Citroen C5 Aircross - MPG, running costs & CO2

The C5 Aircross was launched with conventional petrol and diesel engines, but a plug-in hybrid version has also joined the range. Running costs should be little higher than for a similarly sized family saloon or estate car.

Citroen C5 Aircross MPG & CO2

The C5 Aircross offers a choice of petrol and diesel engines that will seem familiar if you've ever glanced at a Peugeot 3008 brochure. The most efficient is the 128bhp BlueHDi diesel, which Citroen claims can achieve up to 57.6mpg with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. Its CO2 emissions are relatively low at 130g/km, which gives it a mid-level Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rating for company-car users.

It's interesting to note that every C5 Aircross delivers its best economy when the largest 19-inch wheels are fitted – the 17 and 18-inch offerings cause fuel consumption to drop by one mpg or so. Choosing the mud and snow tyres will cost you another few mpg for the benefit of increased grip in poor weather.

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The BlueHDi 180 diesel was discontinued in 2020. While it offered markedly more performance than the lower powered ‘130’ engine, it was also more expensive to run, with considerably lower fuel economy of around 47mpg.

Private buyers and those who expect to cover fewer than around 12,000 miles per year will find the PureTech petrol engines appealing, and they're impressively economical in their own right. The 130 version is claimed to return 46.1mpg, with CO2 emissions starting from 139g/km when equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. The PureTech 180 – which is no longer offered in the UK was capable of officially returning around 39mpg.

The plug-in hybrid version of the C5 Aircross combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to produce 222bhp. It’s capable of up to 38 miles of pure electric running from its 13.2kWh battery pack, and will take around two hours to charge from a 7kW home wallbox. Citroen claims the PHEV will return fuel economy figures of 201.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 32g/km; consequently, Benefit-in-Kind ratings are low, which makes this a good choice for company car buyers – although the Kia Sportage PHEV slots into an even lower bracket. A planned boost to the C5 Aircross PHEV’s driving range looks set to arrive in the near future, but its specs aren’t yet available.

Regular petrol and diesel versions of the C5 Aircross are liable for the standard VED (tax) rate, with the plug-in hybrid model qualifying for the discounted VED rate.

Insurance

The PureTech petrol Citroen C5 Aircross is the cheapest version to insure, occupying groups 16 to 18, depending on the trim level. The Blue HDi diesel ranges from group 17 to 18 with the range-topping PHEV the most expensive, sitting in group 27. The C5 Aircross runs the Peugeot 3008 close for insurance costs; the 3008 ranges from insurance group 16 for the BlueTech 130 diesel to 24 for the PureTech 180 petrol in range-topping GT-Line trim.

Servicing

Citroen service intervals can vary depending on the model, with diesel engines often running further between oil changes. You can expect an annual service to be required and Citroen can set up a service contract to cover multiple services in advance, which makes it easier to budget for routine maintenance.

Warranty

Citroen's warranty covers you for three years or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first. That's on par with the policy provided by Ford, for example, but lags a long way behind Hyundai's five year/unlimited mileage warranty and Kia's seven year/100,000-mile offering.

When your Citroen warranty expires, you can purchase an extended warranty for an additional 12 or 24 months, subject to exclusions.