Ease and comfort foodstuff on 4 wheels

Wine and cheese, souffle and salad, croissant and butter – there is one thing about French food stuff that brings about a passionate flavour to the flavor buds – something classy still comforting. Substantially of the exact same delectable aura is what the Citroen C5 Aircross also brings about to the passenger vehicle segment in India. It is sporty but not audaciously so. It is roomy but not ungainly and on the move, it guarantees to be a serene cruise down river Seine even if the real journey is on the infamously cracked Indian highway circumstances.

(Also go through – Citroen C5 Aircross vs Hyundai Tucson: Proportions and engine specs as opposed)

Yes, in this article is an SUV that seeks to go over and above the machismo normally associated with SUVs and as an alternative, props up the consolation element on give. Citroen is completely ready for its India debut and very little brief of its flagship product – the C5 Aircross – would have sufficed to showcase what it programs to convey to the country.

We took the C5 Aircross across city landscapes of Gurugram and onward to the Haryana hinterlands to exam its French finesse and see if it can some of the a number of varying vile of Indian street problems.

https://www.youtube.com/check out?v=SUFj3sMkjOc

Chapter 1: Dive to Push

The most important claim to fame of the Citroen C5 Aircross SUV is the amount of comfort and refinement it has to present when on the shift. So, it is only clear that this critique focuses very first on this particular component which seeks to established this SUV aside from the other very well-entrenched rivals in this article.

If Newton at any time drove a C5 Aircross, he would have re-believed his third legislation of motion. Just about every motion may possibly not have an equivalent and reverse reaction, not in this SUV anyway. The Citroen C5 Aircross certainly glides around road cavaties with commanding prowess – the suspensions performing additional time and all the time to absorb almost all of the shock from the ground.

Citroen would like us to tell you about its Progressive Hydraulic Cushions. We will not for the reason that it might be way too technological. But what this fundamentally does is set two hydraulic stops in the suspension – one particular for compression and the other for rebound for a established up that dissipates the returning shock right before it can attain you in the cabin. So even though Mr Newton’s 3rd law still holds real – there is an reverse response when the C5 Aircross moves about bumps, hardly any of it reaches passengers inside. Citroen phone calls it ‘flying carpet’ influence and it is apparent why.

Below the hood is a 2.-litre diesel engine which produces 174 bhp and has 400 Nm of torque on provide. It is a capable unit that would be certain thrill-seekers will have a great deal to search ahead to even as the 8-velocity computerized gearbox keeps ticking at specific times to lower off any risk of that notorious ‘rubber-band outcome.’

So significantly, so great. But on the flipside, we would have also definitely appreciated to see the petrol engine readily available on the C5 Aircross in western marketplaces. The corporation states the premium SUV phase has an overbearing preference for diesel motors but we really feel there is a tangible shift in this regard.

And while the diesel motor provides the C5 Aircross fantastic travel dynamics, a perception of experienced character although staying spirited at the same time, this won’t hold real for the steering wheel which is exceptionally light-weight and lacking in feedback. At triple-digit speeds, we would have desired a entire whole lot of reassurance from the wheel with extra doses of comments but there is none of that.

There is also obvious concentrations of human body roll when the C5 Aircross requires sharp turns at rather superior speeds which usually takes some of the sheen away from an in any other case beautifully at ease drive and journey experience. The road grip from the tyres on sharp turns could be a minor much less for the enthusiasts even if it really should suffice for daily commutes. Oh, and just in circumstance you had been asking yourself – there is no 4X4 selection. Rather, the substantial floor clearance aids tame ungainly speedbreakers but will not count for a lot on challenging terrains that are most effective still left for other SUVs.

Force the C5 Aircross on easy city roadways or even on rough and damaged tarmac, and the SUV will reward you with a travel knowledge uncovered generally in luxury segments. NVH stages are managed splendidly with additional cladding on the doors, insulation on the home windows and while the diesel engine grunts typically, rarely any of it seeps inside the cabin.

Chapter 2: Cabin Convenience

Masking the road sounds and vibration is a important section of providing a car that is comfy for all on the within. But it is a single element, the other is how very good the seats are, the area on provide and all the benefit options packed in.

On most of these counts, the Citroen C5 Aircross manages to test the ideal packing containers.

The seats – all 5 – are the mainstay of this SUV. With generous degrees of cushioning, these have a distinctive part to enjoy in the amount of convenience that the entire automobile aspires to provide. The stitching is immaculate and the quality of upholstery is par for the system.

The rear seats are of individual fascination simply because each individual of the three seats here can be personalized individually and are impartial of every single other. What this means is that just about every of these seats can be pushed ahead, rolled back again, can be reclined or folded down. Great stuff.

And even though the seats are most likely to be in recline all the time due to the fact the upright place is just also upright, it also ensures that there is satisfactory head room for another person taller than the regular Indian top, suggests 6 feet or a little bit a lot more.

