Citroen C5 Estate Range
Guaranteeing success is a tricky business. Often car manufacturers launch a product to a fanfare of expectation, knowing that it cant possibly fail only to see the British public reaching for the bargepoles. Citroen think theyre onto a winner with the C5 estate, and looking at the evidence before us, they may well have a point.
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Improved styling notwithstanding there can be little doubt that the C5 estate is the best estate car the marque have ever produced. Thats ever as in since the year dot. Forget about the Tomahawk missile shaped CX Safari of the seventies, the ungainly BX estate or the rarely spotted XM estate variants, the C5 has them all licked. Old school Citroen fans wont be overjoyed to hear that it has done so largely by reverting to convention.
Citroen has gone mainstream, the title of Frances most innovative manufacturer having clearly passed to partly state-owned Renault. Whod have thought it?
"The depth of thought thats gone into the C5 Estate is massively impressive."
Nevertheless, the C5 estates sole link with Citroen load luggers of yore is probably the feature that gives it the edge over its medium-range rivals, examples of which include the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Toyota Avensis. It is, of course, the Hydractive 3 suspension, which is capable of giving the C5 either the lowest rear load height in class in order to lug heavy items inside, the highest, which is handy for tipping items in without a crash or any point in between, making hitching trailers, boats or caravans an absolute doddle. Its self-levelling capability automatically increases ground clearance on poor surfaces, lowers the car at motorway speeds to improve fuel economy and stability and can even instantaneously switch between comfort and sport settings when it senses the need. After all, this isnt a Sport Tourer, a Sportwagon, a Touring or an Avant.
Its an estate and a very good one, designed for people who are less interested in ultimate handling and more concerned with the ability to swallow massive loads without a grumble. The Citroen offers just about every conceivable aid to expediting that aim. The load floor is wide and flat, giving it a capacity of 563 litres which is the largest in class. More importantly, its possible to exploit that space without significant intrusion from the rear suspension turrets, the Hydractive 3 system being tucked away beneath the floor.
This means that the available width of 1176, measured at the narrowest point between the rear tail lights, is still the widest in class. The depth of thought thats gone into the C5 Estate is massively impressive. The tail lights are narrow vertical strips to aid visibility and to allow the hatch to be as wide as possible. There are no tailgate struts, which make loading bulky items simplicity itself.
The rear window can be opened without opening the tailgate, making it far easier to fling towels and such like into the back. Two concealed storage bins sit in the side of the luggage bay, whilst the carpet is reversible, the other side revealing a washable PVC surface that can easily transport a filthy dog or sandy wetsuits. To protect valuables, a parcel shelf features a retractable boot cover, whilst theres an enormously sturdy two-position vertical net to prevent your load getting ideas above its station and joining you in the passenger area if the ABS with Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution is used with gusto. Tie down eyes, standard roof bars, an underfloor storage area, the boot mounted suspension raise/lower button we could go on, but you probably get the picture by now.
A choice of four powerplants is offered, with a 2.0-litre petrol as well as the acclaimed HDi common rail diesels developing between 110bhp and 138bhp. Revised six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes are also available as well as Citroens award-winning particulate filter. The 138bhp 2.
0-litre and 173bhp 2.2-litre diesels are the picks of the range, the smaller unit able to average 47mpg yet still hit 60mph in 10 seconds en route to 127mph. Three trim levels are available, VTX+, VTR and Exclusive, at prices from £16,495 to £23,695. The VTR is probably the most intriguing, offering a sporting look with aluminium effect roof bars and 16-inch alloy wheels from £18,495.
The C5 estate features airbags everywhere and theres a great trip computer and you can specify voice activation for the stereo as well as for the optional satellite navigation and in-car telephone systems. One particularly nice touch (borrowed from the Peugeot 607) is the way the exterior mirrors fold in automatically when you lock the car. The interior is tidy, but a notch back from the class lead in terms of finish and materials quality but its easy enough to get to grips with. If youre looking to haul some light luggage and make a lifestyle statement, offerings from Alfa, BMW, and even Renault make a far more stylish proposition.
If youre after an estate thats a kick to drive, the Mondeo beats the Citroen hands down. If on the other hand, youre looking to buy an estate car thats not trying to be anything but the best load-lugger around, the C5 Estate knocks every other rival for six. Citroen set out to build the best no-nonsense medium range estate car and we dont think theyve come up short.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Citroen C5 Estate range
PRICES: £16,495-£23,695 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7E 15A
CO2 EMISSIONS: 139-238g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 HDi] Max Speed 127mph / 0-60mph 9.8s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 HDi] (combined) 47mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin Front and side airbags / ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4756/1770/1516 (max) mm
