My father was a man of few words, but when he did speak, it was either frank and to the point or vaguely amusing. For example, I asked him what he’d like for his 70th birthday, to which he replied: “I’d like a minute’s silence.”

When it came to cars, he was a man of equally simple tastes.

Performance? Nope, not interested.

Handling? What’s that?

Brand loyalty? Not a chance.

Colour? He’d take whatever was available.

Ask him what he really wanted from a car, and he’d say something along the lines of, ”On a snowy February morning, does it start…and…is it comfortable?”

Citroën provides comfort in 2026

Thankfully, in 2026, I think every modern car will start on a chilly morning, but not all of them are comfortable. But here’s a simple tip. If comfort is a priority when it comes to buying a car, head to your local Citroën dealer. No matter which model you go for, you’re getting a cushy number.

However, go for the new Citroën C5 Aircross, and you also end up with a car that’s shaping up as terrific family transport.

And I think it looks smart. Citroën has always come up with something that looks a bit different (remember the 2CV and, more recently, the Ami?) and the C5 Aircross certainly does that. It’s also roomy, well equipped and, oh, did I mention that it’s supremely comfortable?

Powertrain, Performance & Range

So, what’s available in terms of power?

You can go full electric with the e-C5 Aircross, or if you prefer some conventional power, there’s a mild hybrid which has a 133bhp 1.2 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor for a total of 143bhp, which Citroën says can give you up to 590 miles in terms of range. A 0-60mph sprint takes 11.2 seconds. Citroën also reckons that the electric motor will allow you to cover around 50 per cent of miles travelled at town speeds. This was the model I had and, to be fair to Citroën, it was fairly easy to trundle around in silence using the battery. It also helps you launch from traffic lights. With a bit more practice, I reckon that the 50 per cent figure is probably achievable if you live in an urban area. As for the overall consumption, Citroën reckons you can manage up to 53 mpg. Everything goes via a 6-speed DCT gearbox.

If you prefer some additional oomph, go for the PHEV plug-in model, which combines a 4-cylinder 1.6 litre engine with an electric motor that gives a combined output of 221bhp. The additional performance (0-60mph now comes up in 8.2 seconds) means the range takes a hit, getting reduced to 528 miles. Make full use of the hybrid system and you’ll be able to travel for around 50 miles using battery power alone. A full charge using a typical wallbox takes around three hours. A 7-speed ‘box now comes as standard.

The e-C5 Aircross has two battery sizes available, offering 320 miles or 421 miles. Performance is much the same as the PHEV version.

Price & Trims

What about prices? There are three trims — You!, Plus and Max. Paying £31,030 (Sept ‘26) gets you into the 145hp hybrid model in You! trim, while £32,585 gets you into the less powerful electric version (including the current grant discounts). If you want the PHEV model, you‘ll need to go to top of the top-of-the-range Max trim and shell out £38,680.

Driving Experience

Out on the road, although the power and 0-60 figures don’t look like anything special, the C5 Aircross hybrid still feels reasonably sprightly and, bearing in mind most buyers of this sort of car won’t be too fussed about hurtling down a country lane, performance is adequate.

It’s not a terrific driver’s car because of the soft suspension. If you pull out of a sharp junction with plenty of power, you’ll spin the outer front wheel…but the payoff is that this is one of the most comfortable and supple rides you could wish for. It’s also extremely quiet too. Okay, as with most DCT gearboxes, you get a bit of engine noise as the revs hit the stratosphere under acceleration but as the speed builds, everything soon settles.

If you want a C5 Aircross which does tick the driver box, go for the PHEV. It’s a heavier car and has firmer spring settings and therefore provides better handling and doesn’t roll quite as much. The ride isn’t as good though. Swings and roundabouts!

Interior & Which Trim to Choose

The C5 Aircross interior is seriously smart. It’s a pity about the plethora of shiny black trim, which tends to show every finger mark.

And yes, the seats are ultra comfy, so no surprises there. The 565-litre boot is also excellent and bigger than most rivals.

If I had to choose one, I reckon the hybrid model in entry-level You! trim provides decent value. You get a lot of car for your money. It’s nicely equipped. The driver gets a 10-inch digital readout panel while the main infotainment screen is a laptop-sized 13-inch. Citroën calls it a Waterfall Screen because, they say, it ‘floats in front of the dashboard, then cascades down to connect with the centre console.’ It looks smart and works really well and provides sat nav, DAB radio, climate, Smartphone connectivity, and voice recognition.

There are also rear parking sensors, LED headlights, dual-zone air con, and wireless charging. The essentials.

Plus trim requires a further £2,500 and, as mentioned earlier, Max trim gets into the £36k+ region, but I’d stick with You!

Concluding Thoughts

Overall, the Citroen C5 is well priced if you stick with the hybrid and entry level You! trim. It’ll cope with 5 adults and all of their baggage which means it’ll be ideal family transport. Add in sensible running costs, a predicted 50 per cent of town driving using battery only, it’s easy to see why the Citroen C5 Aircross is becoming a family favourite.

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Citroen

Citroen C5 Aircross Review | Comfort Comes As Standard