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BMW 3 Series Saloon vs Citroen C5 Aircross comparison

Compare performance (530 HP vs 225 HP), boot space and price (39,900 £ vs 29,100 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – BMW 3 Series Saloon or Citroen C5 Aircross?

BMW 3 Series Saloon vs Citroen C5 Aircross: Key differences

BMW 3 Series Saloon

  • significantly more power
  • only slightly more efficient
  • substantially quicker 0–100 km/h
  • barely lighter
details

Citroen C5 Aircross

3.9 (5 Reviews)
rate
  • clearly cheaper
  • clearly more electric range
  • a bit more trunk space
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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

3 Series Saloon

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Citroen C5 Aircross is clearly cheaper – starting at 29,100 £ , while the BMW 3 Series Saloon costs 39,900 £ . That’s a price difference of around 10,808 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the BMW 3 Series Saloon uses 2.4 L/100km and is only slightly more efficient than the Citroen C5 Aircross with 2.5 L/100km. The difference is about 0.1 L/100km.

As for electric range, the Citroen C5 Aircross offers clearly more range – reaching up to 520 km, about 419 km more than the BMW 3 Series Saloon.

C5 Aircross

Engine and Performance:

Under the bonnet, it becomes clear which model is tuned for sportiness and which one takes the lead when you hit the accelerator.

When it comes to engine power, the BMW 3 Series Saloon offers significantly more power – delivering 530 HP compared to 225 HP. That’s roughly 305 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the BMW 3 Series Saloon is substantially quicker – completing the sprint in 3.5 s, while the Citroen C5 Aircross takes 8.3 s. That’s about 4.8 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the BMW 3 Series Saloon delivers clearly more torque with 700 Nm compared to 300 Nm. That’s about 400 Nm more.

3 Series Saloon

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, BMW 3 Series Saloon is barely lighter – 1,575 kg compared to 1,629 kg. The difference is around 54 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Citroen C5 Aircross offers a bit more boot space – 565 L compared to 480 L. That’s a difference of about 85 L.

When it comes to payload, the BMW 3 Series Saloon carries barely more – 495 kg compared to 471 kg. That’s a difference of about 24 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The BMW 3 Series Saloon is far ahead overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £39,900
3 Series Saloon

BMW 3 Series Saloon

  • Engine Type : Diesel MHEV, Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid
  • Transmission : Automatic, Manuel
  • Drive Type : Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 150 - 530 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 2.4 - 10.1 L/100km
  • Electric Range : 96 - 101 km
BMW 3 Series Saloon
Citroen C5 Aircross

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

BMW 3 Series Saloon

The BMW 3 Series saloon is a driver's car in a suit, blending poised handling with a cabin that feels more premium than its practicality suggests. It’s composed enough for daily duties yet playful enough to keep weekend drives interesting, making it a sensible choice for buyers who still want to have fun.

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Citroen C5 Aircross

The Citroën C5 Aircross feels like a sofa on wheels, delivering a calm, floaty ride and clever packaging that makes life with luggage and kids noticeably easier. Quirky French styling and a supremely practical, family-focused cabin mean it quietly wins hearts by prioritising comfort over showroom bravado.

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BMW 3 Series Saloon
Citroen C5 Aircross

Costs and Consumption

Price
39,900 - 91,000 £
Price
29,100 - 43,000 £
Consumption L/100km
2.4 - 10.1 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
2.5 - 5.4 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
17 kWh/100km
Electric Range
96 - 101 km
Electric Range
81 - 520 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
54 - 227 g/km
co2
0 - 121 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Sedan
Body Type
SUV
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,575 - 1,960 kg
Curb weight
1,629 - 2,184 kg
Trunk capacity
375 - 480 L
Trunk capacity
565 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,827 - 1,903 mm
Width
1,870 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
405 - 495 kg
Payload
446 - 471 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Diesel MHEV, Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Electric, Plugin Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic, Manuel
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox, Manual Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic, Reduction Gearbox
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
150 - 530 HP
Power HP
145 - 225 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.5 - 8.6 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.3 - 11.2 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
250 - 700 Nm
Torque
230 - 300 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 6
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Power kW
110 - 390 kW
Power kW
107 - 165 kW
Engine capacity
1,995 - 2,998 cm3
Engine capacity
1,199 - 1,598 cm3

General

Model Year
2,024 - 2,025
Model Year
2,025 - 2,026
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, E, F, G, B
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, A, B
Brand
BMW
Brand
Citroen
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.