On the hottest day of the year I managed to stay cool driving Citroen’s new C5X crossover. And it wasn’t just down to the air conditioning.
My first drive of this stylish new car coincided with tarmac melting in some areas. But I reckon I still looked and felt the business in a car that has distinctive, bold looks.
The C5X combines three elements: the practicality of an estate, the sweeping lines of a saloon and the versatility of an SUV.
Versatile: The new C5X is the perfect blend of estate, saloon and SUV
Mine was the C5X Plus Plug-in Hybrid 225 8-speed automatic, which costs from £39,960 rising to £42,710 due to extras including metallic paint (£650), upgraded interior trim including advanced comfort seats with massaging (£800) and a panoramic roof and sun-blind (£1,300).
Combining a turbocharged direct fuel injection PureTech 180 1.6-litre petrol engine with an 81.2kWh electric motor and 12.4kWh lithium ion battery combination, my PHEV produced a total of 225 horsepower and accelerated from rest to 62mph in a decent 7.9 seconds. It has a top speed (where legal) of 145mph.
Yet with judicious driving the PHEV delivers fuel economy of up to 236 miles, and an electric-only zero-emissions range of up to 38 miles. CO2 emissions are a mere 30g/km.
There are also two pure petrol options — a frugal three cylinder 1.2-litre 130 and a 1.6-litre 180 — but significantly, and deliberately, no diesels. All powertrains are linked t o a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Packed with kit, the C5X is built for comfort, not high-performance antics, and performs admirably. There are four driving modes: electric (provided you still have charge); hybrid; comfort; and sport. I found it an engaging and relaxing drive. Sport mode is great, while hybrid will save on fuel economy — especially welcome at this time of soaring pump prices.
There are three trim levels: Sense Plus, Shine and Shine Plus — with prices starting at £27,790 for the petrol 130 in Sense Plus trim.
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous 1 Next 
Amid all the travel chaos, holidays in the UK are especially… 
Mini previews its electric Aceman: All-new crossover will… 
Police’s new ‘Big Brother’ van to detect motoring offences… 
Porsche recalls 40k electric Taycan sports cars over fears…
Share this article
Share
HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP
How to save hundreds on car insurance: Ten top tips to cut the cost in just a few minutes
I took it for a delightfully relaxed spin around the leafy country lanes of Worcestershire and Herefordshire, as well as though the towns and hills of the Malverns. I even took a diversion for a sneaky peek at the Shelsley Walsh hill-climb, but decided against a cheeky ascent up the track while no-one was looking.
And being a plug-in hybrid it should prove light on the pocket to own and run, with a first year tax rate of just £10 and a standard annual rate after that of £165.
Another benefit is that you can generate electric charge as you drive, increasing your fuel economy even more.
Being a plug-in hybrid it should prove light on the pocket to own and run, with a first year tax rate of just £10 and a standard annual rate after that of £165
The lounge-like interior is comfortable and cossetting with smart soft-touch surfaces and fabrics
Packed with kit, the C5X is built for comfort, not high-performance antics, and performs admirably
There are four driving modes: electric (provided you still have charge); hybrid; comfort; and sport
‹ Slide me ›
Plenty of room in the back too and a useful 485 litre boot for load-lugging- stretching to 1,580 litres with the rear seats down
The lounge-like interior is comfortable and cossetting with smart soft-touch surfaces and fabrics. Plenty of room in the back too and a useful 485 litre boot for load-lugging- stretching to 1,580 litres with the rear seats down.
Citroen say sales will be ‘customer driven’ which means they will be built to order – there won’t be lots piling up in showrooms: ‘No car will be built without a customer behind it.’
And the UK is a big market for Citroen – representing around 10 per cent of its global sales.
Citroën UK managing director Eurig Druce said: ‘We’re proud to offer customers a completely unique model. There’s nothing like New C5 X on the market today, not only in terms of its looks and dimensions, but also the way it combines the most advanced comfort features with the latest technologies to deliver unrivalled comfort and serenity.’
