In keeping with the appearance (and price), interior fit and finish is first-rate and the selection of materials is mostly spot-on. Only indicator stalks from the C2 supermini let things down. The C6 is enormous inside, with huge electrically adjustable front seats. We can’t fault the seats for comfort, although we can fault the shortage of lateral support and the steering wheel's lack of greater reach adjustment.
The C6 gets Citroën’s first electronic handbrake, which, confusingly must be pulled to both activate and release it. There is also a head-up display on the windscreen that shows speed and sat-nav directions. There’s ample storage space, the centre console and glovebox being supplemented by very deep door pockets. Unusually, the appearance of the wood is respectable: smallish, flattish sections that haven’t been forced to unnaturally negotiate corners and sharp edges.
All C6s feature a tremendously roomy rear cabin that on this Executive model includes a Lounge Pack (£1000) comprising two separate reclining chairs. Flick a switch on the armrest and the base slides back or forth, while the backrest reclines. There’s also a switch to slide the front passenger seat forward in the unlikely event that it’s taking too much rear legroom. This is a car designed as much for occupants as it is for its driver: dynamics and excitement are not priorities, isolation and quietness are.
Step forward Citroën’s hydraulic suspension. No conventional springs or dampers here; instead there are cylinders filled with nitrogen and oil. Movement of the two substances provides the springing and damping. It’s the first time that Citroën’s Hydractive suspension has been mated to double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, which is more expensive and less compact, but should offer better control than the MacPherson strut/torsion-beam combo that the C5 uses.
