Introducing a hybrid option to the line-up is a sure-fire way for manufacturers to increase a vehicle’s appeal amid the unstoppable focus on electrified motoring.

Citroen has done exactly that with its spacious and stylish C5 Aircross SUV, with plug-in hybrid tech offering over 30 miles of emissions-free driving on electric power alone.

The usefulness of the PHEV set-up will clearly depend on your personal driving needs. If short commutes or the school run are the vehicle’s primary purpose, EV mode will take care of most of your driving needs thanks to an 80kW electric motor fed by a 13.2kWh battery.

On longer journeys with more limited access to a charger, the fuel economy figures clearly won’t be so favourable - although it’s still perfectly okay to run the C5 on the 1.6-litre petrol engine alone if you don’t mind the mpg figures dropping to late 30s or early 40s.

In reality though, the powertrain seems to be most effective when you leave it to its own devices, with the petrol and electric motors working in tandem. The C5 Aircross PHEV will ease away on electric power before the petrol unit kicks in. The transition is smooth unless you’re really hard on the accelerator.

The combined 225bhp feels sufficiently powerful for a vehicle in this class, offering a respectable 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds.

That acceleration is helped by the nicely-timed eight-speed automatic transmission.

The more eye-catching figures relate to economy, with the official stats showing 157.2–222.3mpg on the WLTP scale and emissions of just 32-41g/km.

The vehicle is agile around town, while - out on the open road - the handling feels pretty sharp and trustworthy.

The suspension set-up is more tailored towards comfort than out and out driver engagement, but that’s probably fair enough in a vehicle aimed at the family market.

And comfortable it is – with the Progressive Hydraulic Cushions smoothing out the potholes and road imperfections that seem commonplace in West Yorkshire right now.

There’s a little but of body roll and lean to be aware of when cornering at speed, but nothing too alarming.

In terms of appearance, it’s an attractive and contemporary-looking machine.

With its upright stance, it has an imposing presence, helped by features such as the roof bars, distinctive Airbumps and twin exhaust effect.

On the test car, the 19 inch ‘Art’ two tone diamond cut alloys, provided an eye-catching flourish, while the black roof created a nice contrast with the white paintwork.

Once inside, the cabin is well laid-out, comfortable and very modern in its appearance.

Soft touch materials can be found dotted around, including the dashboard, which also features mood lighting.

The powered front seats provide plenty of adjustment to allow the driver to find a comfortable position, while the high driving position offers excellent visibility and a commanding view of the road.

And there’s plenty of tech to enjoy, including an intuitive central eight-inch capacitive touch screen and a 12.3-inch instrument display behind the steerign wheel, which can be customised to suit your requirements.

You also get DAB radio with two tweeters and four speakers, Bluetooth telephone facility, mirror Screen (Apple CarPlayTM and Android Auto), voice recognition (radio, navigation and telephony features) and Citroën Connect Nav, including TomTom Live updates. The C5 Aircross is a spacious and practical vehicle, with plenty of room front and back, plus a generous boot offering 460 litres of space, with the capability of increasing still further when the back seats are dropped.

In conclusion, it’s a good-looking, practical and economical family SUV.

THE LOWDOWN

Citroën C5 Aircross SUV Shine Plus Plug-in Hybrid

PRICE: £35,835 on the road

ENGINE: 1.6-litre turbo petrol with 80kW electric motor ower

COMBINED POWER:: 222bhp

TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed automatic, front wheel drive

TOP SPEED: 140mph

0-62MPH: 8.7 seconds

ECONOMY: 157.2–222.3mpg

CO2 EMISSIONS: 32-41g/km