Citroen C5 Aircross SUV revealed ahead of 2018 launch

Citroen is expanding its SUV line-up with the launch of the C5 Aircross. The all-new family car will be Citroen’s most-powerful SUV, when it reaches UK showrooms in 2018, and feature ‘progressive hydraulic cushion’ suspension, along with petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

The C5 Aircross will follow the quirky styling of the C4 Cactus, but be significantly larger at 4.5 metres long and 1.9 metres wide. Citroen is promising significant improvements in ride quality too, with the use of progressive hydraulic cushions.

The new suspension adds two hydraulic stops to each suspension unit – one for rebound and one for compression. This allows the springs and dampers to work together with the hydraulic compression or rebound stops, which gradually slow down the movement, thereby avoiding sudden jolts. According to Citroen, the new system will give the car a 'magic carpet effect’ with a ride that floats over bumps and dips in the road. 

As well as all-new suspension, the C5 Aircross will be the most powerful Citroen SUV ever, with its four-cylinder petrol engines developing 155PS and 200PS. A plug-in hybrid PHEV version will also be available, with four-wheel drive and a 200PS petrol engine linked to a pair of electric motors to create 300PS. According to Citroen, the C5 Aircross PHEV will be capable of covering 37 miles on electric power alone.

Inside the cabin will mirror the layout of the C4 Cactus, with more head and leg room for up to five adults. The windows will also be laminated and double glazed to help cut road and wind noise, while the automatic air conditioning system will feature an active carbon filter to prevent air pollution and harmful diesel particles from entering the cabin. 

The dashboard gets a range of connected tech, including a 3D navigation system that should make it easy for the driver to receive route directions and traffic updates without having to take their eyes off the road. An eight-inch colour touchscreen will also be available, while the hands free and electrically operated tailgate will provide access to the car's 482-litre boot. 

The C5 Aircross will be packed with Citroen's latest active safety kit too, including speed sign recognition, automatic city breaking and adaptive cruise control that will automatically bring the car to a halt from motorway speeds. All these driving aids are controlled via the 12.3-inch configurable fully-digital instrument cluster facing the driver.