Citroen e-C5 Aircross long term test review 2026

Citroen e-C5 Aircross long term report 2: The family car test

Key details

Spec: Citroen e-C5 Aircross Plus Comfort Range| Price: from £36,705 (£38,370 as tested) | Mileage: 2010 | Test miles per kWh: 3.9 | Report date: 30^th July 2026

“Are you sure all of this stuff is going to fit in the boot?”, asks my partner. We are only going away for 2 nights in the Peak District, but we are surrounded by bags and suitcases. A travel cot and a large child’s buggy also need to go in the boot. And to our neighbours, it looks like we’re moving house.  

In these situations, I usually guess the boot is big enough before being forced to admit defeat after 10 minutes of huffing and puffing. But not today. Why? I’m driving the Citroen e-C5 Aircross.

Unlike some electric cars, which lose boot space because they are adapted from petrol powered platforms, Citroen’s SUV has been designed to be an EV from the ground up.

This means the petrol mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric version get the same 565-litre boot capacity. So, EV buyers are not forced to make a compromise when it comes to storage space.

The Citroen compares well against the Kia EV5 (566 litres), Renault Scenic (545 litres) and Volkswagen ID.4 (543 litres). It can't match the 585 litres you get in the Skoda Enyaq but it beats most of its rivals for boot capacity.

In the real world, this means the electric C5 Aircross is large enough to cope with pretty much everything a family can throw at it. Which is just as well, because the Powell family seldom travel light.

As you can see from the photo above, not only do I get everything into the boot, but there’s also space for some shopping bags. This was handy on our Peak District trip as we needed to add a detour to a supermarket to buy food for our self-catering accommodation.

Another helpful feature is the square shape of the boot, which makes it easy to use all of the available space. A child’s buggy, for example, fits flush against the side of the boot wall. There is also an under-floor compartment for the charging cable and loose items.

Inside, the cabin has lots of pockets and compartments for odds and ends. The door bins are wide enough to take a large water bottle, along with a couple of wet wipe packs (essential for any car trip with a toddler). You also get a useful mobile phone pocket at the top of the seatbacks.

Carrying a full load of people and luggage does impact electric range slightly, with miles per kWh dropping from 4.0 to 3.9. This means a fully loaded e-C5 Aircross returns around 285 miles from a full charge in summer temperatures. As a result, I needed to spend £20 to top up the battery at a public charger for the journey back to Cambridge.

But Citroen’s family-size EV is winning lots of praise from my adult passengers for its comfort and unconventional design. The floating armrests are a particular talking point, while everyone loves the reclining outer rear seats which allow you to sit back and relax.

After 2,000 miles, I must admit that I’m also taking a shine to the e-C5 Aircross. It is a funky EV that has lots of space and character. As a result, it’s becoming a firm family favourite.

Citroen e-C5 Aircross long term report 1: Can an EV be a good family car?

Key details

Spec: Citroen e-C5 Aircross Plus Comfort Range | Price: from £36,705 (£38,370 as tested) | Mileage: 904 | Test miles per kWh: 4.0 | Report date: 30^th June 2026

New cars go through loads of lab-based tests before they reach the showroom, but few assessments are as tough as family life. In fact, I’d argue that the unbridled chaos of living with a small toddler is the ultimate test when it comes to a car’s build quality, versatility and design.

Step forward the Citroen e-C5 Aircross, it will be taking the full brunt of Powell family life for the next six months. I hope the people at Citroen appreciate what they have committed to.

For those who are unfamiliar, the e-C5 Aircross is the all-electric version of the Citroen C5 Aircross. It is the largest SUV in the French carmaker’s line-up and under the metal the e-C5 Aircross is closely related to the Vauxhall Grandland and Peugeot 3008.

The electric version is front-wheel drive, with its power coming from a 210hp motor and a 73kWh battery with a maximum advertised range of 322 miles.

Since taking delivery of the e-C5 Aircross four weeks ago, things have started well. Throughout June, I’ve been getting around 300 miles from a full battery charge. This means I can comfortably drive from Cambridge to Bristol without having to worry about a charging stop.

I have a 7kW home charger and (unless I have a particularly long journey to cover) I usually charge the battery from 10-80% capacity, as this caters for our daily drive needs.

A charge to 80% from home takes less than seven hours and I can configure my wallbox to charge the e-C5 Aircross overnight to take advantage of our off-peak energy tariff, which saves money on running costs.

As a family car, the big Citroen has already impressed. Since entering the ‘terrible twos’ phase with my son, car trips can sometimes be a bit of a challenge with a long journey peppered by tantrums and the odd high-pitched screaming session. However, so far, my son seems to like the e-C5 Aircross. There have been no screams, tears or bite marks on the seats - my son once left a tooth imprint on the headrest of a car I had on test.

I think the key to this success lies in the car’s soft and quiet ride quality, which frequently sends my son to the land of nod. This was particularly useful during a recent heat wave when my son was upset by the heat and refusing to go to bed. To cool us both down, I took him for a 15-minute drive and he was fast asleep within 10.

As a result, Citroen’s comfy SUV has already established itself as a useful member of the family.

In addition to being a commander-in-sleep, the e-C5 Aircross has lots of storage with its 565-litre boot being 15 litres bigger than the car I tested during our Vauxhall Grandland Electric long term review. You get loads of head and shoulder space across both rows of seats, too.

Over the next few months, Citroen’s electric SUV will have to pass many more challenges. I have quite a few long trips planned with the family, I also have several events to attend for work. Will the e-C5 Aircross continue to impress? Only time will tell.