New Citroën C5 Aircross Plug-in Hybrid: voted best PHEV 2026 at the AMAM e-Trophies

Since its commercial launch on the European market, the second-generation new Citroën C5 Aircross has enjoyed a highly successful career, accumulating prestigious awards across various markets. This international recognition has now been reinforced by a major distinction on its home turf in France. During the latest specialized automotive evaluations, the plug-in hybrid variant of the French SUV was officially crowned the best model in its category, establishing itself as the undisputed leader in a highly competitive sector. This victory highlights the relevance of the technological choices made by the brand to combine energy efficiency, everyday versatility, and absolute driving comfort.

Behind the scenes of the AMAM e-Trophies: the pinnacle of electrification

The Association des Médias Auto et Moto recently held the 2026 edition of its famous AMAM e-Trophies, an annual event that has become an essential benchmark for evaluating the technological advances of the automotive industry. Over two days of intensive testing covering hundreds of kilometers of diverse roads, the competing vehicles were scrutinized down to the smallest detail to highlight the best electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid solutions available on the market.

For this highly contested edition, no fewer than 28 candidate vehicles representing 24 international brands were lined up, illustrating the density and growing competitiveness of today's electrified market. The jury, made his selection based on energy performance, driving pleasure, technological integration, and value for money across multiple categories. It was within this rigorous selection process that the new C5 Aircross brilliantly stood out by winning the most coveted award in the plug-in hybrid category.

The New C5 Aircross Plug-in Hybrid: The ultimate reference

By winning the prestigious title of Best PHEV on the market, the new Citroën C5 Aircross achieved a striking victory, finishing ahead of formidable and well-established competitors, such as the German Audi Q3 e-hybrid and the highly competitive Asian SUV, the BYD Atto 2 DM-i. To make a difference and reach the top of the hierarchy, the French model relied on the expertise of an exceptional jury composed of 35 specialized journalists from major automotive media outlets in France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

This panel of experts was unanimously won over by the overall comfort of the vehicle, a historical area of expertise for the brand thanks to the combination of Citroën Advanced Comfort® suspensions and seats, which smooth out road imperfections with unmatched efficiency. Beyond its dynamic qualities and class-leading cabin space, its technical specifications sealed the win: equipped with a combined output of 225 horsepower, the family SUV delivers an electric range of up to 113 kilometers in the urban cycle, ideal for daily zero-emission commuting. For long holiday journeys, its internal combustion engine takes over to guarantee a total combined range of 1,100 kilometers, removing any range anxiety. Furthermore, its local production at the Stellantis plant in Rennes-La Janais adds a strong eco-responsible and industrial value to this achievement.

Citroën’s strategic vision validated by this national success

This major accolade was received with great enthusiasm by the brand's management, who see it as concrete validation of their massive investments in the energy transition. Édouard George, Managing Director of Citroën France, spoke officially to highlight the significance of this victory "We are particularly proud to receive this distinction awarded by specialized automotive journalists. This trophy rewards the hard work accomplished by all Citroën teams to develop a modern, comfortable family SUV tailored to the needs of the energy transition. It also underscores the relevance of our plug-in hybrid offering, capable of delivering the best of electric driving daily while preserving the essential freedom required for long journeys."

For the brand, this award proves that it is possible to offer a high-performance energy transition without sacrificing financial accessibility or simplicity of use for families and professional customers alike.

The triumph of the new Citroën C5 Aircross Plug-in Hybrid at the 2026 AMAM e-Trophies adds to a long list of accolades obtained across Europe since its launch. This specific title of Best PHEV of the year on the French market represents a major strategic milestone for the brand, validating its technical and industrial innovations. This second generation reaches a decisive turning point, proving that a modern family SUV can perfectly combine environmental performance, extended driving range, and legendary comfort—a winning formula that seems more than deserved to secure its long-term commercial success.