Citroen C5 2.2 HDi 170 Range

There arent too many motorway cars better than Citroëns C5 2.2 HDi 170. Andy Enright reports

Its true that cars are a product of their domestic environment. Some just translate to foreign markets better than others. As a nation, we tend to appreciate big Citroën models only years after theyve departed. Freed from the financial burden of buying one from new, we can safely wax lyrical about their style innovation and beautifully relaxed driving characteristics. While its true that buying a new Citroën C5 will cost more in terms of depreciation than many mainstream rivals, the transaction becomes worthwhile if youre planning to rack up some serious motorway miles, especially if your C5 is powered by the latest 2.2-litre HDI engine.

As somebody who racks up thousands of miles annually on French autoroutes, I can see the appeal of a car like this. With a luxuriously cushioned ride, all the toys you could reasonably request and a lazy, high-torque diesel engine, this twin turbo C5 takes the angst out of long distance driving. A 66-litre tank and the ability to notch up over 55mpg on a run gives this car 800 mile strides between refills and with the engine ticking over just above 2,500rpm at an 75mph cruising speed, youre plugged right into the meat of the torque band with 273lb/ft at your disposal. Despite this, the second turbocharger isnt even spooled up, that turbine only coming on stream at 2,700rpm.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

This is a fascinating engine and one of the most significant powerplants weve seen for some time. Developed jointly between Peugeot, Citroën and Ford, its a unit well get to see an awful lot of in various iterations. The latest Land Rover Freelander 2 uses it and its hard to see Ford turning it down for the Mondeo and, possibly, a range-topping Focus diesel. Its already been slotted into the Peugeot 407 and is a real technological tour de force, as would be expected from a company such as Citroën. The first four-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine in a production car, this powerplant is managed by a parallel sequential induction system to ensure that there are none of those annoying lag and lunge power delivery characteristics that often afflict highly tuned turbodiesel cars. It also serves to broaden the amount of useable torque.

"Drop the preconceptions and accept the C5 for what it is and youll probably find it very endearing"

Drive an early performance turbodiesel and youll have a band of about 750rpm of real go, requiring frantic gearchanging and footwork on the pedals that would put Ronaldinho to shame. These days, you get more power and a broader rev range in which to enjoy it. Whats more, its available at lower engine speeds too, adding to the cars muscular feel. With this 2.

2-litre engine, the maximum torque figure chimes in at just 1,500rpm, which means that when youre pulling away from the lights or nipping out from a junction or onto a roundabout, youve got all the engines capability on tap. The twin turbos work one after the other rather than both at the same time. A low inertia blower operates up to 2,700rpm, giving that instant urge. When things are really cooking, the cars computer switches to a second smaller unit that fills in the power requirements at the top end.

Whereas many diesel cars are all done and dusted by 3,000rpm, the throttle merely making more noise rather than propelling the car any faster, the Citroën has a much more enjoyable amount of top end about it and the soundtrack to accompany the whole thing wont have you cranking up the stereo to drown it out. Indeed, the maximum power output of this model arrives at 4,000rpm, an almost unheard of rev-happiness in a diesel. The combustion chamber has been redesigned with a reduced compression ratio and a larger diameter as Citroën realised that fuel in contact with the walls of the cylinder was difficult to burn efficiently. Increase the volume and the efficiency increases, helped by a redesigned piston crown. A third generation Bosch common rail system uses piezo electronic injectors to raise injection pressure to 1,800bar. Compare that to 1,350 bar for the first generation common rail units and youll see the precision at work here.

Apart from the engine, the clever Hydractive 3 suspension is the biggest talking point of this car. On the move, you monitor it via a multi-function screen built into the top of the fascia. Theres the choice of normal or sport modes, though drive the car hard and youll find that it switches automatically to sport mode anyway. Where you notice Hydractive 3 most however, is on bad roads or in hard cornering.

The worse the surface, the better this car feels (nothing, but nothing at any price rides speed humps better). Its real party piece however, is reserved for sharp corners. As you enter the bend, you expect the car to start rolling in the normal way except that it doesnt. In fact, all the way through the turn, the body stays absolutely flat.

Its a rather weird feeling. Comfort is without doubt this cars number one priority. Its not seeking to deliver as sharp a driving experience as you could expect in a Mondeo or a 407 though in fact, its not that far off. Performance is strong, the 170bhp engine jetting the big C5 to 60mph in 8.

2 seconds and then on to a top speed of 138mph. Theres the usual bodystyle choice between five-door hatch or (for a premium of around £1,100), an estate. An automatic version is also on offer. It takes a rather fundamental rearrangement of the conventional car buying mindset to plump for a car like the Citroën C5 2.2 HDi 170. Accept that it will cost more in depreciation but that the transaction is buying you a superlative motorway cruiser and youll begin to see the appeal. Once you do have your neurons aligned, the big Citroën is endearing and versatile. After all, in order to understand the translation, it sometimes helps to know a bit of the native tongue.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Citroen C5 HDi 2.2 170 range
PRICES: £22,595-£23,695 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 14E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 160g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 138mph / 0-60mph 8.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 46.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin Front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [saloon] Length/Width/Height 4618/1770/1476mm