• Loads of storage cubbies
• Plenty of boot space
• Rear space tighter than rivals

How much space is there?

The C5 Aircross might be Citroen’s largest SUV and there’s a suitably generous amount of space in the front seats. But there’s less rear legroom than in the Kia Sportage, for instance, even with the seats slid all the way back. Those who’ve traded in a C4 SpaceTourer may feel short-changed.

At least the three individual rear seats are all the same size, and Citroen had the common sense to make the C5’s rear floor as flat as possible. That maximises foot space for those in the back and makes it easier to get three passengers in there. Beware the optional panoramic sunroof, though. It robs headroom and forces anyone over six feet tall to duck.

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We’re nit-picking here, though. The C5 Aircross should be more than roomy enough for most growing families. The feeling of space is boosted by the huge windows and high seating position – kids will love the view out. And parents will love that it has three sets of Isofix mounts, on the front passenger and outer rear seats.

Boot space and storage

Citroen compromised a bit on the C5 Aircross’s rear-seat passenger space to make its boot bigger. With the back seats in their rear-most position, there’s a whopping 580 litres of room available. That’s 70 litres more than you get from a SEAT Ateca and 59 litres more than the famously practical Skoda Karoq.

However, if you slide the seats all the way forward, you get a cavernous 720 litres. Fold the rear seats down and there’s 1,630 litres on offer – start with the middle one first or your fingers will get squashed.

There’s an adjustable boot floor, too, which allows you to raise the height of the boot floor and makes it easier to haul heavy luggage into the rear. The higher level also creates a huge underfloor storage area. The two-piece parcel shelf design is somewhat irritating – and easy to catch your head on if you’re careless.

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Citroen has overlooked some of the useful practicality features you get in rival SUVs. Our long-term test of the C5 Aircross highlighted that there are no shopping bag hooks in the boot, like you get in the back of a Skoda Karoq. So, if you have a twisty road between the supermarket and your house, your shopping could be scattered around the boot by the time you get home.

Plug-in hybrid cars are less practical, as the space under the boot floor is used to store the battery pack. As a result, minimum space tumbles to 460 litres. However, you do at least get some underfloor storage for the charging cable, which is more than can be said of the Audi Q5.

Citroen also designed the C5’s cabin storage well. There are loads of places to hide things, including well-sized door pockets, a tray in the centre console that’s big enough for the most enormous of smartphones and an immense chilled storage bin between the front seats.

Is it easy to park?

The C5 Aircross is bigger than its Peugeot 3008 cousin and almost identical in size to the popular Volkswagen Tiguan. It’s a snug fit in many UK parking spaces but getting into those bays is made easier as all versions get a reversing camera, plus front and rear parking sensors. 

The high seating position gives you a good view out – forward at least – and the mirrors are generously proportioned, so threading the C5 Aircross through traffic is relatively stress-free. However, the rear three-quarter view isn’t great because of the thick roof pillars and small rear side windows.

Safety

• Five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2019
• Lots of safety equipment available
• Well-configured driver assistance tech

Euro NCAP crash tested the C5 Aircross back in 2019. The standard car scored four stars, while Citroen’s optional safety pack bumps it up to five stars. The safety pack is fitted as standard to Max and e-Series cars, adding blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition system and a more comprehensive autonomous emergency braking system with both video and radar assistance that can recognise pedestrians and cyclists.

It’s worth noting that Euro NCAP has tightened its safety regulations since 2019, so the C5 Aircross might not be quite as safe in an accident as a five-star family SUV tested in the last couple of years, such as the Lexus RZ or Mercedes GLC. Still, the C5 Aircross’s structure performed reasonably well in its crash tests, offering good protection overall for both adult and child occupants.

We also have extensive experience of the C5 Aircross’s driver assistance technology. During our long-term test, they worked reliably most of the time, although the lane-keeping assist can occasionally pick out lines in the tarmac (such as repair patches) that don’t constitute a lane.

The cruise control is also easily adjustable and smooth to operate with a good range of distances available between you and the vehicle in front. One minor irritation is the button for the hazard warning lights is hidden by the steering wheel.

Watch the Citroen C5 Aircross crash test video