First Drive
Citroën C5 2.2 HDi
Test date Friday, February 08, 2008
Price as tested £19,895
What’s new?
Citroen’s attitude towards selling Mondeo-rivals, for one thing: the famous double-chevron is deadly serious about its new C5. Having settled, since 2001, for under 10,000 sales a year of a loveable but funny-looking contender in the 300,000-a-year European D-segment, the company has unveiled a replacement whose much more imposing design meets rivals head-on, and starts under £16,000.
The new C5 signals two other important moves: that Citroen accepts Ford’s and Renault’s conclusion — evident from the styling of the new Mondeo and Laguna — that today’s mainstream saloon buyers want their cars impressive but fundamentally conservative. It also shows that Citroen is seriously considering dropping its unique, 50-year-old “springless” suspension system, nowadays called Hydractive 3 Plus.
When the car hits UK showrooms in May, C5 buyers will be able to choose either a Hydractive or a conventional steel-sprung version whose main components, like the chassis, have a relationship with its cousin, the Peugeot 407. The steel-sprung C5 will attract business user-choosers, Citroen says, making no secret that these are the new buyers it wants. Demand for the two suspensions is expected to run at about 50:50.
What’s it like?
The new C5’s styling is impressive and sleek, incorporating the double-chevron badge into the leading edge of the bonnet and swapping a conventional grille for an exotically-shaped pair of headlights and a large under-bumper airscoop, as most Citroens now do.
It’s a slightly bigger car, growing 60mm in wheelbase, 40mm in length but dropping 30mm in height. The estate, launched in July, is 50mm longer again. One surprise is that the C5 saloon ditches the outgoing model’s rear hatch in favour of a conventional boot and a bustle-back. Cover up the chevrons, and this could be a Renault or a VW.
The UK engine range is comprehensive: two petrols (1.8/127bhp, 2.0/143bhp, and 3.0V6/215bhp) and four turbodiesels (1.6/110bhp, 2.0/138bhp, 2.2/173bhp, 2.7 twin-turbo V6/208bhp). The petrol engines and smallest diesel come with a five-speed manuals, but everything else gets a six-speed manual except the V6 diesel, which comes only with a six-speed auto.
The new C5’s interior is impressive but unthreatening. It uses Citroen’s unique fixed-centre steering wheel, whose boss is used for switchgear. The three main fascia dials echo this by having annular needles that run round the edge of the dials and allow their centres to be used for electronic displays. The materials give a quality feel that old model never knew, and equipment is comprehensive.
There are three trim levels (SX, VTR Plus and Exclusiv) but every car gets a cruise control and speed limiter, and all Hydractive cars come with an electric handbrake with hill-start assist. Prices and exact specs are still coming.
On test we tried both steel-suspended and Hydractive versions, establishing that in both guises the C5 preserves the reputation of bigger Citroens for quiet, long-legged cruising (courtesy of a painstaking soundproofing campaign) and soft-seat comfort. Also for low-effort, high-geared controls. These are not sporty cars in the Mondeo mould.
Should I buy one?
The new Citroen C5 is no sports car, but if you prefer your family cars on the more refined side, you’ll like it. Both steel- and air-sprung versions handle neatly, and roll comparitively little on corners. The “steel” car is a shade sharper to steer — and rides comparatively softly, courtesy of unique-to-C5 suspension rates — but it definitely lacks the special comforts of the Hydractive car, which really is amazingly soft in this day and age.
Citroen traditionalists will surely continue to love the C5’s suppleness (and will overlook its odd behaviour over humps and its occasional extra road noise), but if they want to keep enjoying its advantages and quirks, they’d better get their money out.
Steve Cropley
First drive data
How much?
- Price as tested £19,895
- Price as tested £21,000
How fast?
- 0-62 mph no data
- Max speed no data
How big?
How thirsty?
- Combined 43.5 mpg
- CO2 emissions 172 g/km
Engine
- Layout 4 , 2179 cc
- Max power 173 bhp at 4000 rpm
- Max torque 273 lb ft at 1750 rpm
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