While most car manufacturers compete in the discipline of “how big a tablet can we mount on the dashboard“, Citroën has quietly brought a forgotten but vital value back to the agenda - comfort. The French brand, which decades ago changed the world with its hydropneumatic suspension, today offers its modern but significantly simplified alternative: the Progressive Hydraulic Cushions technology.
If you have ever ridden in a car that, at every major bump, reacts with a sharp blow, as if the suspension is “over”, then you will immediately understand the difference. Standard systems use rubber pads to stop the shock absorber's travel, but Citroën engineers have added two hydraulic buffers at either end of the system - one for compression and one for extension. The feeling is of a much softer ride: the car literally "absorbs" the impact, dissipating its energy in the hydraulic fluid, instead of transmitting it to the passengers' spines.
The result? Marketers call it the "flying carpet effect". On slight bumps, the suspension works extremely softly, creating a feeling of smoothly levitating above the asphalt. However, when you hit a serious pothole (something that is not uncommon in our latitudes), the hydraulic limiters are progressively activated, slowing down the movement smoothly and without that unpleasant secondary rebound. This makes models like the C5 Aircross a true refuge from the stress of the urban jungle.
The best thing about this technology is its reliability and accessibility. Unlike the expensive and complex air suspensions of premium brands, Citroën's system is purely mechanical and does not require complex electronics or expensive maintenance. The real magic happens at a micro level in the damper valve system itself. Unlike traditional passive systems that rely on fixed oil permeability, here the fluid dynamics are non-linear.
During low-frequency vibrations, the hydraulic flow passes through wider channels, providing a soft ride, but during sharp vertical acceleration (impact), the pressure instantly activates the progressive limiters. They act as a “hydraulic brake“, converting kinetic energy into heat through a specific viscous friction, preventing mechanical contact of metal on metal. This allows the suspension to maintain a large amount of travel and softness without losing structural integrity under extreme loads.