2022 Citroen C5 Aircross facelift review - Win some, lose some
Let's start off this review by putting it out there â€" the Citroen C5 Aircross is the most comfortable SUV in the segment. Easily. It does comfort in a way that no other car or SUV can quite match. Everything from the excellent suspension setup with its hydraulic bump stops, to the padding on the seats themselves, comes together to achieve the feat. And the 2022 Citroen C5 Aircross, while not changed mechanically, adds more comfort through more padding in the seats that isn't overdone and squishy, but adds a degree more compliance.
However, given the scant changes otherwise, the almost Rs 3 lakh increase in asking price at Rs 36.67 lakh (ex-showroom) for the single-available, fully-loaded Shine variant seems steep. Especially as the C5 was already considered a touch too expensive for its own good. Still, is it worth looking past it for the most comfort you can hope to get out of a car in this price range?
The headlights, grille, bumper, 18-inch wheels, LED tail light signature â€" they've all been tweaked with the facelift. The result is a sharper looker, with neat details like the contrast colour surrounds for the functional air dams in the bumper. Though, in moving from the split headlight treatment to a single piece unit, with split LED DRLs forking off into the fenders, it feels like the C5 has lost a bit of its quirky charm, including the mirroring of the Airbumps on the doors around the car (in the bumper, tail lights etc).
It's a cleaner design, no doubt, but it's also possible it may appear a touch like a Volkswagen, maybe, in the overall treatment. At the rear too, the unique four-pod light signature on the outgoing car makes way for three dashes. And though these are LEDs, they don't look it. The new design for the 18-inch wheels is welcome, though. They really are striking.
The layout of the dashboard and centre console is switched around too, with a larger freestanding 10-inch touchscreen infotainment screen (over the previous 8-inch screen), which also means the AC vents now sit under the screen instead of surrounding it. Though the previous design was cooler looking, I'd say the new layout is more intuitive. There's more space (and wireless charging) in the centre console, or at least the impression of it, with the gear selector toggle and drive mode switch. Importantly, the seats gain 15mm more of that wonderfully comfortable padding, which does add to the driving experience, as we'll see.
The C5 Aircross has a large panoramic sunroof, blind spot warning lights in the ORVMs but feels a little lacking compared to what some of its rivals are offering. Especially noticeable is the lack of 360-deg cameras, something that's become a must with large SUVs in our driving environments to take the tension out of piloting something this large. Read our previous road test of the pre-facelift Citroen C5 Aircross and our comparo test of the Citroen C5 Aircross vs Jeep Compass for more details.
2022 Citroen C5 Aircross facelift â€" Driving impressions
Fortunately, the Citroen C5 Aircross drives as plush and smooth as we remember, and the light steering does somewhat make up for the lack of 360-deg cameras in tight spaces. The 2.0-litre diesel's outputs remain unchanged at 177PS and 400Nm, going to the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic.
The only things of note are that the engine can sound a little boomy in lower gears as the gearbox shifts up a little late at those city speeds, smoothening out as speeds rise. The entire drivetrain feels intuitive otherwise, with the drive modes making for appropriate changes in the character of the car, up to fairly quick. Though, the overarching sense is that the C5 Aircross puts comfort and smoothness over sportiness, with the need for the paddleshifters rarely felt, though it's nice to have when you do want that feeling of control.
The new seats certainly seem to increase the feeling of plushness from the ride, which as before, remains one of the best suspension setups we've experienced. It really does feel as close to a magic carpet ride you can hope to get this side of Rs 50 lakh.
2022 Citroen C5 Aircross â€" Verdict
If you value comfort over all else â€" features, gizmos, ventilated seats etc â€" the Citroen C5 Aircross may just be what you're looking for. Most people want the whole package though. And considering the price tag, there certainly are more rounded packages out there that offer a little more of everything, even if not in the comfort department.
Also read,ÂÂ
Citroen C5 Aircross facelift launched in India, priced at Rs 36.67 lakh
Spec Comparison: Hyundai Tucson Vs Jeep Compass Vs Volkswagen Tiguan Vs Citroen C5 Aircross