Since 2017, the only car to still wear part of the C5 moniker in the Citroën lineup has been a front-wheel-drive crossover called the C5 Aircross, but it looks like the ‘Aircross-less’ nameplate is making a return next year.

Unlike its predecessor, which was a sedan that looked so traditional most die-hard Citroën fans called it ‘too German-looking,’ it seems that the third generation of the Citroen C5 will switch to a much quirkier design.
As many of you have already noticed, the mid-size sedan market has been eaten up by crossovers and SUVs of all types and sizes, not to mention that traditional French sedans have always had a tough time competing against their German counterparts.
Even Ford has decided to kill the future of the Mondeo sedan and replace it with a crossover-looking hatchback tentatively wearing the Mondeo Evos nameplate.
Following a similar path, it looks like the next generation of the Citroën C5 will have almost nothing in common with any of its predecessors, as spy photographers have caught the first pre-production prototype of the model while being road-tested in Europe.
The model is highly camouflaged, but the overall proportions are definitely those of an elongated C4, which has also switched from being a traditional-looking compact hatchback to having a crossover/SUV look.
Despite the rather high ground clearance, the 2023 Citroën C5 is not expected to feature all-wheel-drive on most of its versions, and the Citroën-famous pneumatic suspension might not make an appearance either.
A host of 1.2-, and 1.6-liter gasoline engines with various outputs and even a plug-in hybrid version should comprise the gasoline lineup, while diesel lovers will have to suffice with a choice between a 1.5-liter and a 2.0-liter.
An all-electric e-C5 is also expected to be in the works, but don’t expect a Tesla-level of performance or range, with Citroën being more focused on comfort and a quirky design.
With Citroën now part of Stellantis, which includes FCA, the arrival of the new C5 might also signal the re-launch of the Citroën brand in the United States, but this is all speculation at this point.