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Photo: AIMHO'S REBELLION 8490s, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Citroën C5 Aircross I: the buying guide

SUV · 2018–2025 · Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

✓ 41 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Extra caution
Reliability
2.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€417/month
Indicative prices
€11,700 – €23,900

6 known faults

Photo: AIMHO'S REBELLION 8490s, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Citroën C5 Aircross I, front three-quarter view

Photo: AIMHO'S REBELLION 8490s, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Extra caution

Compact SUV with a 580 L boot, rated 4 Euro NCAP stars in 2019 (5 with the optional Safety+ pack). Its 1.2 PureTech (belt, oil consumption) and 1.5 BlueHDi (timing chain, recall) have serious documented faults, and the plug-in hybrid is covered by a battery recall: proof of servicing and of completed recalls is essential.

Reliability
2.0/5
Indicative prices
€11,700 – €23,900
Monthly cost
€417
Euro NCAP
4/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: BlueHDi 180 EAT8, Hybrid 225 ë-EAT8.

  • PureTech 130

    Petrol · Manual · 130 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.2 PureTech turbo, manual gearbox. Affected by the wet belt and oil consumption faults.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • PureTech 130 EAT8

    Petrol · Automatic · 130 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Same engine with the 8-speed EAT8 automatic gearbox.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • PureTech 180 EAT8

    Petrol · Automatic · 180 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.6 PureTech with 250 Nm (181 hp quoted), 8-speed automatic gearbox, 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 s.

    Engine: PSA-BMW 1.6 THP / PureTech 180-225 (Prince, EP6)

    Verdict on this engine: Extra caution

  • BlueHDi 130

    Diesel · Manual · 130 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 (DV5) diesel with 300 Nm, 6-speed manual gearbox. Affected by the timing chain recall: check that it has been carried out.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • BlueHDi 130 EAT8

    Diesel · Automatic · 130 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 (DV5) diesel with the EAT8 automatic gearbox. Affected by the timing chain recall.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • BlueHDi 180 EAT8

    ✓ Recommended

    Diesel · Automatic · 180 hp · 6.3 L/100 km · 165 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 diesel with 400 Nm, 8-speed automatic gearbox, 0 to 100 km/h in 8.6 s. Not affected by the timing faults, but exposed to AdBlue failures.

    Engine: PSA / Stellantis 2.0 BlueHDi (DW10F)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • Hybrid 225 ë-EAT8

    ✓ Recommended

    Hybrid · Automatic · 225 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Plug-in hybrid: 1.6 petrol of 181 hp and 110 hp electric motor; 13.2 kWh battery (55 km of range announced), increased to 14.2 kWh after the 2022 facelift. Boot reduced to 460 L. Check the battery recall.

    Engine: PSA-BMW 1.6 THP / PureTech 180-225 (Prince, EP6)

    Verdict on this engine: Extra caution

  • Hybrid 136 ë-DCS6

    Hybrid · Automatic · 136 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Mild hybrid (48 V) launched in 2023: specific 1.2 PureTech, electrified ë-DCS6 dual-clutch gearbox and 21 kW electric motor, no plug-in charging. Little track record so far.

Market prices

€11,700 – €23,900

Indicative range: 2019 to 2025, yearly medians of 80 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Degraded 'wet' timing belt (1.2 PureTech)

Severity 3/3 · Serious

On the 1.2 PureTech, the timing belt runs in oil and can break down. Its debris clogs the oil strainer, which causes oil pressure to drop and can destroy the engine. Stellantis extended the belt warranty to 10 years or 175,000 km, subject to servicing conditions, and introduced a new-generation belt in June 2022.

Versions
PureTech 130, PureTech 130 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Premature wear of the timing chain (1.5 BlueHDi)

Severity 3/3 · Serious

On the 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5R), oil carbonisation and high contact pressure can weaken the 7 mm camshaft chain, up to its breakage and engine failure; the first sign is a rattle on a cold start. C5 Aircross cars fitted with this engine and built from 14 June 2018 to 31 January 2023 are subject to a recall (code NY5).

