Citroën has launched a plug-in hybrid version of its C5 Aircross SUV, bringing CO2 emissions of 39g/km and a 31-mile electric-only range to aid fleets looking to go greener.

Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid

Previewed at last year’s Paris Motor Show, the C5 Aircross Hybrid breaks new ground for the brand, providing its first plug-in hybrid under Citroën’s electrification offensive, which will see all new models launched by the brand have an electrified version. This will result in 80% of the range having an electrified version by 2023, and 100% by 2025.

Priced from £35,340 and starting deliveries in mid-2020, the C5 Aircross Hybrid combines a PureTech 180hp petrol engine, a 109hp electric motor and an ë-EAT8 automatic gearbox, delivering 225hp of overall power and torque of 320Nm.

As a result, it’s intended to bring a best of both worlds approach for drivers, with a 100% electric range of up to 31 miles / 50km and flexibility for longer trips thanks to the PureTech petrol engine.

Its official consumption of 166mpg and 39g/km CO2 (WLTP cycle) are also intended to bring competitive costs for fleets and drivers.

The 13.2kWh battery is covered by an eight-year / 100,000 mile warranty to guarantee up to 70% of its charge capacity, and can be charged in less than two hours thanks to the standard 7.4KW on board charger. Charging can also be carried out via a domestic plug socket in six hours, if an additional cable is purchased. Drivers can make use of the e-Remote Control service available in the MyCitroën app to manage charging, including monitoring progress, while the charging flap also features a colour code to visually track the charging process.

The C5 Aircross Hybrid retains the 1.9m loading length of the conventional ICE C5 Aircross models thanks to the articulated boot floor used for easy storage of the vehicle charging equipment, but bears a number of design changes to mark it out from its siblings. These include a bespoke blue colour pack, a ‘hybrid’ logo on the rear tailgate and an ‘ḧ’ on the front wings, while the 12.3-inch digital dashboard and the 8-inch touchscreen carried over from the standard models feature new graphics.

Other features include Citroën’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions and Advanced Comfort seats that the brand says replicates the ‘magic carpet’ effect typical of core Citroën models, plus 19 driver assistance systems that bring Highway Driver Assist, a level-2 autonomous driving system particularly suited to urban traffic congestion and highway driving.