Knee and leg area on these rear seats is also ample but when the auto boasts of being the widest in its course, a few people of a bit big body may be a slight squeeze still, especially on lengthy journeys.

As for the negatives though, there is no a
rmrest in the back again seat, the window dimension is just about enough and these never roll down completely, the elbow-rest angle is slightly significant and although there are rear AC vents, there is only a solitary USB charging point underneath it.

Minimal gray hues on the door handles, geometric styles on the inside door and suitable room for bottles, however, blend to give the C5 Aircross travellers at the again a confluence of sensible and aesthetic attractiveness.

There is evidently a fantastic diploma of attention to element at the front which, to us, was the place to be at despite all the assure of consolation on the rear seats. The dash structure is a entirely clean consider on, perfectly, dash layouts. The square pocket AC vents glance intelligent, the splash of soft-contact materials add to the upmarket attractiveness and the contact buttons for features such as new music, AC, navigation and additional are responsive enough. There is support for Android Vehicle, Apple CarPlay and even MirrorLink.

But why we need to to start with find a command from the buttons just before managing this features on the major monitor is a tad little bit weird. For occasion, want to navigate to some put? Touch the Nav button very first to provide up the interface and then use the monitor to regulate.

Not significantly to complain about the screen by itself even though since it is mostly responsive to use and vivid to the eyes even if not genuinely large-def, in particular the parking cameras.

The TFT driver show is also large and obvious to read, and can be custom-made by the driver in accordance to his or her desire.

The heart console stack is our favourite below and appears to be not just neat but quite sleek and chopping-edge. Just consider a glimpse at the gear control lever!

The steering wheel can be altered for rake and arrive at and there’s a lot of large storage choices on the doorway and under the armrests despite the fact that the glove compartment has an ungainly box that eats into a total large amount of space in this article.

The driver seat can be adjusted electronically and has a normally tall seating place which will allow for a commanding look at of the street. What provides to the ambiance is a substantial panoramic sunroof that is sure to be a hit with Indian consumers even if we are hardly ever entirely impressed by its realistic function in most of our weather problems.

Phase out and hustle around to the boot and a sweep of a ft is all that is wanted to open up and shut the tailgate. The luggage area is generous ample to in good shape in two massive suitcases and possibly a backpack or two. Remember, the rear seats to fold independently to open up up even extra space.

All in all, in this article is an SUV that is far more keen on taking part in to its strengths when it comes to cabin space and comfort relatively than eyeing what its rivals may have on provide and what extra could be promised. Targeted towards spouse and children prospective buyers, the interiors have the credentials to impress most, if not all.

Chapter 3: It is All in the Seems to be (Or is it?)

The Citroen C5 Aircross SUV is made to be rather a looker. In this article is a car or truck that may well have expended more time on the keep track of rather than in a health and fitness center simply because although it has a sporty and athletic overall look, it isn’t overly aggressive or cumbersome type any facet.

Consider the confront for occasion. The C5 Aircross will get a twin chrome line stretching from the two DRL units on possibly aspect and flowing in to converge into two swivels that make the Citroen symbol. The bonnet has a bit of muscle and the butter-fly wing-like outcome on its human body provides a but of aptitude.

The LED head lights seem sharp while the fog lights are housed in a small casing on possibly side of the bumper. There are two air-dam-like factors listed here as nicely which give the vehicle an unmistakably Citroen-like visual appeal.

In excess of at the aspect, the C5 Aircross continues to look dapper with the home windows being outlined with chrome, sensible alloys below wheel arches that are just the appropriate dimension for these and massive black cladding below the doorway with the geometric sample. This right here just isn’t the longest vehicle in its phase but its generous wheelbase is amply evident, anything that contributes to the space on provide on the inside of.

The tail is also a remarkable illustration of sophistication with 3D LED tail lights and the Citroen badge adorning the visual profile. The rear glass is a minimal far too tiny but o
ther than that, the style and design things appear together nicely.

The boot can be opened – and shut – with the swipe of a toes and the relatively high floor clearance of the C5 Aircross further adds to its sporty flavour.

Verdict:



The C5 Aircross performs to its strengths seriously perfectly. The fantastic thing about this vehicle is that it is not aspiring to be a thing it just isn’t. No, there is no 4X4. No, it isn’t aggressively intended and has no ripped muscular tissues from any angle. And no, it is just not loaded to the brim with options that would overwhelm.

As an alternative, this right here aspires to be a loved ones SUV that is enjoyable to travel and cozy to be within. It is really design is a contemporary choose on SUVs in the place and the C5 Aircross does have a top quality cabin and first rate ranges of space.

When we do wish there was a petrol motor on supply as properly, the diesel provides in the two city and freeway disorders, and as a flagship, the C5 Aircross could in truth set the benchmark for not just subsequent Citroen products in India but for rivals as perfectly.

Expect Citroen to price tag the C5 Aircross in between ₹22 and ₹25 lakh (ex showroom) for the two variants about to hit Indian marketplaces.