The term crossover in the context of the automotive industry is often used to describe any vehicle that has more ground clearance and cladding than usual but isn’t rugged enough to be a true utility vehicle. In most cases, the crossover term has been applied to jacked-up sedans and hatchbacks being advertised as “SUVs” despite no additional utilitarian capabilities. This type of vehicle has been immensely successful around the world and thus become quite boring and uninventive in terms of exterior design. Citroen’s latest flagship offering could spark a change in that automotive space and it’s called the C5 X.
The C5 X is the ultimate crossover as it combines three family-oriented car shapes into a single avatar. Best part? It actually looks quite good. The long bonnet with the sporty front fascia and the sportback-styled rear-end design has the feel of a sedan, the elongated roofline is similar to sporty estates, and the ground clearance is on par with most urban SUVs. There’s even a lip spoiler positioned below the rear windscreen, even though the boot opens like a hatch. Citroen’s latest design language with the sharp lighting and the tastefully sculpted bonnet even lend the C5 X an air of mild sportiness.
Other than this new crossover design package, there is not much that the C5 X does differently. As a premium offering, it’s got a decent interior with a comfort-oriented feature package. The dashboard has a simple layout with a digital driver’s display, a 12.0-inch central touchscreen infotainment system and a large heads-up display. Its faux-wood inlay along the bottom edge of the dashboard is a nice touch and so are the tactile climate controls. While it doesn’t get a panoramic glass roof, the cabin still looks well-lit, airy thanks to the large sunroof. The practicality of the tall and elongated rear end? 545-litres of boot space which can be expanded to 1,640 litres with the rear seats folded.
Like most Citroen offerings, the highlights of the C5 X include the brand’s active suspension that aims to deliver excellent ride comfort, no matter the terrain. Other tech on offer includes the usual range of autonomous driver-assist and safety tech systems such as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keeping assist, and 360-degree cameras with blindspot detection.
Citroen will offer the C5 X with the choice of petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The hybrid setup will offer 225hp with a range of 50km from the pure EV mode. Those are the only specs made public at the time of the car’s unveiling with more details likely to be announced near its European launch in the second half of 2021.
What do you make of the design of the Citroen C5 X? Would you prefer this crossover design as opposed to the slew of urban SUVs currently on sale? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe to the Auto Loons for more cool updates from the car world.
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