Citroen C5 Aircross Plug-in

Essentials

Citroen C5Aircross Plug-in Hybrid Shine

Price: £35,835

Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl turbo petrol PHEV Power/torque: 222bhp/380Nm Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive 0-62/max: 8.7 seconds/140mph Economy/CO2: 202mpg/32g/km Electric range: 38 miles

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PRACTICALITY Room in the Citroen’s cabin is fair and the rear seats slide independently to maximise either passenger space or boot capacity. Despite the hybrid’s battery taking up space, the 460-litre load bay is still a fair size EQUIPMENT Home charges from a 7.4kW wallbox will take around two hours, giving nearly 40 miles of range (above); updated C5 Aircross features new 10-inch infotainment setup (below), although it runs older software

Citroen

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John McIlroy

John _ McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy

CITROEN has been making decent gains with its smaller electrified offering, the e-C4 raised-up family hatchback. But the company’s plug-in hybrid SUV, the C5 Aircross, is still a significant model that aims to bridge the gap between combustion and fully electric power. It’s an important transition technology for customers who don’t yet want to take the plunge with an EV. And now, nearly four years after its launch, it’s been treated to a facelift.

It’s a reasonably extensive one, on the surface, featuring new plastic panels – think front grille and both bumpers – along with new headlights. This is standard fare for a mid-life update, but in the case of the C5 Aircross it does give the car a sharper look – one that’s much more in tune with that of the company’s new flagship, the C5 X.

Inside the car, there’s been a bigger transformation – one that has extended to a change of dashboard, in fact. As well as as the Hyundai Tucson in this week’s test (page 32), but four per cent higher than the all-new plug-in hybrid Kia Sportage.

On the road there’s enough power from the electric motor to take you to the national speed limit on electricity alone, and while the eight-speed automatic gearbox isn’t entirely foolproof, the set-up generally does a good job of flicking between electric and petrol power. The combustion engine spins smoothly, so if you take a relaxed approach, then there should be enough performance here for refined, swift progress.

The chassis will thank you for such an attitude too, because as with all Citroens these days, it’s resolutely focused on comfort. It features Citroen’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions – a brand name for fancy bump-stops – and a more complex multi-link set-up at the rear than you’ll find on petrol and diesel-powered versions of the C5 Aircross.

The suspension does a particularly good job around town of massaging out

some plusher materials in key areas, the C5 Aircross gets a new 10-inch infotainment screen, although it’s worth pointing out that while its hardware matches that of the C5 X, under the skin it’s running the more dated software from the C4. It’s a shame, as a result, that the dashboard redesign couldn’t have incorporated physical temperature and ventilation controls; you still have to press an on-screen button to access them.

The PHEV sits at the top of the C5 Aircross range, but for now at least, the mechanical make-up hasn’t changed from the original car’s. That means you still get a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, coupled with a 107bhp electric motor for a combined 222bhp and 360Nm of torque – respectable figures for a car of this size.

The battery capacity is 13.2kWh, which is enough, Citroen says, for up to 38 miles of electric-only running, and home-wallbox recharge times of around two hours. That range is significant, though, because it places this car in the 12 per cent band for company-car Benefit-in-Kind tax – the same NEED TO KNOW

Interior is spacious and infotainment upgrade is a nice feature. However, we’d prefer physical climate controls