Citroën still say the word “comfort” out loud, when everyone else is talking about kWh, screen sizes, and L2+ driver assistance.
The C5 Aircross has a clean console, hidden storage compartments, soothing graphics, voice control, 13-inch vertical screen, and ‘Advanced Comfort’ seats in a ‘chocolate square’ design, with a backrest that envelops the shoulders, it’s clear that someone has championed a vision for this car. There’s no leather, very little chrome, recycled plastics, vine inserts that don’t try to mimic wood.
And above it all, an HMI that takes the risk of going vertical, with a clear information hierarchy and a real place given to voice control. For us, interior designers and HMI specialists, this car poses a simple question: how far can we push the ‘lounge’ concept in a mass-market car without falling into the trap of high-tech gadgets? What if, in ten years’ time, the round steering wheel is nothing more than a vintage nod in ‘Heritage’ packs? This week we take an in-depth look at this car and the questions it raises.
Coming Soon – on 14 and 15 January 2026, we will meet at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin for the 10th DVN Interior workshop, under the theme Next-Gen Automotive Interiors: where CMF, Lighting, and Sustainability converge.
This is the meeting place for the DVN interior community: designers, CMF experts, seat & cockpit managers, lighting, materials and sustainability specialists, with the announced presence of major tier-1 suppliers and technology providers.
Reserve your place now on the Driving Vision News website or by sending me an email.
Take care,
