2023 Citroen C5 Aircross update coming soon! French brand confirms CX-5, RAV4 and Forester rival to score Sporty refresh

A revamped version of France’s answer to the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 is coming soon - and it’s going to be more palatable to Aussie tastes. 

Until now, the 2023 facelifted Citroen C5 Aircross wasn’t confirmed - but the brand’s local importer, Inchcape Automotive, has committed to launch the new-look version of the brand’s mid-size SUV here by the end of this year.

It will sit below the just-launched C5 X wagon-style model, and while they share an alphanumeric link, there’s no confusing the two when it comes to their look, and the intended audience.

A statement from the brand reads: “The new Citroen C5 Aircross will be arriving in Australia later this quarter in a single, highly specified Sport variant, offering an upgraded engine and transmission combination. Further information including local specification details and pricing will be made available at launch.”

The upgraded engine is expected to still be a 1.6-litre four-cylinder powertrain, though this time around the power and torque specs will likely be higher than the current model’s 121kW and 240Nm. It could well be that the new C5 Aircross will score the same engine as the C5 X, with 133kW and 250Nm, and it is highly likely that it’ll upgrade from the existing six-speed auto to a new eight-speed automatic gearbox (still 2WD/front-wheel drive, though).

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version offered in European markets will not be sold in Australia.

The C5 Aircross now scores a different front-end design, a bigger lower air intake, new side air intakes, a prominent chevron logo, revised LED tail-lights. It may also sport the 18-inch alloy wheels seen in these images, though that is still to be confirmed. It continues with the protective Airbumps on the lower doors.

Inside, there is a 10.0-inch multimedia screen, up from 8.0 inches in the existing model, while the 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster continues, while the centre console has seen some tweaks as well.

Stay tuned for more.