Citroen’s new top-of-the-line C5 X crossover will focus on comfort, with a starting price of £27,000 when it arrives in the UK later this year.
Citroen has built a reputation for doing things its own way, and that attitude is unlikely to alter anytime soon. The C5 X, a new comfort-focused flagship crossover from the business, will debut next year, bridging the gap between a low-slung estate car and a tall-riding SUV.
Citroen claims the C5 X will be the ultimate expression of leisure and well-being the firm has to offer, and it’ll accomplish it all just £27,000, which is about £16,000 cheaper than the identical Audi A4 allroad.
The C5 nameplate, on the other hand, is a little more difficult to comprehend. The C5 X is a world away from the C5 Aircross SUV’s more utilitarian nature, and it’s also significantly more premium, thanks to its smoother surfacing and minimalist nice inside.
The EMP2 platform, as well as the petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, are shared by the C5 X and the C5 Aircross (and, indeed, other larger members on the PSA side of the new Stellantis group).
The naming is best explained by Citroen CEO Vincent Cobée, who told us, “We’ve had a lot of touring vehicles in the past called C5. We see this as a well-deserved, hedonist offer, not a luxury offer – it’s a dream you can have.”
That attitude is reflected in the pricing. The C5 X’s £27,000 starting price will only soar as high as £35,000 for the plug-in hybrid version – and for that, you get a car that’s longer than the Peugeot 508 SW at 4,805mm. The wheelbase is a little shorter, though, at 2,785mm.
New 2022 Citroen C5 X: Design & Interior
The C5 X was designed with space in mind, both in the cabin and in the 545-litre boot (which is slightly larger than the 508 SW’s). When the rear seats are folded down, the volume increases to 1,640 litres, which Citroen claims is enough room for a washing machine.
The C5 X is based on the C-Xperience concept, which debuted at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The wide, low nose has significant double chevrons in the centre that splay outwards into a new V-shaped light signature with narrow LED daytime running lights above the primary headlamp units.
Long, thin wheels fill arches trimmed with discreet SUV-style panelling, while the long bonnet gets a characteristic hump in the centre. There are no air bumps down the car’s side, unlike the C5 Aircross; instead, there are mild wrinkles at the bottom of the doors. Above the rear wheels, the window line has a significant upwards kick.
Citroen encased the back bumper in black plastic as a homage to its SUV architectural language, and there are two spoilers – one at the top and one at the bottom of the rear window – which seems unusual for a car so focused on comfort. The LED lights are also V-shaped like the ones on the front. All of this adds up to a super-stylish, ultra-modern crossover that is nevertheless distinctly Citroen.
Until we’ve had a chance to sit in the C5 X, we’re unable to verify whether Citroen has managed to make it roomier than we’ve seen so far from a car on EMP2, but the claims are that it will be “a passenger compartment worthy of a lounge area” with “unparalleled roominess”.
Citroen’s sophisticated comfort seats, which include specific cushioning such as a memory foam mattress topper, are installed in the interior. The plug-in hybrid will also be the first Citroen to have the company’s new Advanced Comfort adaptive suspension, which promises a comfortable ride.
The C5 X also features an all-new 12-inch HD infotainment touchscreen, which, like the new C4, has the heating and ventilation controls positioned separately lower down on the dashboard. The infotainment system also includes over-the-air upgrades, as well as the possibility of a 21-inch wide advanced head-up display.
Level 2 autonomous driving (which combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance) will be available, as well as convenience features like voice recognition, wireless smartphone charging, and screen mirroring.
New 2022 Citroen C5 X: Engines & Drivetrains
Citroen hasn’t revealed all of the details of the C5 X’s powertrain lineup, but it has confirmed that the crossover won’t come with a diesel engine.
The company’s turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 128bhp, will be the most affordable choice. Above that, there’s a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 178bhp, and unlike Citroen’s lesser cars, the C5 X will only come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Above the gasoline engines will be the same plug-in hybrid system as the C5 Aircross, which combines the 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a 13.2kWh battery pack for a combined output of 222bhp and a maximum electric range of 31 miles.
However, according to Cobée, a larger battery pack could make its way into the C5 X PHEV in the future. “This will change,” he said. “Yes, we will be able to extend the vehicle’s zero-emissions range over time.”
It’s unlikely that a fully electric version will be released. “Fully electric is in our thinking, but not in our plans,” Cobée remarked. It might be an evolution, depending on battery technology and charging infrastructure; it could be more significant in three to four years.”
