COMMON FRENCH SENSE? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Citroen's second generation C5 Aircross family SUV is at its priciest in this Plug-in Hybrid guise. Jonathan Crouch reports.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 36

The best value family SUV Plug-in Hybrid? That's long been the Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV. So has the French maker spoiled that proposition by making this second generation model larger, sleeker and more sophisticated? Let's see.

Backgroundword count: 139

It's hard to be a 'value brand' (as Citroen is supposed to be these days) when you have to use the same expensive technology as pricier mainstream marques. That's the quandary the French maker is in with this car, the C5 Aircross Plug-In Hybrid. The second generation C5 Aircross was priced from launch in ordinary non-plug-in Hybrid form from no more than around £30,000. But this Plug-in Hybrid version was launched at quite a bit more than that - about 25% more actually. Even the full-electric version is considerably cheaper - potentially around £6,000 less, once you take into account that EV variant's available government grant. So there's quite a cost for having this car with the flexibility of a PHEV drivetrain. But it still one of the best value choices in the class. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 401

If you owned the first generation C5 Aircross PHEV, you'll find that quite a bit has changed with the drivetrain of this MK2 model. The 1.6-litre four cylinder petrol turbo engine is much the same, but it's now mated to a seven-speed auto (rather than eight speeds) and a much bigger battery - 21kWh (rather than just 13.2kWh as before). That of course means a much longer EV drive range - up to 53 miles (compared to 34 miles before). The rechargeable hybrid technology combines two energy sources: a 150hp turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a 125hp electric motor that powers the front wheels. Depending on driving conditions and selected modes, the engine and motor operate independently or together. In Electric mode, the vehicle runs exclusively on electric power, making it ideal for city driving and low-emission zones. In Hybrid mode, the system intelligently switches between electric and petrol power or uses both based on performance needs. When operating together, the petrol engine and electric motor generate a peak power output of 195hp. 0-62mph takes 8.3s en route to 137mph. Having slightly less weight than the full-electric version certainly helps with handling and ride quality. Talking of handling, as before, Citroen describes the experience you still get here as 'travelling Premier Class', but what exactly, does that mean? Something significant surely, given that one of this car's main selling points is a unique 'Progressive Hydraulic Cushion' suspension system. The name of this model might suggest this to be an air-sprung set-up, while the current trend might suggest it to be driver-adaptive. Neither of these solutions though, fits with the approach Citroen must take at this price point. The company lost money building too much damping complexity into its affordable cars in the '60's and '70's and in developing this SUV, it wasn't about to make the same mistake again. So what we've got here instead is an ordinary everyday spring-and-damper set-up that's been re-imagined in a rather clever way. In ordinary cars, such a system usually works with rubber bumps stops that the suspension coil crashes against over bumps at the top and bottom of wheel travel. The 'Progressive Hydraulic Cushions' set-up replaces these stops with hydraulic dampers. These cushion those impacts over things like speed humps and tarmac tears and allow the fitment of softer springs and dampers, producing the exemplary ride quality that Citroen claims this car can deliver.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227