Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid 136: closer to a true hybrid than it claims

Citroën may describe it as a proper hybrid, but the C5 Aircross Hybrid 136 isn’t one in the strict sense - even so, it offers clear benefits that bring it close.

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Among the models wearing the double chevron, the Citroën C5 Aircross is arguably the one most likely to appeal to families who prioritise space. Alongside its sturdier SUV-inspired styling, it delivers a cabin with five genuinely usable seats and plenty of room for luggage.

One of the biggest additions to the range is a new electrified variant: the Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid 136, which introduces the brand’s Hybrid 48V technology. We travelled to the outskirts of Paris to see it and drive it.

Hybrid or mild-hybrid?

The first question is whether the C5 Aircross Hybrid 136 truly counts as a hybrid. Because the electrical side is based on a 48 V system, the C5 Aircross Hybrid 136 sits firmly in mild-hybrid territory rather than among hybrids (full-hybrid or plug-in hybrid), despite what the brand claims. That said, it also does more than a typical mild-hybrid setup.

It combines a 21 kW (28 hp) electric motor, plus a second electric motor that acts as the starter motor - both belt-driven - and a small 48 V battery with 432 Wh of usable capacity (mounted under the driver’s seat, so it doesn’t “steal” boot space).

This is paired with an updated version of the familiar 1.2 PureTech, producing 136 hp and 230 Nm, and a new six-speed ë-DCS6 dual-clutch gearbox developed specifically for hybrid systems.

According to Citroën, the system can provide a boost during harder acceleration, recover energy during deceleration and braking, and cut fuel consumption by up to 15% compared with the 1.2 PureTech with 130 hp.

That’s a meaningful saving, and it’s closely linked to the expanded capability of Hybrid 48V, which allows the C5 Aircross to drive in town for up to 50% of the time using only the electric motor.

We’ve already covered this system and its potential in detail when it was introduced by Peugeot, so we recommend reading (or revisiting) that piece:

In everyday driving

So does Hybrid 48V actually deliver on what it promises, especially when it comes to economy?

Unfortunately, as with the other models we drove at this Citroën event, our route in the new C5 Aircross Hybrid 136 was very short.

Even so, it quickly became clear what the brand meant by saying it’s more than simply a mild-hybrid. The petrol engine switches off more often than usual - not only during deceleration, but also when cruising on flat roads at moderate speeds.

The electric motor may only offer 28 hp, but Citroën says the C5 Aircross can cover almost 1 km without firing up the combustion engine. On top of that, the changeover between the two modes is impressively smooth, and often the only clue is the dedicated display view available in the instrument cluster.

A range of just 1 km might not sound like much, but in urban use with normal driving it’s enough to spend many moments running purely on electricity - and that shows up in the fuel figures.

On our brief route - urban, with 30 km/h and 50 km/h limits, plus multiple junctions and traffic lights - consumption stayed below 6.5 l/100 km over just over 50 km, more than a litre lower than what we recorded with the 1.2 PureTech 130 hp.

Given the nature of the drive, though, we came away thinking the C5 Aircross Hybrid 136 could do even better. For that, we’ll need to wait until we can test it more thoroughly in Portugal.

Five proper seats

While the new Hybrid 136 powertrain was the star of this first encounter, the C5 Aircross still has strong credentials as a “family car”.

Beyond the generous cabin space, one of this French SUV’s standout features remains the three individual rear seats. The middle seat is still the least attractive spot, but the available width means three people can travel back there with a level of comfort that’s better than many rivals.

Up front, comfort steps up again and the driving position is very good. The driver also gets a conventionally sized 12.3-inch instrument cluster, rather than the compact displays that have appeared in more recent Citroën models.

Centrally positioned at the top of the dashboard, the infotainment touchscreen isn’t the newest version either. In this case, that’s a shame, as an update here would have been very welcome.

Price and equipment

For the new Hybrid 136 version, there are four trim levels available, with pricing ranging from €37,980 for the You version to €44,135 for the special Ë-Series Collection edition, which comes with a very generous equipment offering.

That kind of money is already enough to get into some fully electric models. However, there are still plenty of buyers for whom having to use a plug simply isn’t convenient at all - and for them, this type of system may well be the most suitable solution.