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 the existing 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 651-litre boot capacity for the e-C5 Aircross, with a near-80-litre space beneath the floor. Exact figures are still to be quoted for the overall loadspace capacity when the 40/20/40-split rear seats are folded over but we expect it to be in the region of 1700 litres. 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.

From the get-go 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.

Entry-point to the range will be the e-C5 Aircross 210 Standard Range which sees a 213PS motor producing 343Nm of torque working in conjunction with a 73kWh battery pack. No performance figures are yet available, but Citroen quotes a provisional WLTP Combined cycle range of 323 miles between charges.

Above that is 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.

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 Standard Range battery requires 6 hours 45 minutes, with the Extended Range needing 8 hours 55 minutes. When using a 160kW-capable DC charger the same increase in charge level takes 30 minutes for the Standard 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 levels and performance details are expected to be confirmed around the same time that prices for the Citroen e-C5 Aircross are revealed during the second half of 2025. We estimate that the least expensive Stand Range version will cost £37,000 when order books open before the end of the year, with customer deliveries commencing in the first weeks of 2026.

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