Citroen e-C5 Aircross Review 2025

Given the recent influx of electrically powered, family sized SUVs from a variety of Stellantis brands, it’s not too difficult to predict where the others may pop up. Given today’s Citroen C5 Aircross has been on sale long enough that it’s looking overripe against a crop of fresh alternatives, the imminent arrival of the new Citroen e-C5 Aircross feels very timely.

As is frequently Citroen’s wont when replacing its models, a dramatic change in style is ushered in with the new generation car, even if the name is carried over. Of course, the ‘e’ of the e-C5 Aircross’s title reflects that this is a fully electric SUV, while identical looking combustion-engined versions, assisted with mild and plug-in hybrid systems, will also be available continuing to use the Citroen C5 Aircross label. We’ll cover those versions in a separate review.

There’s no denying that the latest Citroen e-C5 Aircross — and its MHEV and HEV twins — look distinctive, with a variety of hard-edged, chamfered bodywork surfaces and details, with the protruding LED tail lights distilling the essence of that theme. Some aspects appear disjointed in these official photos, the sharpness of the lines seemingly at odds with the brand’s softer, comfort-focused ethos.

That more familiar, relaxed nature is far more prevalent inside the e-C5 Aircross thanks to what Citroen refers to as a C-Zen Lounge interior. Seemingly it’s so chilled in there that even the portrait-oriented multimedia touchscreen is literally laid back — benefitting both ease of operation and to provide additional storage space in the void behind it.

Much of the main horizontal dashboard plane is swathed in a spongey fabric, which continues along the door panels and is reflected in the way the Advanced Comfort seats are upholstered. This lounge-effect is further enhanced by an eight-strong selection of warming LED ambient lighting colours that radiate from various points of the dashboard, door panels and footwells.

Passengers in the back of this five-seater SUV aren’t forgotten about from a comfort perspective, with the same extra-thick foam used for the seat base and backrests — they can also be reclined to angles of 21-33 degrees for an even more relaxing experience — as well as 51mm legroom than the outgoing model. High-specification versions of the e-C5 Aircross also provide seat heating for those in the back.

With the rear seats in use Citroen quotes a 565-litre boot capacity for the e-C5 Aircross, with a near-80-litre space beneath the floor. Overall loadspace capacity when the 40/20/40-split rear seats are folded over is 1668 litres when loaded to the ceiling. There’s an additional combined total of 40 litres of storage space in the passenger area.

Underpinning the Citroen e-C5 Aircross is a platform that’s common to an array of larger Stellantis models including two that are effectively among its direct rivals — the Jeep Compass Full-Electric which reaches showrooms later in 2025 and, already plying the UK’s roads, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric.

Other manufacturers also offer an assortment of capable alternatives to the Citroen, including the excellent Renault Scenic E-Tech, although it’s some 182mm shorter than the e-C5 Aircross. Almost identically sized to the Citroen is the recently refreshed Skoda Enyaq, while the ubiquitous Tesla Model Y — another 2025 facelift recipient — is a tad longer still.

Although Citroen will sell the e-C5 Aircross with a choice of two fully electric drive systems, both of which send drive exclusively to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission that’s essentially driven like an automatic, only one will be available from the get-go.

That's the entry-point to the range, known as the e-C5 Aircross 210 Comfort Range which sees a 213PS motor producing 343Nm of torque working in conjunction with a 73.7kWh battery pack. It's capable of darting from a standstill to 62mph in just 8.9 seconds and on to an electronically governed top speed of 106mph. Tested to WLTP Combined cycle conditions its driving range is quoted at 322 miles.

Above that will be the Citroen e-C5 Aircross 230 Extended Range boasting 231PS and 343Nm as well as a 97kWh battery for a provisional range of 422 miles. It should be on sale before the end of 2025.

Both batteries packs are fitted with an 11kW AC on-board charger — with a 22kW upgrade becoming optionally available during 2026 — and a 160kW DC version when using ultra-rapid public facilities. Also on sale in 2026 will be a vehicle-to-load (V2L) adapter to enable the Citroen’s battery to be used as a power source for other electrical devices.

Using a typical 7.4kW AC domestic wallbox a 20-80% top-up of the Comfort Range battery requires 6 hours 45 minutes, with the Extended Range needing 8 hours 55 minutes. When connected to an appropriately powerful DC charger the same increase in charge level takes 30 minutes for the Comfort Range and 27 minutes for the Extended Range.

Exactly how the Citroen e-C5 Aircross feels to drive won’t be known until we’ve had an opportunity to get acquainted with it over an extended test but it should feel more supple and relaxing to cruise in than most electric SUVs of this type thanks to the special hydraulic elements within the Advanced Comfort suspension system. It’s not as sophisticated as the firm’s once-favoured hydropneumatics arrangement yet in other Citroens with the trick components the overall result is a welcome one.

Specification hierarchy for the e-C5 Aircross follows Citroen's current three-layer structure under the banners of You, Plus and Max. Standard features with You trim include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED head and tail lights with automatic main beam, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity and adaptive cruise control.

Upgrading to the e-C5 Aircross Plus adds dark-tinted rear privacy windows, electrically folding door mirrors with integral puddle lights, keyless entry, front parking sensors, a reversing camera, a cooled cubby beneath the front centre armrest, reclining rear seats and eight-colour interior LED ambient lighting.

Goodies for the flagship Max model include Matrix LED headlights, an electrically operated tailgate, a 360-degree parking camera system, a heated steering wheel and an efficiency boosting heat pump for the battery pack.

Order books for the Citroen e-C5 Aircross opened in July 2025 with prices discounted from the August following the introduction of the government's Electric Car Grant (ECG). As a result the 210hp Comfort Range in You specification costs £32,565, the mid-range Plus version is £35,205 and the flagship Max model will set you back £37,845. Customer deliveries are expected to commence before the end of the year.

Keep this page bookmarked for further news on this important new range and to read our forthcoming full and comprehensive Citroen e-C5 Aircross review in the weeks ahead.