Versions
BlueHDi 130, BlueHDi 130 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Oil consumption (1.2 PureTech)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The 1.2 PureTech can consume a lot of oil, up to engine failure if the level is not monitored. Stellantis (Citroën UK) attributes this fault to the piston rings on engines built from April 2014 to July 2018, then to the oil separator on those built from February 2018 to February 2023; it is covered by the warranty extension, subject to servicing conditions. An owner of a C5 Aircross reports this oil consumption, together with premature belt deterioration.

Versions
PureTech 130, PureTech 130 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

AdBlue system failure (BlueHDi diesels)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

On BlueHDi diesels, the AdBlue tank (integrated pump, sensor or control unit) can fail. A countdown appears on the dashboard and, once it reaches zero, the engine no longer restarts. C5 Aircross diesel owners report this fault, sometimes requiring replacement of the AdBlue tank.

Versions
BlueHDi 130, BlueHDi 130 EAT8, BlueHDi 180 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

High-voltage battery: risk of overheating and fire (Hybrid 225 recall)

Manufacturer recall

The group's plug-in hybrids built between 2019 and 2022, including the C5 Aircross Hybrid, are subject to a recall campaign launched in September 2025: a high-voltage battery fault, rare but serious, can cause overheating and, in extreme cases, fire. Affected owners are being called in to a dealership.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
Hybrid 225 ë-EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Citroën C5 Aircross”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€170
Insurance€64
Maintenance€33
Depreciation€150
Total per month€417

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (diesel)€170

BlueHDi 180 EAT8 version: combined consumption of 6.3 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.347 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

6.3 × 1.15 × 2.347 € × 10 = €170

Diesel price: French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€64

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€33

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€150

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Demand service invoices: oil changes at the correct interval with the recommended oil, and belt checks (1.2 PureTech).
  • Check the oil level when cold and ask whether oil needs topping up between changes.
  • Ask a Citroën dealer, with the serial number, which recalls have been carried out (1.5 BlueHDi chain, plug-in hybrid battery) and whether the car is eligible for the warranty extensions.
  • 1.5 BlueHDi diesel: listen to the cold start; a rattle may indicate a loose chain.
  • Diesel: check there is no AdBlue or emissions message on the dashboard.
  • Plug-in hybrid: check that electric mode engages and the range shown on a full battery.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Do you have all the service invoices, with the oil references used?
  • Have the manufacturer's recalls been carried out?
  • Has the AdBlue system (diesel) or the battery (plug-in hybrid) already been repaired?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Peugeot 3008

II · 2016–2023

Buy with care
Price
€7,980 – €17,294
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Renault Austral

I · since 2022

Buy with care
Price
€25,300 – €31,500
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Hybrid

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nissan Qashqai

II · 2014–2021

Buy with care
Price
€9,000 – €18,490
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Renault Kadjar

I · 2015–2022

Buy with care
Price
€9,240 – €17,544
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Citroën C5 Aircross I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

What Euro NCAP rating does the Citroën C5 Aircross have?

4 stars in 2019, with 87% for adult protection and 86% for child protection. With the optional Safety+ pack, which improves automatic emergency braking, the rating rises to 5 stars.

Which engine should I choose on a used C5 Aircross?

The 1.2 PureTech (belt, oil consumption) and the 1.5 BlueHDi (timing chain) have serious documented faults: demand complete servicing and proof of recalls. The 2.0 BlueHDi 180 diesel is not affected by these timing faults, but its AdBlue system can fail. The plug-in hybrid must have had its battery recall carried out.

What is the C5 Aircross boot capacity?

580 litres in petrol and diesel (1,630 L with the rear bench folded), 460 litres in the Hybrid 225 plug-in hybrid.

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