MODEL ON TEST: MAX PLUG-IN HYBRID 195 AUTOMATIC – MILEAGE – 3,492

Normally when a car company shows off a concept car, you can take most of its looks and design features with a pinch of salt, as they are unlikely to make production, or at the very least they are watered down. Interestingly, the C5 Aircross Concept that made its debut at the Paris motor show in October 2024 has largely reached production, with only a few elements not making it. The vibrant green paintwork of the show car is one of the things that hasn’t made it to production, and that’s a shame. So instead, I had to opt for the much more sober Astoria green paintwork that is fitted to our test car.

Our car began life in front of the camera as it was used for all of the press shots of the plug-in hybrid edition. While the mild hybrid and electric versions of the car hogged the limelight, the plug-in hybrid had a very low key arrival, and very few publications have actually tested it. That’s why I wanted to run one as a long-termer as I had already spent time behind the wheel of the other iterations. You’ll notice that our car is the 195 edition, which translates into 195ps or 192bhp, but there’s a new 225 version now on sale that translates into 225ps or 221bhp. Even though there appears to be 29bhp difference, there isn’t really. Both powertrains are exactly the same, it’s just the rules have changed as to how you can calculate the power output and Citroën has taken advantage of that.

Check all of the figures and you’ll see that they’re the same. First impressions are of a car that isn’t quite as plush inside as my previous car, the Peugeot 3008, but much of that, I’m sure, is down to the colourful mood lighting. On the C5 Aircross it’s a whole lot more subtle and doesn’t smack you in the mouth like the Peugeot does. I prefer the layout of the dashboard,including the waterfall-style central screen. It’s much easier to operate and all of the controls are sensibly dotted around the cabin. The only part of the car that I struggle with is underneath the centre console. It’s too much of a stretch to put a drink into the cupholder, for example. The gear selector is more sensibly placed than in the 3008, and the drive mode switch is located just below it, and further down is the electric park brake. All three are nicely positioned for ease of use. The wireless charging pad for a smartphone is well placed, too. The plastics inside the car are slightly inferior compared to the plusher materials in the Peugeot, but I don’t hate those in the Citroën, they’re adequate. And considering the super keen pricing of the C5 Aircross, you’ve got to wonder how they manage to make the five-seat SUV for the price that they’re selling it at. They could add another £2,000 and it wouldn’t seem out of place. Indeed, I’ve been saying for ages that an even better equipped C5 Aircross is what is needed, maybe something like a Black Edition like everyone else is doing, with a price tag that is a couple of grand higher. After all, the cheapest Peugeot 3008 PHEV is £2k more, the least expensive Ford Kuga PHEV is £460 extra, while Volkswagen’s Tiguan is £4k more. Bear in mind that these prices are compared to the top-of-the-range C5 Aircross in Max trim and perhaps you see where I’m coming from.

What I really love is the smooth way that the C5 Aircross operates, with suspension that cossets nicely and seats that are neat and spongey. With our roads so heavily potholed, it’s lovely to be piloting a car that feels like it’s rolling on cotton wool. Even if you manage to encounter one of the craters on our roads, very few of the shockwaves find their way into the cabin. It’s truly magnificent, or should that be magnifique!

IAN ROBERTSON

WHAT’S HOT: The design stayed true to the concept car.

WHAT’S NOT: Except the vibrant green hasn’t made it across to the UK yet.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT: 10-inch digital instruments, 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin e-Primacy 235/55 R19 tyres and tyre repair kit, 40/20/40 split/fold/ reclining rear seats, 360-degree camera system, Adaptive cruise control with stop and go and speed limiter, Alarm system, Aluminium pedals, Ambient lighting, Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, Auto-dimming rear-view mirror, Automatic headlights, Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection detection, DAB radio with 13-inch touchscreen, navigation, 6-speakers, USB-C sockets, voice control and steering wheel controls, Drive mode selector, Driver drowsiness detection, Driver, passenger, side and head airbags with passenger side de-activation, Dual position boot floor, Dual-zone climate control, Electric and heated mirrors with power folding, Electric driver’s seat, Electric park brake, Electric tailgate with hands free functionality, Electric windows front and rear, Electronic stability programme with traction control, Emergency e-call system, Faux leather and cloth upholstery, Faux leather steering wheel, Head-up display, Heated front seats, Heated steering wheel, ISOFIX child seat, safety fasteners for rear outer seats, Keyless entry and start, Lane departure warning system, Lane keeping assist, LED daytime running lights, LED Matrix headlights with adaptive high beam assist, LED rear lights, Parking sensors front and rear, Rain sensing windscreen wipers, Rear cross traffic alert, Rear privacy glass, Semi-automatic lane change assistance, Traffic sign recognition, Tyre pressure monitors, Wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth smartphone compatibility and Wireless smartphone charger

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:

Astoria Green metallic paint (£645)

Hype grey ambience with advanced comfort seats in grey perforated premium leather effect and fabric, electrically adjustable seat bolsters for driver and front passenger, massaging front seats, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, storage nets on backs of front seats, front and rear floor mats (£1,100)

Panoramic opening sunroof (£1,100)

Puncture repair kit with compressor (£20)

Two-tone Perla Nera black roof (£300)

FACTS & FIGURES

PRICE (NEW): £38,855

PRICE (AS TESTED): £42,020

COLOUR: Astoria Green metallic

BUILT IN: Rennes, France

CODENAME: CR3

GENERATION: 2

PLATFORM: STLA-Medium

BODYSTYLE: 5-door SUV, 5-seats

LAYOUT: Front-wheel drive

POWERPLANT: 1,598cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, turbocharged petrol with electric motor and 17.8kWh battery

GEARBOX: 7-speed twin-clutch automatic

MAX POWER: (ENGINE) 110kW/148bhp/150ps

MAX POWER: (ELECTRIC MOTOR) 92kW/123bhp/125ps

MAX POWER: (COMBINED) 143kW/192bhp/195ps

MAX TORQUE: (ENGINE) 221lb ft/300Nm

MAX TORQUE: (ELECTRIC MOTOR) 87lb ft/118Nm

TOP SPEED: 137mph

0-62mph: 8.3secs

CO2 EMISSIONS: 62g/km

ECONOMY: (COMBINED) 87.1mpg

ECONOMY: (ON TEST) 43.4mpg

FUEL TANK: 55 litres

RANGE: (ELECTRIC RANGE) 53 miles

INSURANCE GROUP: 29

BIK RATE: (2026/2027 TAX YEAR) 19%

SIZE: (LENGTH/WIDTH WITH MIRRORS/HEIGHT/ WHEELBASE) 4,652/2,108/1,690/2,784mm

BOOT SPACE: (MIN/MAX) 565/1,668 litres

KERB WEIGHT: 1,874kg

TOWING WEIGHT: 1,550kg

EURO NCAP RATING: Four stars

SPARE WHEEL: (FULL-SIZE/SPACESAVER/RUN- FLAT/SELF-SEALING/REPAIR KIT) No/no/no/no/yes

WARRANTY: 3 years/60,000 miles up to a service activated

DATE ARRIVED: 1st May 2026

COSTS: None

FAULTS: None