Test drive Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid: a look into the future

Symbolically, this year started with a test of the Citroen C4 and ends with a test of the Citroen. Yes, not ordinary, but exclusive PHEV-hybrid! And although the year turned out to be difficult, but like the Citroen C4, the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid crossover allows you to look into a brighter future. What am I talking about? Now I’ll tell you everything in detail.

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Crossover Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid: the future that you can already buy

Citroen fans will immediately recognize the pre-upgrade version of the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid test car. How is it, if prices have already been announced in Ukraine and orders for the updated crossover Citroen C5 Aircross have started?! In the range of which, by the way, there is a PHEV version of the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid.

The bottom line is that we owe the appearance of the updated Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid crossover to this particular car, which became the hero of the article. Citroen importer brought it to Ukraine about a year ago. Let’s just say, to study and understand “for myself” what is a PHEV hybrid in the form of Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid. We studied, understood – and decided to start deliveries of the hybrid with the launch of the planned update of the Citroen C5 Aircross model.

The updated car Citroen C5 Aircross is already coming to Ukrainian dealers, orders are open, the first cars have appeared. The main changes are the exterior (front end, lights, wheels) and interior (enlarged display, center console). But now it is much more important for us that the 225-horsepower crossover Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid has appeared in the price list of the model.

The price of such a car in the maximum configuration of SHINE PACK is from UAH 1.85 million; for comparison, a diesel 2-liter 180-horsepower Citroen C5 Aircross in a similar configuration costs from 1.32 million hryvnias. In general, the price tag for the updated Citroen C5 Aircross crossover starts at just below 1.18 million hryvnia (1.5-liter diesel engine with 130 hp and FEEL PACK equipment). However, I will write about the updated Citroen C5 Aircross car later, but for now we will focus on the PHEV hybrid technology.

How the rechargeable hybrid Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid works

Talking about the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid model, I immediately want to recall the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 and DS 7 Crossback E-Tense cars: a 1.6-liter EP6FADTXD gasoline engine, an 8-speed automatic, a 13.2 kWh battery with the ability to charge from a wall outlet , four-wheel drive. Stop!

The main difference between the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid and its relatives is that it has front-wheel drive. Accordingly, there is no electric motor at the rear. And no 300 hp power. However, the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid crossover offers 225 hp, which still makes it the most powerful in the Citroen C5 Aircross model lineup. But in terms of torque (360 Nm), the hybrid is still slightly inferior to the 2-liter diesel version of the Citroen C5 Aircross (400 Nm).

These power and torque figures are achieved by combining the output of a PureTech 1.6-liter “turbo” petrol (180 hp) and an electric motor (80 kW or 109 hp), which is installed at the junction of the internal combustion engine and gearbox. By the way, an 8-speed “automatic” was used as a gearbox, but also a slightly modified design: a clutch pack in an oil bath took the place of the torque converter; but the traditional planetary gear set remained.

These are the changes that lie on the surface. But there are still hidden changes inside. For example – where to place the hybrid battery? At first glance, and taking into account the declared reduced trunk volume (460-600 liters versus 550-690 liters for conventional versions), the battery is located at the back – in the underground of the luggage compartment. But it’s not.

The battery is installed within the wheelbase, it is only slightly offset to the rear seats. However, this required the transfer of the fuel tank – it was pushed back. And this, in turn, required a change in the suspension of the car: if the regular versions of the Citroen C5 Aircross have a semi-independent rear suspension based on a U-shaped beam, then the hybrid gets a fully independent suspension on wishbones.

At first glance, the hybrid version of the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid differs only in the corresponding designations on the body and the charging port. By the way, the power of the charger is 7.4 kW, which allows you to fully charge the battery in two hours from a Wallbox-type station or in 5-7 hours from a conventional outlet. They dug deeper – and found a gasoline engine, an electric motor paired with an e-EAT8 automatic transmission, a Li-Ion battery with an operating voltage of about 200 V, and a modified rear suspension – which led to a change in the boot floor and a decrease in its total volume . What else has changed inside?

Yes, almost everything is the same in the cabin: a massive front panel, a central 8-inch display “hug” ventilation deflectors, front and rear seats are stitched “in a square”. By the way, about the seats: there is a massage in front, and independent adjustments in the back.

So what has changed? For example, the layout of the center console: the Drive Mode button appeared – it controls the switching of driving modes and the operation of the hybrid system. Also, a button was added to go to the hybrid settings menu: you can see the fuel or energy consumption, you can set the desired range level on electric traction. And the graphics of the virtual dashboard based on a 12.3-inch monitor have also changed – from now on, all elements are made in a rectangular design.

