Citroën ë-C5 Aircross review

Is the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross the perfect example of better late than never? We only ask that question because it shares so much with other electric SUVs from the Stellantis group, such as the Peugeot e-3008 and Vauxhall Grandland Electric, but it was launched after those hit the road. So, did the extra time fettling and fiddling make the ë-C5 Aircross the best of the lot?

What we do know is that the second-generation C5 Aircross is the first to feature a fully-electric option. You can also buy a C5 Aircross with a mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) engine, and we cover those in our separate Citroën C5 Aircross review.

Carry on reading this review if you want to know everything there is to know about the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross. Not just whether it's a better car than its in-house siblings, but whether it's better than the many electric SUVs from outside rivals, like the Kia EV6, MG S6, Skoda Enyaq and Smart #5.

What’s New?

- November 2025: Orders open for Long Range. You, Plus, Max trims available
- October 2025: First deliveries take place
- July 2025: Orders open for Standard Range. You, Plus, Max trims
- April 2025: e-C5 Aircross debuts in Standard Range (207bhp, 73kWh battery) and Long Range (227bhp, 97kWh battery) forms, gives up to 422 miles; both have 160kW on-board chargers

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The cheaper 207bhp Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Comfort Range sprints from 0-62mph in 8.9sec, which is around the same as the Kia EV6 Air and entry-level Vauxhall Grandland Electric.

On the road, the Comfort Range feels peppy around town and zippy enough for motorway cruising, but the MG S6 and least powerful Smart #5 are quicker. Both hit 0-62mph in around seven seconds, and you feel their extra urgency when you put your foot down.   

The ë-C5 Aircross Long Range has more power but, at 227bhp, it's a tiny uplift; the main reason to buy this version is it has a bigger battery and a much longer range (see below). Technically, it shaves a tenth off the claimed 0-62mph dash, but in reality it doesn't feel any quicker from behind the wheel. 

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

Like the petrol and hybrid versions of the Citroën C5 Aircross, the ë-C5 Aircross comes with soft and and supple suspension set up. The easiest way to describe it is being built for comfort not speed. 

It leans more through bends than the firmer Kia EV6 and MG S6 and doesn't offer as much outright grip, either. Those two are good options if you're after something more agile, but don't go thinking that the ë-C5 Aircross is poor to drive. Sure, it's softly sprung, but it's not wayward or bouncy on uneven roads. And, yes, the steering is light around town, but it builds enough weight and accuracy on faster roads, and the ë-C5 Aircross will go dutifully where to you direct it.

There's a big payback for it not being as stiff as a British upper lip: the ë-C5 Aircross feels comfortable on pretty much any surface. Not only does it deal with potholes and expansion joints really well, it wafts along at motorway speeds gracefully, too – other than some slight side-to-side rocking motion at times. That's not an unusual sensation in a tall, soft SUV, though, and it's a gentle motion.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

Like the closely-related Grandland Electric, the ë-C5 Aircross is a very quiet, relaxing car. You can't hear much noise from its electric motor when you put your foot down, and when you're sitting at 70mph on the motorway there's very little road and wind noise. 

The electric motor's power delivery is progressive but the ë-C5 Aircross's brake pedal is a little bit soft – we prefer the firmer brake pedal feel in the Kia EV6 and MG S6. The ë-C5 Aircross's brakes aren't grabby, though, and once you're used to the soft pedal it's no problem bringing the car to a halt smoothly. 

You can also slow down just by lifting off the accelerator and using the regenerative braking. There are three levels for the regenerative braking effect, and even in the strongest setting, the car doesn't feel jerky as you come off the accelerator. 

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

Opt for the entry-level Comfort Range and you get a 74kWh (usable capacity) battery, which officially gives you a range of 322 miles between charges – around 50 miles farther than both the Kia EV6 Air and Skoda Enyaq 60.

We tested Comfort Range version on a road trip to France (in chilly conditions, mostly using motorways) and it averaged around 2.9mi/kWh. That gave us an estimated range of 231 miles, which, considering the testing conditions, is about the least you can expect. We also had an MG S6 and Smart #5 Pro on that trip, and the S6's estimated range was 243 miles; the #5 Pro's was 216 miles. On a warmer day with fewer range-zapping motorway miles, the estimates for all three cars would likely have improved.

As you might expect, given its name, the ë-C5 Aircross Long Range increases the official range, and that's due to its bigger 97kWh (usable capacity) battery. The official range is 420 miles, which is really impressive and better than any of its equivalent rivals – even the pricier Tesla Model Y falls short.

Both the Comfort Range and Long Range can rapid charge at up to 160kW, but that's their peak rate. The bigger battery in the Long Range has a higher average charging rate, so, despite the difference in battery capacity, both versions will fast charge from 10-80% in around 35 minutes. Some rivals can charge at much faster rates – the equivalent long-range version of the Smart #5 (the Pro+) can rapid charge at up to 400kW, so a 10-80% charges takes as little as 18 minutes. 

