DRIVEN NEW C5 AIRCROSS

Brilliant family-friendly SUV majors on the traditional Citroen strong points of comfort and value

- By Jordan Katsianis

This new-generation model - available in hybrid, electric or plugin hybrid form, as we're driving here - is actually quite interesting. Although the car shares its key underpinnings with a whole family of brands from Jeep to Peugeot, the team at Citroen has kept its new offering distinct, and has done so without compromising on the things it knows customers want.

The C5 Aircross has only been around for a single generation, but in that time it's already proven to be a firm family favourite, offering a good balance of value, comfort and efficiency. These aspects are critical for any family car buyer, and this new version seems to double down on all three of them. This starts with a very attractive price point, which puts it a good few thousand pounds below key European and Korean rivals, and right in the mix with cars from Chinese brands such as BYD and Omoda.

The Citroen C5 Aircross will cost from as little as £30,495 in its entry-level You! trim, but in order to access the extra versatility of the plugin hybrid we're driving, you'll need to part with £38,885. It's worth Under the bonnet, the C5 Aircross PHEV combines a 148bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 124bhp electric motor and 18kWh battery pack. Peak combined power is 193bhp, which isn't a huge amount compared with most key rivals, but the all-electric range is a respectable 53 miles. This is about right for the class in 2025, without being outstanding.

Performance is fine, with 0-62mph dispatched in 8.3 seconds, and we found on our test route that there was more than enough muscle for day-to-day driving, even when running on the electric motor alone. Fully laden with kids, a dog and a chest of drawers in the boot, it might be a different story, but the petrol engine is always there to beef up the power if and when you need it.