Car review: Citroen C5

Comfort is the Citroen C5's trump card. It's supremely smooth and quiet – particularly the range-topping Exclusive models

Germanic, Teutonic and French flair are the buzzwords at Citroen these days, and the all-new Citroen C5 is the car they're all talking about. It's the French manufacturer's answer to the Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6.

And with its handsome styling, cavernous boot and the kind of interior the Germans do so well, the unmistakably French Citroen C5 saloon looks like it'll give them something to worry about.

But cars in this class need more than a sharp suit. They need to be engaging, appealing to the company car driver as well as the family car buyer, and have a certain uniqueness. Stuart Milne was among the first in the UK to get behind the wheel of the Citroen C5.

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Citroen has been selling the C5 saloon and estate in the UK since 2001, and the Mondeo-sized car has sold well. But in the last few years, this size of car has undergone a massive transformation, with the level of design excellence usually reserved for much more exotic machinery.

And there's no denying the Citroen C5 is a very handsome car: arguably one of the best in its class. There are hints of BMW and Lexus from the rear, but the front benefits from the best execution of Citroen's corporate face yet. The grille serves as a stark reminder of the French company's famous double chevron logo.

But it's easy to forget that despite its flowing side profile, particularly towards the rear, it's actually a saloon car.

Citroen has never sold a hatchback version of the C5, with only saloons and hatchbacks leaving the factory. For many manufacturers selling in the UK, this is a problem as we're not a market which buys big saloons in large numbers, but Citroen has never found this a problem.

And it's not likely to be a problem now, either. That's because although the rear window remains in place rather than lifting with the bootlid, the opening is huge; revealing a massive, 439-litre boot.

Size matters

Size is a theme which is carried out through the rest of the car. The cabin is huge, with the front seat occupants revelling in plenty of room, and there's a good amount of space in the rear. Only six-footers may come in contact with the roof lining where it slopes down at the sides of the car.

Comfort is the Citroen C5's trump card. It's supremely smooth and quiet – particularly the range-topping Exclusive models, which have sound-reducing laminated windows.

It wafts over bumps, and inherits a great deal of the smooth ride which the Citroen C6 executive cruiser is renowned for.

But the soft ride isn't for everyone. Spirited drivers might want to look elsewhere as the Citroen C5 is softly sprung in its conventional steel spring and Hydractive height-adjustable suspension guises. This results in a fair degree of body roll around moderate to fast bends.

The later is carried over from the previous C5 which has five ride height levels, depending on the vehicle's speed and a Sport setting which stiffens the damping slightly – although not enough for our road tester. The system continuously adjusts the suspension depending on road conditions to optimise the ride.

Like the soft ride, the steering is light. This reflects the Citroen C5's relaxed style, but is some way off the class leaders in terms of feedback around bends.

We drove the 2-litre diesel version: the second smallest in the diesel range, which spans 1.6, 2.0, 2.2 and 2.7 V6. Petrol variants include a 1.8 and a 2-litre.

Both 2-litre units are available in automatic and manual guises, and we tried both, finding the 6-speed manual 'box to be the better choice.

On the road, the 2-litre diesel was refined at a cruise, but a little coarse under harder acceleration.

Those seeking ultimate refinement may want to seek out one of the petrols or the creamy 2.7 V6 diesel, an engine which is also found in various Jaguars and Land Rovers.

Only the 1.6 diesel offers fuel economy in excess of 50mpg, although the 2-litre diesel isn't far behind. These two come out best in the CO2 stakes, producing 149 and 157g/km respectively.

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Safety first

But where the Citroen C5 leaves its competitors in its wake is safety. The previous C5 was one of the safest cars in its class, and Citroen say the new model is even better, receiving a full five star rating in the EuroNCAP crash test programme on the way.

That's thanks to Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) being featured as standard, along with seven airbags and an extra two as an option. That means the Citroen C5 can feature airbags for the driver and passenger as well as side, curtain and a knee 'bag for the driver. The steering wheel has a fixed centre, allowing the driver's airbag to be deployed correctly. This has allowed Citroen to develop an innovative torso-shaped airbag.

And equipment levels are pretty comprehensive too. All models from the SX model upwards come with heated electric door mirrors, adaptive headlights which 'see' further around corners, air-con, cruise control and speed limiter and front and rear electric windows.

The mid-spec VTR+ adds 17-inch alloy wheels, folding door mirrors, automatically-dimming rear view mirror, automatic headlights and wipers, dual-zone climate control and a height-adjustable driver's seat with extra lumbar support.

The range-topping Exclusive model receives an automatic parking brake (auto and 2.2 models only), sound deadening side laminated windows, rear park sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and front electric seats.

All that kit in a car which starts at just over £15,000 is good value, and the cost of ownership should remain, as Citroen says the C5 has used values second only to the Volkswagen Passat.

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