Citroen C5

Behind the Wheel

The driving experience in the MK1 C5 was always class-leading when it came to ride quality and with this MK2 model, ita€™s no different a€“ as long as you opt for a model with Citroena€™s incredible Hydractive suspension, sadly no longer standard on every variant. Buyers should make sure that they opt for it, if only to experience the uniquely magic carpet feel as the Hydractive set-up soaks up every little bump in the road, floating over sleeping policemen and rutted farm tracks alike. This system lets the driver to select from three modes that offer progressively firmer suspension settings for a sportier driving experience or a more comfortable one as required.

Devotees of the marque who owned an XM or a Xantia will know what wea€™re talking about here, for both of these cars featured early versions of this system. In its latest form, the advantages of this fluid-sprung set-up over conventional steel springs are almost impossible to ignore, and I would thoroughly recommend the car on the strength of this alone, unless you are lucky enough to live on perfectly tarmaced roads of course.

Cornering is an art form in most cars as the body rolls into and out of the bend. However, in the C5, the car stays perfectly level through the steepest of bends. Lovely, but it does take some getting used to.

And engines? Well, therea€™s a 155bhp 1.6-litre petrol unit but the range is built around diesels. Citroen are offering HDi oil-burners of 1.6, 2.0 and 3.0-litre capacities respectively producing 110, 160 and 240bhp.

Could I Live With One?

This more sleekly-styled C5 could easily wear a prestigious German badge with pride a€“ which I think says everything. The ride is very pleasant, the engines well honed and there is plenty of room inside. Yes, one could definitely live on my driveway, but Ia€™d have to remove the C5 badge first.

Introduction

CitroA«na€™s second generation C5 is a big step forward for the French marquee. June Neary tries it

Practicalities

The interior is as spacious as it looks from the outside and the sleek lines of the bodywork mean that there is plenty of room for movement inside. The seats were fully adjustable and after a little experimentation, I managed to get the perfect position so that I could drive comfortably.

The huge boot swallowed all the luggage that my husband wanted to take for our weekend away with ease, while the supple engine coped admirably with the load. I had the 2.2-litre HDI power plant and was delighted to return high fuel economy figures. So style needna€™t always come at a premium.

This C5 is a larger car than the model it replaced and one of the biggest in its class. The saloon is fractionally longer than its Ford Mondeo equivalent and almost as wide with the estate measuring in with an extra 5cm of length. Citroen has paid particular attention to soundproofing in the cabin fitting laminated side windows and an acoustic windscreen to supplement the absorbent body and roof linings that were developed for the larger C6.

The interior sets out to mirror the high quality feel of the C6 and although the centre console looks a little overloaded with buttons, the clean lines of the fascia and the chrome detailing create an upmarket effect. Citroen is well known for including high levels of gadgetry in its vehicles and I thought the further cluster of controls on the fixed-hub steering wheel to be useful in helping me access the more important features without diverting attention from the road. Space for rear seat passengers is helped by the flat floor.

Value for Money

In a market sector this tough, prices have to be competitive a€“ and they are, ranging from around A£19,000 to over A£28,000 for the V6 diesel. Allow a A£1,100 premium if you want the Tourer estate version. For this, you are getting the benefits of years of CitroA«n engineering experience, a 3-year warranty and a genuinely enjoyable ride. The options list is definitely worth raiding to spice the experience up, but even the base models are well worth the money. Up against VWa€™s Passat, Peugeota€™s 407 and the Renault Laguna, the C5 can definitely hold its own.

Will it Suit Me?

I have to admit, I am of the generation that saw the rise and fall of Sir Clive Sinclaira€™s C5 a€“ the funny little egg shaped car that needed a flag to show other road users exactly where it was hiding, so quite why the double chevron people should chose to name their car after this pioneering, if a bit inadequate, motorised egg is beyond me. However, they have done, so I guess Ia€™ll have to live with that.

The latest second generation C5 did live quite nicely on my driveway for a week, attracting admiring glances from the neighbours for its sharp styling and large glass area. The lady two doors down actually asked me if she could put her tomatoes on the dashboard to ripen. The cheek of it.