By Max Ziervogel

I’ve always had an amour fou [crazy love] for French cars, owned a few already. Citroën has always been something special in my heart, their cars are more than cars… they become part of your family. The French know how to bring the tradition of a brand but adding flair and quirk.

Late in 2019 when Citroën returned to South Africa with three fab new models, I couldn’t wait to test drive one! The range consists of the C3, C3 Aircross and C5 Aircross. All beautifully crafted, inside and out. Loved it so much, we bought a C3 Aircross.

The C5 Aircross oozes luxury and style, with a design that stands out from the boring and bland we see plenty of on the road. The cabin is full of tech, space and comfort.

Styling

The C5 Aircross is really in a league of its own when it comes to design, something the Citroën Peugeot brand excel at. Offered in three colours in SA, it is a real looker and gets plenty attention on the road with it’s fun styling and red details found across the range.

Interior

The French are always way ahead with their technology and comfort, and the C5 Aircross is everything the brand stands for : Comfort, comfort, COMFORT! The seats are not only beautiful, but you can sit in that cabin all day and never feel an ounce of discomfort… they are pretty nice to look at too!
The infotainment system found across the Peugeot Citroen range have all the bells and whistles you could ask for… park distance control, cameras, Apple Car Play and Andorid Auto together with full climate control system activated by the touch screen.

The Drive

If you’ve never driven a French car before, I suggest you do. There’s something about them that takes the boring out of your everyday drive and makes it fun, even delightful. The gears shift smoothly, the punchy 1.6T engine delivers more than you need, and you certainly stand out from the crowd.

Service

We all know that everyone’s ‘Toyota’ uncle will warn them against buying a French car… but things have changed. Citroen Serenity is an offering not many can beat. Standard across the range, you find peace of mind when you buy a Citroen, and it will show you why these cars are best-sellers overseas. Read all about the offering here : https://www.citroen.co.za/aftersales/citroen-serenity.html

Verdict

If I had R 500,000, I would be at a Citroën dealership buying a Platinum Grey Shine right now. The French are back in town, Vive La France!

Note : Dossier drove the Aircross from Johannesburg, to White River, to Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, to the Midlands and Durban, and back, three incredible weeks. The infotainment system is easy to use, and the instrument panel intuitive allowing for full driver focus on the road. Citroën has traded on a reputation for comfort and refinement for decades. Rather than targeting a compromised sporty dynamic, the French firm’s slack suspension and plush seats offer something different in a market blinded by driver engagement. But for many new car buyers, the way a large family SUV handles on a race track is about as relevant as cabin and boot space in a two-door sports car. Citroen’s latest crossover, the new C5 crossover aims to capitalize on this quandary.

View all their cars here : www.citroen.co.za

Photos by Mia Ziervogel and Christo Du Plessis using Canon EOS RP