MODEL ON TEST: MAX PLUG-IN HYBRID 195 AUTOMATIC – MILEAGE – 5,818

We’ve been making more of a concerted effort to plug the C5 Aircross in at night to take advantage of 50 miles of pure electric power using low-cost electricity. Compared to filling up with petrol, which has been on the rise again over the past month, it has meant that our overall fuel economy has risen to 53.2mpg.And with the majority of our journeys shuffling around the locality, most of our driving has been completed without using any petrol. And that puts a smile on my face, while reducing our running costs. It takes around three hours to fully replenish the 21kWh battery pack using our 7.4kW Podpoint wallbox, and very often there’s still some remaining charge from before.

Having driven both the mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions back-to-back, our car is considerably perkier and feels much more alive on the road. Glance at the raw on-paper figures and the 1.2-litre mild hybrid takes 11.2 seconds to get to 62mph, with a top speed of 112mph, compared to 8.3 seconds and a 137mph maximum speed. Sure there’s a £2,570 difference in price, but I believe that the plug-in hybrid is a much more rounded product, and of course there’s the capacity to run on zero-emissions electricity more of the time.

Oddly, the plug-in hybrid C5 Aircross is only offered in top-specification Max trim, whereas the mild hybrid and electric variants are available in You! and Plus trim, too. Max trim benefits from a host
of additional equipment that includes a drive assist pack that incorporates lane positioning assist, semi-automatic lane change assistance, long-distance blind spot detection, anticipatory speed limit recommendation and rear traffic alert.While this equipment helps out,if you can’t do these things for yourself, then really you shouldn’t be driving. There’s also front, side and rear parking sensors and 360-degree camera system, matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beam assist, gold detailing to the front doors and bumpers, heated seats and steering wheel, an air quality cabin system, electric driver’s seat, hands-free electric tailgate, LED lights in the footwells, aluminium pedals and a more comprehensive head-up display.The majority of these items are mighty helpful and I’m quite pleased that my car is finished in Max trim. Aside from paint colours, there are only three optional extras for the Max specification, and they are a removeable towbar, electric panoramic sunroof and a pack that includes massaging and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, storage nets on the backs of the front seats and floor mats, as well as the upholstery being finished in grey rather than blue. My car comes fitted with the latter two, and as I don’t tow, the hitch would be superfluous.

The panoramic sunroof is a £1,100 option that allows light to flood into the cabin, which will be a big bonus as we accelerate towards autumn.The massaging seats are a great function too, especially when you’re weary on longer journeys.The grey seats appear to mark quite easily, though they do respond well to a damp cloth, restoring their immaculate appearance once more.I haven’t thought to use
the ventilated seats, even during the heatwaves, as the C5 Aircross delivers sufficiently cold air through the vents thanks to the dual-zone climate control. At times it is too icy cold, and I’ve found myself dialling up the temperatures, even though there’s record breaking figures being delivered outside. Us Brits are never content, are we?

IAN ROBERTSON

WHAT’S HOT: The icy cold air conditioning has been lovely, and almost too cold at times.

WHAT’S NOT: The plug-in hybrid version of the C5 Aircross is only available in top-specification Max trim.

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FACTS & FIGURES

ARRIVED: 1st May 2026

PRICE WHEN NEW: £38,855

PRICE AS TESTED: £42,020

ECONOMY: 87.1mpg (official WLTP) 53.2mpg (on test)

COSTS: None

FAULTS: None