There are few changes in the cabin, but they are: a button for selecting driving modes, switching to the hybrid system control menu, new dashboard graphics. There is still plenty of room in the back, and the seats can be independently adjusted. The nominal reduction in the trunk had practically no effect on the real-perceived volume: the luggage compartment is large, at the bottom there was a place for a convenient organizer with a compartment for the charging cable.

How the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid PHEV rides

If we talk about the chassis, then any Citroen C5 Aircross crossover – whether regular or in the Hybrid version – focuses on the softness of the RNS shock absorbers and overall comfort. Any road is perceived in the style of “rolled and swam”, bumps are softened as much as possible, the body sways evenly. Of course, all this leads to rolls in corners and buildup during acceleration and deceleration. But still: for fans of comfort, the Citroen C5 Aircross crossover is a great option and a candidate for purchase.

And fans of dynamic drive? After all, power in the style of “good for 200 horses” and the presence of a SPORT mode promise us something! For example, good acceleration: a quick start from a standstill, continuous acceleration on the go is not bad. Yes, and the acceleration figures to “hundreds” are encouraging: quite a decent result of 8.3-8.7 seconds. However, in fact, the element of the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid crossover is a combination of drive and economy.

My minimum fuel consumption in the city was kept at around 4.5 liters. Of course, subject to periodic recharging of the battery – well, why else would you buy a PHEV hybrid? True, if you charge on the go from a running gasoline engine, then the consumption increases by about half: in the city, 8-10 liters per “hundred”. Moreover, it is desirable to charge up to 50-70% of the battery capacity, so that there is still a margin for energy accumulation – then the “B” recovery mode works much more actively than with a fully charged battery.

A couple of interesting numbers: the total power of the hybrid system is 225 hp, the torque is 360 Nm, you can reach 135 km / h on electric alone and drive up to 50 km – this is in theory. But in practice, the power reserve counter in winter gave out about 26 km on the electric drive; but also on the electric drive you can score even more than promised. The Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid is about 200 kg heavier than the regular versions of the Citroen C5 Aircross, but the increased power compensates for everything: a “hundred” is given in 8.3-8.7 seconds, depending on the battery charge level and the selected mode.

My optimum is a combination of SPORT-mode and “B”-recovery: full power, fast responses, constantly running gasoline engine; but also the hybrid system always tries to collect the maximum energy. It turns out a dynamic ride, while the frequent use of the electric motor allows to reduce fuel consumption – as a result, I drive more actively around the city than on the 180-horsepower diesel version of the Citroen C5 Aircross, but with less consumption! However, miracles no longer happen on the highway – at a speed of 100-120 km / h, the consumption is 5.5-6 liters per “hundred”.

In summary: this is the future that is available today

Sometime during the debut of this particular car, the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid, the Citroen brand spoke of its electrification plans. The main thing is that starting in 2020, every new Citroen model must have an electrified version: either a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or a full electric vehicle (BEV).

These plans are turning into reality now. And, as we see, it is also for Ukraine: modern, advanced, innovative technologies come to us. On the example of the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid crossover, we can see the future, which becomes the present today and right now.

With this material, I complete my articles for 2022. It remains only to wish that the upcoming 2023 turns out to be as white and light as this Citroen. As soft and comfortable as this Citroen. As advanced and modern as this Citroen. I wish this for all of us. And our common Ukraine in the first place.

Specifications Citroen C5 aircross Hybrid

Body – crossover, 5 doors, 5 seats

Dimensions – 4.5 x 1.87 x 1.69 m

Wheelbase – 2.73 m

Trunk – 460-600 l (5 seats)

Curb weight – 1750 kg

Motor – PHEV-hybrid, R4 1.6-liter gasoline turbo engine plus electric motor

The total power of the hybrid system is 225 hp.

Total torque – 360 Nm

Specific power and torque – 129 hp per 1 t; 206 Nm per 1 t

Drive – front drive

Transmission – 8-st. “automatic” e-EAT8

Acceleration 0-100 km / h – 8.7 seconds

Maximum speed – 225 km / h

Battery capacity – 13.2 kWh

The minimum price of a Citroen C5 Aircross NEW car is from UAH 1.18 million. or $29.5 thousand

The minimum price of a Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid NEW is from UAH 1.85 million. or $46 thousand.