2022 Citroen C5 X confirmed for Australia: Flagship crossover to bring fight to Volkswagen Arteon and Peugeot 508 next year

Speaking to Australian media at the launch of the new-generation Citroen C4 crossover, Citroen’s Australian representatives confirmed its larger C5 X sibling would also be coming Down Under.

The C5 X is described by Citroen as a sleek fasbtback with an SUV-inspired raised driving position, and it will take its place as the brand’s flagship model in Australia in Q3 2022 as a kind of alternative to Peugeot’s 508 fastback and wagon.

Citroen Australia representatives said: “We’re excited about C5 X – we’re in the planning stages at the moment. It touches on a lot of the classic Citroen design points.”

When asked if the plug-in hybrid model available in Europe would be coming to Australia, the brand said: “What we’re working through is getting the specification right. The PHEV is absolutely on the table. We’ll be able to provide further information closer to the launch."

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The C5 X was revealed earlier this year in both traditional combustion and plug-in hybrid forms. The traditional combustion version is expected to dip into its Stellantis parent company for a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired to an Aisin eight-speed transmission (the same combo used in the Peugeot 508 range with which the C5 X will share a platform).

Meanwhile, the PHEV pushes to 168kW of hybrid power while allowing for over 50km of range in its purely electric mode, up to 135km/h. It is worth noting that the PHEV version of the Peugeot 508 will be coming to Australia in early 2022.

The C5 X packs a lot of cabin tech like its high-end Peugeot relations.

Elsewhere, the C5 X also offers a relatively large 12-inch multimedia touchscreen, USB-C connectivity, a digital dashboard, a safety suite capable of Level 2 autonomy, and 545 litres (VDA) of boot space.

Citroen’s strategy for its recent products has been to launch in Australia with a single highly specified variant, as seen with the single C4 crossover grade, but it remains to be seen if this means the C5 X will be a single drivetrain or single variant affair. Either way, we wouldn’t be surprised to see pricing similar to if not higher than the $56,990 MSRP currently asked for the Peugeot 508 GT.

Despite selling just 112 units year-to-date in Australia, Citroen’s local team stressed that the brand was here to stay despite a tough 2021, saying there is a Citroen customer in Australia seeking something different, and that it would be able to capitalise on design and comfort as the brand’s key appeal.

The C5 X builds on Citroen's new crossover design ethos it shares with the new-generation C4.

Regardless, it will not be seeking to import other models from its right-hand-drive catalogue overseas, like the Grand C4 Spacetourer people mover or Berlingo light commercial vehicle.

Stay tuned for local pricing and features closer to the C5 X launch in 2022.