Citroen C5 review (2008 onwards)

What – Citroen C5
Where – Lisbon, Portugal
Price – From £15,600
Available – April 2008
Key rivals – Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, Renault Laguna

Summary

Genuinely different large family car contender has plenty of distinctive appeal, in both looks and the way it drives.

Likes: Bewitching ride, beguiling interior, bespoke stylingDislikes: Aged petrol engines, weight blunts performance

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First impressions

Ugh, I thought, when I first saw the old C5. What a missed opportunity. Seven years on, no such mistakes with this one. Hitting showrooms in April, Citroen's big new Mondeo challenger is yet another design highlight in the burgeoning large family car sector. Who said it was dead? So it was me, oohing, when I first saw the slim windowline capping gently contoured side panels, the charismatic long front overhang that's so classically Citroen, the delicious concave rear screen with mere hints of flying buttresses. Soft, organic creases abound, contrasting with the sector's identikit German sharpness. This is a luxurious-looking saloon of status. Just like Citroens of yore. Wow supplants ugh.

Performance

The engines are as for the old C5. Forgettable petrol units, which will be replaced by units joint-developed with BMW before long, plus 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre HDi diesels that will sell best. There is also a 2.2-litre HDi, and the Jaguar XF's sexy twin-turbo 2.7-litre V6 diesel that will be a hen's-teeth indulgence. We preferred the smoother 1.6 HDi, which was less throbby than the 2.0 and offered fewer vibrations as you explored the rev range. And with 110bhp against 136bhp it felt negligibly slower too, the hefty tonne and half-plus of weight dulling the vigour of both. Both intruded more than you'd expect ... simply because the rest is so quiet.

Ride and handling

This is where the C5 differs from any rival. If Peugeot's 407 is sporty, the C5, which shares key underpinnings, is its smooth-riding nemesis. That much is apparent in the first 100 yards, where the Citroen's far more relaxed suspension settings waft and glide, rather than chatter about everything the road surface is doing. This is the case even with the standard 'steel-sprung' car. Remarkably, Citroen has tuned conventional suspension to offer the same fluid, relaxed gait as the hydraulic machine, certainly at first. Where it can't quite compare is in isolating occasional harshness from potholes, expansion joints and the like. The wheels can thud and bosh on pot-marked surfaces.

The hydraulic car does this too. Where it differs is in its unique 'floating on air' feel not entirely dissimilar to an old Rolls-Royce. Not everyone likes it but it's worth tuning into it for a totally unique approach that infuses lusciousness like waves. Meanwhile the steering is very light, and very light on feel, but fairly chatty on the limit. If you intelligently compensate for initial roll, double wishbones and multi-link rear systems plant the C5 reassuringly and summon ample grip and bite. Remember, this uses the Peugeot 407's clever front hub, with resulting strong front-end grip. It's not a sporty car but stable, reassuring and easy, just as you'd expect.

Interior

Who says the French can't do tactility? The C5's interior is a fest of quality, intrigue and interest - that is (engines apart) hushed at most speeds like few rivals are. Huge, indulgent seats cosset you from a regally high position, the soft-touch, low-sheen dash pleases the eye and delights the brain with all its many tricks and quirks. Dials, for instance, have floating needles and are set in a cowl like a classic Citroen DS; that fixed-hub steering wheel is delightfully weird, the stack of buttons everywhere surely perfectly intuitive once you've applied the brainwork to learn them. SX, VTR and Exclusive trim lines won't be short of kit, either.

Economy and safety

The petrols are old-tech and thirsty. Diesels are much better, particularly the 1.6-litre HDi. It's ranked at over 50mpg combined despite the hefty kerbweight, and comes, like all the diesels, with a particulate filter. Even the V6 diesel (which weighs - get this - nearly 1,800kg) does 33mpg, which will surely make the 3.0-litre V6 petrol, at barely 27mpg, an utter irrelevance. So much so, we're not getting it in the UK. Safety is catered for by the usual large array (nine in this case) of airbags, while Citroen expects five stars for Euro NCAP, and will probably get them, seeing as both the related 407 and Citroen C6 do.

But economy and French cars stretches further than just fuel efficiency. Why should you buy it? Why, because it's cheaper than the premium alternatives it nods towards; this starts at just under £16k, whereas a BMW 3-Series can't be brought for under £21k. It's also far better equipped than the BMW, and the Audi A4, never mind the Mercedes C-Class. Ah, you're thinking, but you pay for it long-term? Well, apparently, no. Sure, the old C5 struggled to retain a quarter of its list price after three years - but the predictions for this are that it'll hold onto a third which is comparable with a VW Passat. And this, if it becomes reality, big news.

The MSN Cars verdict: 4/5

Following Citroen tradition, this is an extremely interesting car. We're not saying it's perfect. Those not attuned to its approach (and used to a Ford Mondeo) will find the lack of dynamism in the handling unacceptable; others may take the ride on face value, and thus be disappointed by the steel sprung machine's irritation with some city centre bumps. The petrol engine range also badly needs input from forthcoming new units. But look at it. Feel the interior, Savour the ride, and count the saving against something more premium but no more distinctive. It's not for the masses but the volumes are such that it doesn't need to be. This is a proper Citroen, and a very good one at that.

Ratings out of five: Citroen C5
Performance**
Ride & handling****
Interior****
Safety****
Price****
Practicality***
Fuel economy****
MSN Cars verdict****

Need to know
Diesel engine -1560cc four-cylinder
Power (bhp) -110
Torque (lb/ft) -177
0-62 (secs) -12.2
Top speed (mph) -118
Combined mpg -50.4
CO2/tax -149/19

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