Will it fit in my garage?: Citroen C5X Shine Plus Plug-in Hybrid 225
Built: China
Price from: £39,960
Price as driven: £42,710
Range price from: £27,790 (for petrol 130 in Sense Plus trim)
Length: 4805mm
Width: 1865mm
Width (with mirrors): 2062mm
Height: 1485mm
Wheelbase: 2785mm
Wheels: 19-inch Aero X diamond cut alloys with Onyx Black paint
Kerb weight: 1826kg
Gross weight: 2185kg
Drive: Front-wheel drive
Petrol power: Turbocharged direct fuel injection PureTech 180 1.6 litre petrol engine
Electric power: 81.2kWh electric motor
Battery: 12.4kWh lithium ion
Total power: 225 horse-power
PHEV charging time: under 2 hours
Gears: 8-speed automatic
Driving modes: electric; hybrid; comfort; and sport
0-62mph: 7.9 seconds
Top speed: 145mph.
Hybrid fuel economy: up to 236 miles
Electric-only/zero emissions range: up to 38 miles
Average CO2 emissions: 30g/km
Fuel tank capacity: 40 litres
Luggage capacity: Rear seats up – 485 litres; Rear seats down – 1580 litres
Insurance group: 31E
Annual VED: £10 (first year)/ £165 (standard rate)
Benefit-in-kind band: 12%
Extras fitted: metallic paint (£650), upgraded interior trim including advanced comfort seats with massage and ventilation (£800) and an opening panoramic roof and sun-blind (£1,300)
Range includes: Two pure-petrol options: a three-cylinder 1.2 litre 130 and a 1.6 litre 180. No diesels
Trim levels: Sense Plus, Shine and Shine Plus
#fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle#mobile {display:none} #fiveDealsWidget {display:block; float:left; clear:both; max-width:636px; margin:0; padding:0; line-height:120%; font-size:12px} #fiveDealsWidget div, #fiveDealsWidget a {margin:0; padding:0; line-height:120%; text-decoration: none; font-family:Arial, Helvetica ,sans-serif} #fiveDealsWidget .widgetTitleBox {display:block; float:left; width:100%; background-color:#af1e1e; } #fiveDealsWidget .widgetTitle {color:#fff; text-transform: uppercase; font-size:18px; font-weight:bold; margin:6px 10px 4px 10px; } #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {float:left; display:block; width:124px; margin-right:4px; margin-top:5px; background-color: #e3e3e3; min-height:180px;} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {margin-right:0} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle {display:block; margin:10px 5px; color:#000; font-weight:bold} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage img {float:left; display:block; margin:0; padding:0} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {border:1px solid #ccc} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage img {width:100%; height:auto} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemdesc {float:left; display:block; color:#004db3; font-weight:bold; margin:5px;} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemRate {float:left; display:block; color:#000; margin:5px} #fiveDealsWidget .dealFooter {display:block; float:left; width:100%; margin-top:5px; background-color:#e3e3e3 } #fiveDealsWidget .footerText {font-size:10px; margin:10px 10px 10px 10px;} @media (max-width: 635px) { #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {width:19%; margin-right:1%} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {width:20%} } @media (max-width: 560px) { #fiveDealsWidget #desktop {display:none;} #fiveDealsWidget #mobile {display:block!important} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {background-color: #fff; height:auto; min-height:auto} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {border-bottom:1px solid #ececec; margin-bottom:5px; padding-bottom:10px} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {border-bottom:0px solid #ececec; margin-bottom:5px; padding-bottom:0px} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem, #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {width:100%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {float:left; display:inline-block} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {width:35%; margin-right:1%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent {width:63%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle {margin: 0px 5px 5px; font-size:16px} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent .dealItemdesc, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent .dealItemRate {clear:both} } SAVE MONEY ON MOTORING Your legal duty 
Your legal duty Car insurance Compare policies Peace of mind 
Peace of mind Warranties Get covered Car servicing 
One-off or multi-year Save 40% One-off or annual 5,000+ dealers 
5,000+ dealers Sell your car fast Up to £1,000 more Every year 
Every year MOTs made easy Apply online Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. This does not affect our editorial independence.
