Citroen C5 Aircross 2018 first drive

A multitude of colour options help give the cabin a light and airy feel, and the standard-fit digital instrument display is more configurable than most. We’ve no complaints with the adjustability of the driving position, either, with this 6ft 2in tester able to quickly get comfortable.

Closer examination reveals some familiar Citroën foibles, however. Trim quality at the usual touchpoints varies from surprisingly plush to somewhat below-par, particularly on the flimsy-feeling door cards, while the brand’s infotainment system remains irritatingly laggy and difficult to operate on the move. There are now menu shortcuts below the screen, but they are touch capacitive rather than physical buttons, and as such are a hindrance rather than a help.

The C5 Aircross fulfils its promise of best-in-class practicality, at least. Three individual, equal-width rear seats slide, recline and can be removed entirely, while the only black mark in terms of space is the significant rear headroom reduction with the panoramic sunroof fitted. With those seats slid all the way forward there’s a very generous 720-litre boot, and in the centre console there’s a huge chilled compartment.

The dynamic premise of the C5 Aircross is one we can get on board with. Many SUVs accept some compromise over their hatchback equivalents due to the extra bulk and higher centre of gravity. Often the solution is stiffening up the suspension to mitigate excess body movement, resulting in a less-than-cosseting ride on pockmarked British roads.

Citroën's unique (and patented) suspension concept adds a pair of secondary hydraulic dampers to each suspension coil, replacing the usual rubber bump stops. The larger the bump is, the more cushioning they offer, and they allow the fitment of softer springs and dampers.

In reality it’s not quite as transformative as it seemed on the first version we tried back in 2016. The initial softness is promising, and the system is adept at cushioning you from less demanding roads. But it doesn’t seem a great deal better than the class average at absorbing large impacts. Throw in a succession of potholes and the illusion of composure is lost, too; the body stays largely level but suspension movement is clearly felt (and heard).

It’s far from uncomfortable, but even on our relatively modest 18-inch wheels the hydraulic system doesn’t give the stand-out plushness of ride we were hoping for. Still, noise isolation is impressive, with wind, road and engine sound all deftly suppressed.

It’s a pity, because a super-smooth ride would make it easier to forgive the C5 Aircross’s laid back approach to handling. Nothing about this big, soft Citroën's dynamic make-up encourages you to corner with excess vigour or bounce off the rev limiter, making the Sport button seem superfluous. You have to hold it down for a good few seconds to activate it, almost as if the car is giving you a moment to think about the absurdity of what you’re doing.

The overly light steering retains the synthetic feel we criticised the Peugeot 3008 for but with none of the directness. Grip is reasonably strong, yet the pronounced body lean and lack of damping sophistication discourages you from exploring its limits. There’s also a fair amount of dive under braking. Even by the modest standards of the class, the C5 is not a car you’d relish taking the long way home in.

A relaxed driving style suits the powertrain we’ve got here. It’s the 178bhp 1.6-litre turbo unit doing service in several PSA Group models, mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s probably the powertrain of choice if refinement is key, as it delivers its power in a smooth and subdued manner.

It’s reasonably brisk as the stats suggest thanks to a punchy mid-range, but it’s held back by a gearbox that, when asked to promptly kick down, can hesitate over which of the many ratios it should select. All things considered, it’s a competent enough powertrain in a class not over-endowed with thrilling engine options.