I WAS recovering (again) from a recurring back injury when I was given Citroen’s flagship C5 Aircross SUV to review.
The timing was fortuitous as there can be no doubting that the French car maker has designed and built the C5 with comfort very much in mind. This view was reinforced by a couple of pals when I drove us the 25 miles to Troon in Ayrshire for a round of golf – to “test” my back.
Making use of the car’s versatility, we folded two of the three individual sliding/tilting rear seats so that we could easily load three sets of clubs, two trolleys and other gear through the hands-free tailgate into the boot space that ranges from 580 to a massive 1630 litres.
Then sinking into the soft, cosseting, part-leather/part-cloth “Advanced comfort seats”, Ian and Graham both commented approvingly about the relaxing, spacious cabin and panoramic sunroof.
They were also impressed by the build quality, with a sensible mix of soft-touch materials and more durable plastics where needed. And they thought the 12.3in customisable TFT instrument display was pretty cool as I used it to show me the sat nav, among other important information.
The ride was wonderfully smooth – thanks to Citroen’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions suspension that uses engineering wizardry to prevent sudden jolts.
The marque claim the way the set-up absorbs dips and bumps in the road results in a “magic carpet ride” effect and we found that to be the case – ideal for my dodgy back.
The test car, costing from £30,830, was in top-spec Flair Plus trim, with a 129hp 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to an eight-speed auto box.
This powertrain allows the car to reach 62mph in 11.8 seconds and go on to a top speed of 117mph, and smooth is probably the best way to describe the performance.
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Push the accelerator and progress is made in a refined manner, while the braking is undramatic and the steering pleasantly weighted.
As you would expect of a front-wheel-drive family SUV with a soft suspension, there was some wallow when cornering sharply. But adding to the mix are two push buttons – Eco and Sport – that alter the throttle and gear change response from the norm.
I found Eco suited more relaxed driving when cruising along wide-open roads, while Sport suited winding country lanes or busy traffic situations where greater acceleration was needed. Officially, this version of the C5 is good for 48.0-56.3mpg, with CO2 emissions of 106-108g/km.
The Flair Plus also has an impressive array of tech, including the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system for the car’s settings, music choices, smartphone connectivity, air con, intelligent sat nav and rear/top view camera.
There’s also the Citroen Connect Box for emergency and assistance system for help in an accident or after a breakdown, as well as wireless phone charging.
Other helpful features auto wipers and lights, fog lights with cornering function, parking sensors and adaptive cruise control with stop/start and lane position functions.
Safety systems include traffic sign recognition with speed limiter, blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning/assist and driver attention alert.
The C5 also has real road presence thanks to its quirky styling, including striking roof bars and Airbump panels, as well as smart 19in alloys. Meanwhile, slim front light clusters and brightwork contrast well with chunky, funky, LED tail lights.
Factfile:
- Model: Citroen C5 Aircross Flair Plus BlueHDi 130 auto
- Engine: 1.5-litre diesel
- Power: 129hp
- Top speed: 117mph
- 0-62mph: 11.8 seconds
- Average mpg: 48.0-56.3
- CO2 emissions: 106-108g/km
- Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles
- Price: £30,830
