First Drive
Citroën C5 Tourer 2.2 HDi VTR+
Test date 27 May 2008
Price as tested £21,995
What is it?
As you’ll no doubt have worked out from the pictures, this is the Citroën C5 Tourer. Cavernous estate models have always been a big part of the quirky Citroën appeal (think CX, BX and XM), especially with hydro-pneumatic suspension systems eliminating the need for suspension intrusion into the rear cabin.
Recently, after several years in a wilderness of mundane design and mediocrity (think Xantia and old C5), Citroën has returned to its old, more interesting and innovative ways with cars like the C4 and new C5 saloon.
What’s it like?
In the C5 Tourer, this innovative design approach manifests itself in some very clever design touches for the load bay. Along with the advantages of self-levelling suspension, the higher-spec versions of the Tourer also get a button in the boot that raises or lowers the rear suspension to aid loading.
Another particularly smart trick is the optional powered boot lid. There are other estates that do this, but where the C5 really scores is that you can ‘teach’ the hatch to stop at a specified point. Useful if you need to load or unload something in a restricted space.
Citroën covers the more conventional practicalities of a large estate, too.
There’s a decent low load lip, the seats fold completely flat and the boot floor has runners fitted as standard to aid the moving around of large objects.
The C5 falls down rather spectacularly at the last hurdle, however. A minimum load capacity of 505 litres and a maximum of 1462 litres make the C5 one of the least capacious cars in the class. By contrast, a Vauxhall Vectra will swallow a whopping 1850 litres. Even a Skoda Octavia estate gets more space, with 1620 litres.
On the road, the estate is pretty much the same as the saloon, which means an incredibly relaxing experience.
The 171bhp 2.2-litre diesel is hushed, and the ride comfort over any roads is superb. But the light, remote-feeling steering and ample body roll discourages too much spirited driving.
Should I buy one?
If you like the gimmicks, and enjoy the chilled out nature of the C5, then go for it. But if you need a truly capacious load carrier or something remotely fun to hustle along, then there are much better cars out there.
Matt Rigby
First drive data
How much?
- Price as tested £21,995
- Price as tested £20,995
How fast?
- 0-62 mph 10.4 sec
- Max speed 134 mph
How big?
How thirsty?
- Combined 42.8 mpg
- CO2 emissions 175 g/km
Engine
- Layout 4 , 2179 cc
- Max power 171 bhp at 4000 rpm
- Max torque 273 lb ft at 1750 rpm
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