Last Updated on 06/10/2025 by Team anadiorb

2026 Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Review – The French SUV That’s Determined to Redefine Comfort

The 2026 Citroën ë-C5 Aircross has landed with electric and hybrid power, Gallic style, and a fixation with comfort. Here’s a comprehensive review of its inside, driving, safety, abilities, and prices in Europe.

Comfort Has Always Been Citroën’s Signature

Certain car manufacturers pursue speed. Certain ones pursue luxury. Citroën? It has consistently pursued comfort. From the iconic Citroën DS of the 1950s that floated down roads on hydropneumatic suspension, to offbeat models like the C4 Cactus with its couch-like seats, the French motor company has never feared being different.

When the C5 Aircross landed in 2017, it seemed like a breath of fresh air. Here was a family SUV that didn’t need to be sporty, didn’t want to pummel you around corners — it just wanted to make every trip relaxing. Skip forward to now, and the 2026 Citroën ë-C5 Aircross is leading that charge into the era of electrification.

It’s bigger, more high-tech, and greener than ever. But does it stay true to the brand’s promise of being the comfiest SUV on European roads? Let’s dive in.

Inside the ë-C5 – A French Lounge on Wheels

Open the door, and you’ll notice Citroën hasn’t tried to mimic German minimalism or Scandinavian austerity. Instead, the cabin feels warm, inviting, and unapologetically French.

The Advanced Comfort seats are the stars of the show. Wide, soft, and padded with extra layers of foam, they make you wonder why other SUVs insist on pretending you’re in a race car. After a few minutes inside, you stop thinking about bolsters and lap times — you just sink in.

The build quality is a significant step up. Surfaces are more opulent, with soft-touch panels, stitched fabrics, and recycled trims that bring both eco credibility and visual interest. Even the plastics are less “hard utility” and more “modern chic.

Rear passengers, who are so easily overlooked in SUVs, receive ample legroom courtesy of an extended 2,784 mm wheelbase. The elevated seating feels light and airy, and the boot — a spacious 651 litres in hybrid variants — devours luggage as a weekend car should.

Technology wasn’t overlooked. The focal point is a sharp HD touchscreen that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with over-the-air updates to ensure it stays up-to-date. The digital driver’s instrument cluster is user-friendly, with ambient lighting casting a soothing glow in the cabin at night.

It feels more like hanging out in a smart living room that just so happens to move. And that’s precisely what Citroën is aiming for.

Performance – Tranquility, Not Bedlam

Let’s be blunt: the ë-C5 Aircross isn’t about thrilling petrolheads. For razor-sharp handling and exhaust pops, see elsewhere. But for a serene, effortless cruise down a French rural road, this SUV aced it.

Three powertrains make it adaptable:

Mild Hybrid: The starting point — a 1.2-litre turbo petrol and a 48V hybrid system. It’s adequate for urban commutes but not spirited driving.

Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV): This is where it gets interesting. With a petrol engine combined with an electric motor and a ~21 kWh battery, it has up to 100 km of electric-only range. That’s enough for most city drivers to forget how fuel stations smell.

Fully Electric ë-C5: The top model, coming in two flavours:

73 kWh battery with ~520 km WLTP range.

97 kWh battery with ~680 km WLTP range.

Power outputs range from 207 PS to 227 PS, plenty for assured overtaking without ever being aggressive.

The actual wizardry, however, is in the ride. Citroën’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension irons out bumps as if they are not there. Potholes, cobblestones, coarse motorways – all taken in stride with unnatural composure. Other SUVs stiffen up on poor roads; the ë-C5 simply continues to glide.

Safety – French Peace of Mind

Safety has turned into a battlefield for contemporary SUVs, and Citroën is no exception. The ë-C5 Aircross is packed with the usual set of driver-assist technology:

Adaptive Cruise Control (perfect for motorway drudgery)

Lane Keep Assist & Departure Warning (your silent wingman)

Blind Spot Monitoring

Automatic Emergency Braking

Traffic Sign Recognition

Various airbags and a rigid body structure

It’s less “sheesh tech for brochures” and more “understated aids” that really make driving less stressful on long trips.

Capabilities – An SUV for Different Lives

What distinguishes the ë-C5 Aircross is how easily it adjusts to various drivers.

For families: It’s a rolling lounge with room, safety, and ease.

For city professionals: The PHEV enables you to drive emissions-free during the week with petrol reserve for weekend getaways.

For long-distance travelers: The extended-range EV can cover 600+ km easily without white-knuckle “range anxiety.

For environmentally friendly consumers: From recycled interiors to Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) ability to power external units, it’s designed with sustainability in mind.

Pricing and Availability – Comfort at a Competitive Price

In a market where electric SUVs are on the rise in cost, Citroën has surprisingly gone down a more accessible path.

UK prices begin from £30,495 for the hybrid.

The fully electric ë-C5 begins at approximately £34,065.

First deliveries in late 2025, complete rollout in 2026.

Manufactured in Rennes, France, it wears its European design and engineering DNA on its sleeve.

Pros and Cons

What we liked:

Best-in-class comfort ride

Roomy, family-friendly cabin

Excellent EV range (up to 680 km WLTP)

Well-stocked with safety tech

Competitively priced European SUV

What could be improved:

Mild hybrid powertrain is underwhelming on highways

Handling isn’t sporty (but that’s the idea)

Charging infrastructure still differs in Europe

Last Word – The Gentle Giant

In a universe where SUVs are forever competing with one another based on horsepower, Nürburgring times, or edgy styling, the 2026 Citroën ë-C5 Aircross boldly goes in the opposite direction.

It’s not here to impress or intimidate your neighbors. It’s here to make every single drive feel softer, calmer, and easier. And in many respects, that makes it more revolutionary than any “performance SUV.”

If you desire an SUV that cradles you rather than catapults you, the ë-C5 Aircross is worth a very serious consideration. For commuters, families, and environmentally friendly drivers, it could well be the most practical-yet-fashionable option of 2026.