture, which runs from front to back. The roofline is sloped after the second row seats, a design aimed at optimising aerodynamics while preserving interior space. The ground clearance is and the first Citroën vehicle to be available with 20-inch alloy wheels. However, the flushed door handles featured on the concept car were not retained for the production car due to economic reasons.
The rear fascia features Citroën Light Wings, which consists of three red horizontal strakes and was featured on the concept car and the gloss black panel on the upright hatch, echoes the front fascia design.
''"I think the light signature will be a landmark of the car," Citroën CEO Thierry Koskas told Auto Express about the taillights. "It’s beautiful, it’s very original. We would never have shown the rear light n the 2024 conceptif it wasn’t on the production car, because it’s such a strong feature and we really wanted to have it."''
Interior
The interior of the C5 Aircross was designed to be a 'C-Zen Lounge' inside, where "occupants are seated as if in a
living room
In Western architecture, a living room, also called a lounge room (Australian English), lounge (British English), sitting room (British English), or drawing room, is a room for relaxing and socializing in a Dwelling, residential house or apa ...
". The dashboard has been designed with influence from traditional living room furniture, with distinctive foam fabric padding reminiscent of a
sofa
A couch, also known as a sofa, settee, chesterfield, or Davenport (sofa), davenport, is a cushioned piece of furniture that can seat multiple people. It is commonly found in the form of a bench (furniture), bench with Upholstery, upholstered ...
and available in light or dark colours.
The lower part of the dashboard is covered in a high quality foam fabric that extends to the door panels and seats. Some of the interior plastics in the door and centre console storage areas are made from using 20%
vine shoots "sourced from
organic vineyards in
Burgundy
Burgundy ( ; ; Burgundian: ''Bregogne'') is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. ...
and processed locally", therefore the C5 Aircross is the first car in the automotive industry to incorporate vine shoots into its design. Overall, there are of
recycled metal parts, of
plastics
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms. This adaptab ...
made from environmentally friendly materials, and the seat covers are made from
recycled fabrics instead of leather.
Inside, there is a 10-inch digital driver display, Advanced Comfort seats with new electrically adjustable side bolsters on the front seats fitted for the first time,
ambient lighting with eight different colours (a first for a Citroën vehicle), "Cascade Screen" HD
touchscreen
A touchscreen (or touch screen) is a type of electronic visual display, display that can detect touch input from a user. It consists of both an input device (a touch panel) and an output device (a visual display). The touch panel is typically l ...
infotainment system (the largest sized touchscreen fitted in a Stellantis vehicle) with wireless
Android Auto
Android Auto is a mobile app developed by Google to mirror features of a smartphone (or other Android device) on a car's dashboard information and entertainment head unit.
Once an Android device is paired with the car's head unit, the system ...
and
Apple CarPlay
CarPlay and CarPlay Ultra is an Apple Inc., Apple standard that enables a car radio or automotive head unit to be a display and controller for an iOS device. It is available on iPhone 5 and later models running iOS 7.1 or later.
More than 800 ...
connectivity, an extended
Head-Up Display
A head-up display, or heads-up display, also known as a HUD () or head-up guidance system (HGS), is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. The origin of the name stems from a ...
,
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI and released on November 30, 2022. It uses large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4o as well as other Multimodal learning, multimodal models to create human-like re ...
and "Hello Citroën"
voice recognition system, a
panoramic sunroof, and heated rear seats (a first for a Citroën vehicle). The C5 Aircross does not have AGR certification for the seating, unlike some Opel and Peugeot models, Moraux clarified that Citroën prioritised its own synthesis of comfort.
The maximum boot space is , there is a storage space under the adjustable boot floor, and also of additional storage spaces inside the cabin. Unlike the previous model, the second-generation C5 Aircross does not feature the three independent rear seats which slide and recline independently, instead it has a fixed
bench seat
A bench seat is a full width continuous pad forming the front seat of automobiles. The second row of seating in most sedans is usually a bench. The third row of most SUVs and minivans, which may be forward-facing or rear-facing, is also a benc ...
. Moraux explained this change as a result of an architectural constraint between the 20-inch wheels and the sliding rail mechanism, therefore this led to weight savings and a lower seating position while improving interior space. However, the rear seat backrests can recline between 21° and 33°, and the rear seats can still fold down separately in a 40/20/40 format.
Powertrains
Like the previous model, the C5 Aircross comes standard with the Advanced Comfort suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions with two progressive cushions placed on each front
shock absorber
A shock absorber or damper is a mechanical or hydraulics, hydraulic device designed to absorb and Damping ratio, damp shock (mechanics), shock impulses. It does this by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another form of energy (typic ...
, which absorbs imperfections on the road and provide a "magic carpet" driving feel.
The Hybrid model can fully automatically manage between the two motors, with the electric motor assisting the combustion engine at low speeds and both motors work together at a steady speed to optimise fuel consumption. When driving in town or manoeuvring, the Hybrid model can operated in 100% electric mode if the battery charge level allows, while the battery recharges automatically during deceleration.
The Hybrid Rechargeable model has both a combustion engine and electric motor which can operate together or separately, depending on the driving conditions and driver's needs. There are three driving modes: Hybrid (the default mode with automatic management of the powertrains), Electric (100% operational electric mode), and Sport (maximum performance mode).
The flexibility of the STLA Medium platform allows Citroën to offer a range of electric powertrains suitable to meet the diverse needs of European consumers. There are three driving modes: Normal (default mode), Eco (optimises electric range by reducing in-car vehicle functions), and Sport (maximum performance mode with 100% power and torque). The ë-C5 Aircross is equipped with an EV trip planner for the
connected navigation system,
heat pump
A heat pump is a device that uses electricity to transfer heat from a colder place to a warmer place. Specifically, the heat pump transfers thermal energy using a heat pump and refrigeration cycle, cooling the cool space and warming the warm s ...
, and a three-level
regenerative braking system that optimises the car's
kinetic energy
In physics, the kinetic energy of an object is the form of energy that it possesses due to its motion.
In classical mechanics, the kinetic energy of a non-rotating object of mass ''m'' traveling at a speed ''v'' is \fracmv^2.Resnick, Rober ...
to recharge the battery using the steering wheel
paddle shifters.
Safety
For safety, the C5 Aircross is available with the Drive Assist 2.0
driver-assistance package which also enables
Level 2 autonomous driving, it consists of features such as the driver surveillance camera, an extended blind spot detection, rear traffic alert and semi-automatic lane changing. Depending on the variant, the C5 Aircross is available with the VisioPark which consists of eight
parking sensors
Parking sensors are proximity sensors for road vehicles designed to alert the driver of obstacles while parking. These systems use either electromagnetic or ultrasonic sensors.
Ultrasonic systems
These systems feature ultrasonic proximity detect ...
and a
reversing camera with three viewing modes, it can also be upgraded to the VisioPark 360° package which combines four cameras for a
360° surround view of the vehicle.
Sales
Notes
References
External links
Official website(United Kingdom)
{{Citroën timeline 1980 to date
C5 Aircross
Compact sport utility vehicles
Crossover sport utility vehicles
Cars introduced in 2017
2020s cars