Citroen C5 X Hypnos Plug-in Hybrid (2021 - )

Citroen has just launched a top-of-the-range Hypnos grade to its striking C5 X line-up and it features a new Eclipse Blue body shade that changes in colour according to the light.
Named after the Greek god of sleep, the Hypnos model offers all the practicality of an SUV with ample space for five occupants, but also boasts stylish design cues more akin to a saloon car.
The C5 X line-up is available with petrol, hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains and trim levels called YOU!, Plus, Max and now, Hypnos, with prices starting from just under £30k.
The Hypnos trim is exclusively matched to the plug-in-hybrid technology  and our test car carried quite a steep price-tag of £43,290.
 

The five-door C5 X Hypnos has flagship model written all over it with eye-catching looks when approached from any angle. The Eclipse Blue paintwork looks elegant in low lighting conditions, but gets more dynamic and vibrant in brighter sunlight. It’s certainly a head-turner.

Design cues include a clamshell bonnet, chevron badging that flows into the sweeping light clusters, glossy black Hypnos badges across the wings and front doors, and even some infrared detailing to help make the lettering stand out. The look is completed by a panoramic roof and 19-inch alloy wheels with black inserts.

The interior certainly has a premium quality to it with light-coloured seats upholstered in perforated Paloma leather featuring Citroen’s signature herringbone pattern. They are power-adjustable making it easy to get comfortable and heated against the winter chill. And, as is the Citroen way, you are guaranteed to arrive refreshed after long journeys thanks to the Advanced Comfort seat technology that adds 15mm of extra memory foam to the mix.

There are elegant light wood decorative trimmings on the door panels and dashboard plus plenty of soft-touch surfaces to give the cabin an upmarket feel.

The car’s nerve centre is a 12-inch central touchscreen that offers access to the likes of the navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, an eight-speaker sound system, Bluetooth streaming and plenty more besides.

There is a separate panel for the climate control, a head-up display and a seven-inch digital instrument cluster where all the vital driving data is clearly displayed. It’s a very driver-focused cockpit with all controls and readouts easy to use on the fly.

Our front-wheel drive C5 X Hypnos was powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 1.4kWh battery and 81.2kW electric motor. With a total power output of 225bhp and 360Nm of torque, it can reach 62mph from a standing start in 7.9 seconds and tops out at 145mph. The electric-only range of a combined 32.9 miles (39.7 miles of city driving) is not particularly high, but ample for most daily commutes.
Performance-wise, the acceleration is both smooth and responsive through the eight-speed automatic gearbox and there are steering wheel-mounted paddles for added driver control. It’s a very confident motorway cruiser sitting effortlessly at 70mph but can also put in a shift when faced with more testing B roads with balanced handling, nicely weighted steering and impressive grip through tight bends.
Despite being almost five metres in length, the C5 X Hypnos is actually quite agile in busier town centres, although you will need to use all the sensors and cameras when squeezing into a tight parking space.
There are drive modes called Sport, Hybrid, Comfort and Electric that alter the driving dynamics of the car, plus a Brake mode that increases the amount of energy recouped during braking. The EV range can also be stored.
As well as the Advanced Comfort Seats that offer added support, the C5 X Hypnos features Citroen’s Advanced Comfort Suspension. This controls each wheel individually for a balanced ride and it varies according to which of the drive modes is selected. 
 

There’s no denying the strong road presence of the Citroen C5 X Hypnos which perfectly blends the smooth lines and curves of a saloon car with the practicality of an estate.
It stretches 4,805mm in length, is 1,865mm wide, 1,485mm high and has a 2,785mm wheelbase. This results in an exceptionally spacious cabin with room up front for a couple of six footers and two more in the back. It will fit three across the rear seat, but it does get a little cosy. However, this is billed as a family car so a trio of youngsters would fit perfectly.
Open the powered tailgate and the boot, with its wide aperture, is simply massive. It can hold 485 litres of luggage with all five seats in use. Drop the 60:40 split-folding rear seats and that capacity increases to 1,580 litres. That’s enough space for golf clubs, trollies and some overnight bags too.
There are switches (or Magic Handles as Citroen calls them) that allow the rear seats to be folded down from the boot and there is additional storage beneath the floor for the charging cables plus any other bits and pieces.
In addition, there are numerous handy storage options scattered throughout the cabin. These include an illuminated glovebox, door bins, front and rear cup holders, a deep cubby, seat back nets and some trays. And with four USB-C ports and wireless charging, keeping devices connected couldn’t be simpler.
Talking of charging, the C5 X Hypnos’ battery can be boosted to 100 per cent in less than two hours via a home wallbox.
 

The Citroen C5 X line-up costs from £29,440 for the entry-level YOU! Trim powered by a PureTech 130 petrol engine. Plug-in hybrid versions start from £39,300 for the Plus grade, but the Hypnos is the range-topper costing £43,290.
Although there were no optional extras on the test car, its £40k-plus price-tag means it falls into the premium car tax category and that will bump up the annual payments from years two to six by an extra £410.
According to official WLTP-tested figures, our test car could deliver a combined 186.2-236.2mpg. Like all plug-in hybrid cars these figures are totally unrealistic and owners would only get close if the vehicle was charged constantly and the EV range of 32 miles was used to the max.
The carbon emissions figure of 33g/km does bring financial rewards though as it will result in a first-year road tax bill of £10 and that would increase to the standard hybrid fee of £180 after 12 months.
Business drivers will see an attractive Benefit in Kind rate of 12 per cent and the car, as tested, sits in insurance group 31.
 

Citroen designers have never shied away from their quirky models and the C5 X is another fine example. They wanted to develop a car that covered all the practicality bases of an SUV, but maintained the styling appeal of a saloon. And they have completed that mission really well. 

In addition, the vehicle is comfortable, packed with technology and boasts a well thought-out cabin that’s exceptionally driver-focused.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain worked really well during our week-long test, but the only downside could be the asking price which tips the scales at £40k-plus.