- Stellantis has revised the C5 Aircross PHEV to 222 hp.
- The 30 hp boost comes with no hardware changes at all.
- The same update should reach the Jeep Compass PHEV.
Stellantis has developed a habit of being pleasantly surprised by its own power figures. The Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce famously turned out to be stronger than advertised, and now the plug-in hybrid Citroen C5 Aircross is following the same script. This tweak will not stop with Citroen either, as the same powertrain sits under several Stellantis models, including the Jeep Compass.
The company now says the C5 Aircross PHEV delivers a combined 222 hp (165 kW / 225 PS), not the previously quoted 192 hp (143 kW / 195 PS). That is a 30 hp jump on paper. And yet, Stellantis insists the revision “does not involve any technical modifications to the engine.” So no new hardware. No secret upgrade. Just a different conclusion.
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In practical terms, nothing changes beneath the hood. The turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline engine still produces 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS), and the single electric motor still contributes 123 hp (92 kW / 125 PS). Stellantis has simply recalculated how the two outputs combine. Drive continues to flow to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Stellantis Explains The Revision
More specifically, the company says, “This new figure is more accurate in terms of the performance offered by this engine and is consistent with the declarations observed on the market.” It adds that the adjustment comes “in anticipation of the protocol that will be applied when the Euro 7 standard comes into force,” although that explanation feels, at best, loosely related.
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The revised output now aligns with the previous-generation C5 Aircross PHEV. Citroen insists the powertrain has been “completely redesigned,” pointing to a larger 55-litre (51-gallon) fuel tank and updated engine operating logic aimed at reducing consumption and maintaining stronger performance, even when the larger 21.5 kWh battery is depleted.
Which Models Stand To Gain?
Since Stellantis uses this same plug-in hybrid setup across several models, it is reasonable to expect the rest of the lineup to enjoy the same on-paper power bump before long. STLA Medium relatives of the Citroen C5 Aircross include the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, the Opel Grandland, and the Jeep Compass, all of which could soon be quoting slightly healthier figures without turning a single wrench.
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Other models likely to be affected are the Peugeot 308 and Opel Astra, which have recently received a mid-lifecycle update.
As for the facelifted Peugeot 408 fastback crossover, it runs a slightly different PHEV system, rated at 237 hp (177 kW / 240 PS). Whether that more powerful configuration will filter into the DS No8 and Lancia Gamma crossovers, or the long-awaited successors to the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia, remains an open question.
