Our C5 Aircross is already delivering a refined ride, thanks to the clever progressive hydraulic cushions on the suspension

Having attended Citroën’s mega 100th birthday celebrations, it seems fitting that I’m custodian of our new long-termer, in the form of the carmaker’s latest range-topping SUV – the C5 Aircross.

We chose the Flair Plus grade, with our car benefiting from optional Pearl White paint, with contrasting black roof and the standard 19-inch ‘Art’ design wheels, painted gloss black to match. We also have the closest thing Citroën offers to four-wheel drive – its clever ‘Grip Control’ traction control system at £300.

This Citroën arrived at the beginning of July, with just over 350 miles on the clock. The mileage didn’t stay that low for long, as a couple of airport runs, and the start of my kids’ summer holidays have seen another 1,000 miles slip easily under the wheels of the C5 Aircross – in just over a month. With a family holiday to France fast approaching as I write this, I expect this to jump by a further 1,000 miles, as the Citroën is coming with us.

The miles already under the belt have given me a chance to see what I like and dislike about the C5 Aircross. So far, the positives far outweigh the negatives, the obvious ones being the comfortable, refined ride, thanks to the clever progressive hydraulic cushions on the suspension and the squishy ‘Comfort’ seats. The 180 PureTech petrol also seems very well matched to the EAT8 automatic transmission.

My biggest gripes revolve around the infotainment – it’s slow to start up, connect with my phone and fiddly if I want to listen to music via Bluetooth rather than the CarPlay system. Then there’s the headlights, which I think could be more powerful and an auto full beam function would be a welcome addition. Then again, I suppose I have been spoilt by the matrix LED ones fitted to my last Audi A6 Avant.