If you're charging the ë-C5 Aircross at home with a 7kW home charger, the Long Range takes around 10.5hrs to go from 0-100%, while the Comfort Range will be ready in around 8hrs.

“If you want a comfortable family electric SUV, then I reckon the ë-C5 Aircross is one of the best there is for the price. And it cruises quietly, too, so it's a great car for long trips – especially the Long Range version that has an official range of more than 400 miles.” – Dan Jones, Senior reviewer

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

Citroën wanted the interior of the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross to look like your living room, apparently, taking inspiration from a sofa with a soundbar floating above it. Whether you can see that in the finished design is debatable, but it looks fresh and modern to our eyes. 

What we can tell you is that a lot of the interior materials are hard, unforgiving plastics, but Citroën has done a good job of using softer materials in key places to make the interior feel better than the sum of its parts. It certainly doesn't strike you as cheap-looking and, to be fair, it feels solidly put together throughout.

However, when it comes to a high-end, premium-feel inside, there are better electric SUVs for similar money. The Kia EV6 and Skoda Enyaq are two, but the electric SUV with the best interior quality at this end of the market is the Smart #5's – it feels genuinely plush. 

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

We’re pretty sure that most people will find the ë-C5 Aircross’s driving position comfortable. You sit fairly high above the road, and its pedals, steering wheel and seat are all perfectly aligned. 

You have a good amount of steering wheel and seat adjustment, too, letting you hone the position to your liking; it’s just a shame that the entry-level You! trim misses out on adjustable lumbar support. Both of the other trims get that, though, while top-spec Max adds an electrically-adjustable driver’s seat as well. 

The driver's seat doesn't offer a lot in the way of side support, but, as we've said, the ë-C5 Aircross isn't the sort of car you want to corner quickly in. And the seat has soft, memory-foam-like cushions that feel great to sit on for long journeys. 

The high dashboard means that shorter drivers might have an issue seeing the end of the bonnet, and the size and positioning of the front pillars do create some minor blind spots at junctions. Forward visibility is much better in a Smart #5. The view directly rearwards and over your shoulder in the ë-C5 Aircross is okay, though. 

If you're worried about visibility, all trim levels come with rear parking sensors and LED headlights, and Plus trim adds front parking sensors and a rear-view camera. Upgrading to the top-spec Max trim adds a 360-degree camera and adaptive LED 'Matrix' headlights, which can stay on main beam more often without dazzling other road users.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

Every ë-C5 Aircross comes with a 10.0in digital driver's display behind the steering wheel, which is clear and easy to see (plus a head-up display on the top-spec Max trim), and a 13in infotainment touchscreen. The touchscreen is in a portrait orientation and its positioning and angle makes it really easy to look at and reach from the driver's seat. And, unlike so many of its competitors, the ë-C5 Aircross has more than a smattering of physical buttons – not only on the steering wheel but also in a row along the bottom of the infotainment screen. They definitely aid the car's usability while you're driving. 

A lot is still controlled through the touchscreen, but that's okay because it works really well. For a start, the icons for the interior temperature controls are large and displayed permanently on the lower part of the screen. What's more, the menus are generally easy to understand, the software is responsive, and the quality of the screen and graphics are high. It makes the ë-C5 Aircross's infotainment system much easier to use than the Smart #5's system, which has fiddlier menus and some tiny icons, or the MG S6's, which has laggy software and a lower-resolution screen. 

All versions come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth that connects up to two phones simultaneously, natural voice recognition, 3D-navigation maps, over-the-air software updates, four USB-C sockets (two front and rear), wireless phone charging, and a digital radio/stereo with six speakers. 

“I like physical buttons because they're easier to use while driving than touchscreen icons. And the ë-C5 Aircross has one physical button that's really useful – it has the image of a car and, when held down, switches off the lane-assist, driver monitoring and speed sign recognition. I found that really handy because those systems can be over sensitive and annoying." – Dan Jones, Senior reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

Even if you’re broad and tall, you should have plenty of space in the front of the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross. There’s plenty of room for your odd and ends, too, with large door bins, generous cubbies, and a deep, lidded compartment underneath the front centre armrest – it's chilled, too, to keep your drinks cool on hot days. You get three cupholders in the front as well: the one in front of the armrest is quite small – more flat-white than grande latte – and the other two, which are bigger, are hidden underneath the floating centre console.  

Moving to the second row, the back seats don't slide but the backrests recline if you go for mid-spec Plus trim. Rear head room is ridiculously good, even with the panoramic sunroof fitted, and rear leg room is generous as well. If the front passenger slides their seat back, a six-footer can still sit behind them with leg room to spare. That said, there are even roomier cars if you really want to treat your rear passengers well: the MG S6 is one, and Smart #5 is another, and downright enormous.

You’ll be able to fit three adults in the rear of ë-C5 Aircross fairly comfortably. There's relatively good of shoulder room on offer and the middle seat isn’t raised, so the person sitting there also has lots of head room. Foot space is good, too, with only a very slight hump in the middle of the floor.

