Citroen e-C5 Aircross long term test review 2026

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.