Storage in the rear includes door bins big enough for a bottle of water, two cup holders, rear map pockets, and a handy phone holder on the back of the front seats.

How much room does it have for luggage?

The ë-C5 Aircross's boot capacity is a useful 565 litres, but what does that mean in the real world? Well, to give you an idea we managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases in its boot, which is a good tally. It means it should be big enough if you're a family of four or five.

To add some wider context, the MG S6 also fits eight cases in total (seven in the rear boot and one in its 'frunk' under the bonnet), the Skoda Enyaq takes nine cases, and so does the Smart #5 – again, that's including one in the #5's 'frunk'. 

Speaking of 'frunks', you don’t get any under-bonnet storage with the ë-C5 Aircross. You do, however, get a height-adjustable boot floor, and even when it's in its lowest setting, there's extra space underneath for the charging cables. 

The rear seats also split and fold 40/20/40 as standard, which is really useful. It makes it possible to load long items into the boot without sacrificing the two outer rear seats. 

“I always find it a real missed opportunity when EVs miss out on a 'frunk', but at least the ë-C5 Aircross has space below its boot floor for the charging cables – so they aren't clogging up the main boot area.” – Dan Jones, Senior reviewer

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

Okay, this is where things get really interesting concerning the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross. It is exceptionally good value. This is a roomy, family electric SUV, remember, and a very good one at that, but it's way cheaper as a cash buy than its equivalents.

For example, if you include the Government EV grant, the cheapest version – the Comfort Range in You! trim – is several thousand pounds less than rivals from other 'affordable' brands, such as the MG S6 and Skoda Enyaq. In fact, even a ë-C5 Aircross Long Range in mid-spec Plus trim is basically the same price as the cheapest versions of those rivals. And, whatever the spec you choose, it will be miles cheaper than any Kia EV6 or Tesla Model Y. 

There's also an anomaly that makes it even better value: there's very little difference in cost between the Comfort Range and Long Range versions – even though the Long Range has a much bigger battery and one of the best ranges of any electric SUV. That's down to the quirks of the Government grant, but the upshot is it's a big win for buyers. 

It's great value in other ways as well. For instance, the resale values after three years are predicted to be stronger than they are for an MG S6's or Smart #5's, and that helps keep PCP finance payments competitive.  

And don't think it's cheap because it comes with hub caps and wind-up windows. We've already mentioned that the entry-level You! trim includes a 13.0in infotainment screen, sat nav, wireless phone charging, rear parking sensors and LED headlights, but that's not all: it also comes with adaptive cruise control, auto lights and wipers, 19in alloy wheels, and dual-zone climate control. 

So you could stick with You! trim and probably have all you need, but we recommend Plus trim because it's still relatively good value and adds reclining rear seats, front parking sensors, a rear-view camera, keyless entry, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, auto-dimmer rear-view mirror, ambient interior lighting, and driver's lumbar adjustment. That's a good bundle of extra goodies.

Even top-spec Max trim is worth considering, which adds 20in alloys, a heat pump, adaptive 'Matrix' headlights, 360-degree camera, electrically operated driver's seat, heated front seats, and a powered tailgate.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

We don’t have reliability data for the ë-C5 Aircross yet because it’s too new, but Citroën as a brand claimed 10th spot out of 30 manufacturers in the 2025 What Car? Reliability survey. That's a far better showing than rivals such as MG, which finished bottom, Renault, Skoda and VW. 

A three-year/60,000-mile full manufacturer's warranty is standard, and the battery is covered for up to eight-years/100,000-miles. You can also get other major components covered for up to eight years/ 100,000-miles if you have your ë-C5 Aircross serviced regularly by a Citroën-approved service centre – that scheme is called Citroën We Care. 

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The ë-C5 Aircross was awarded four stars out five overall by the safety experts at Euro NCAP. It dropped points mainly for lacking certain safety features, such as having no Isofix mount on the front passenger seat.

The actual crash protection offered to adults and children was really good – in some areas better than rivals that have a five-star overall NCAP rating. 

No matter which trim you go for, you get a good amount of standard safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), driver attention monitoring, lane departure warning and speed sign monitoring. 

Upgrading to Max trim adds even more equipment, including lane-position assist, blind spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert and semi-automatic lane changing assist. 

Every ë-C5 Aircross comes with an anti-theft alarm with perimetric and volumetric protection and tilt sensor. 

“For a roomy, family electric SUV, with an official range of over 400 miles and a decent amount of standard kit, the ë-C5 Aircross's list price – after the Government grant – looks outstandingly good value.” – Dan Jones, Senior reviewer

Buy it if...

-You fancy a really comfortable, relaxing, electric family SUV 

-You need a huge range for a reasonable price

-You want competitive pricing with plenty of standard kit

Don’t buy it if…

-You’re after a car with a really plush interior  

-Super-fast charging times are important to you  

-Fun handling or quick straight-line acceleration are top of your wish list 

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