Citroen C5 HDi Range
Pity poor Citroen, lodged firmly in the cleft stick of innovation versus acceptance. Build too much clever engineering into your large models and sales plummet, but try appealing to the mainstream and suddenly youre accused of watering down the brand values. With the C5 diesel range, Citroen hope to have struck an acceptable balance.
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Engine wise, diesel customers have a choice of 110bhp 1.6-litre, 138bhp 2.0-litre or 173bhp 2.2-litre units.
Drive the entire C5 range and you cant help but wonder why anybody would bother with the petrol variants. Not that the petrol engines are inherently bad, merely that the diesels are so much better. The diesel line-up starts with the HDi 110 VTX+ hatch at £15,395. Go for the 138bhp 2.
0-litre unit and prices start at £17,395 in VTR guise (though a plusher Exclusive version is available). The 110bhp VTR version is interesting, offering a sporting look from £17,095. The range-topping 173bhp 2.2-litre engine is available solely in Exclusive trim and it packs a serious punch.
As with all C5s, theres the usual choice between the five-door saloon or, for a premium of around £1,000, the estate.
"Its real party piece however, is reserved for sharp corners"
With a big squeeze on this market sector, diesel variants have come to the fore, offering a massive saving in fuel bills and buoyant resale values for the private buyer. The C5 however has much to offer beyond its impressive oil-burning powerplants. This saloon will ride and corner differently to anything youve ever driven. The credit for this goes to Citroens unique Hydractive 3 suspension.
Devotees of the marque who owned an XM or a Xantia would know what were talking about here, for both of these cars featured early versions of this system. In its latest form, the advantages of this fluid-sprung set-up over conventional steel springs are almost impossible to ignore. Thus equipped, this C5 can read the road and adapt its ride set-up accordingly, depending on the ground surface, the speed and the way that youre driving. For example, on bad surfaces below 43mph, the car will be lifted by 13mm to prevent the possibility of grounding out.
Over 68mph on a smooth road however, the gadgetry will automatically lower the front of the car by 15mm and the rear by 11mm to reduce drag. You can even choose a raised 40mm position for potholed farm tracks or an even higher setting to make it easier to change a wheel. On the move, you monitor each state of affairs 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 them, is 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.
Certainly, the engines are up to the job. These are borrowed from Peugeots parts bin and are none the worse for that. Most buyers will probably opt for the 138bhp 2.0-litre HDi unit, capable of sprinting to 60mph in 10 seconds before topping out at 125mph.
Of common rail architecture, this engine pulls strongly from around 1,750rpm right up to the point where maximum power is reached at around 4,000rpm. The 2.2-litre engine can hit 60mph in just 8.2s while with combined fuel economy measured at 46mpg, so its worth the extra outlay if you can afford it.
The C5 manages to cut down on the float and wallow of most motorway-oriented cars, but the steering still has a firm feel around the straight ahead without a great deal of detailed feedback. At the wheel, the C5 doesnt feel quite as solid and classy as some rivals (blame the different plastics and mock wood for that) but its not far off. And of course, in keeping with the theme pursued by the rest of the car, its as hi-tech as you could wish. Airbags are everywhere, 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.
If you can overcome the unremarkable styling and the uninspired interior the Citroen C5 HDi has a great deal going for it. In terms of ride and refinement its at the top of the class, but its a sign of the times that a big Citroen can no longer rely on a certain Gallic charm to repel customers. Dont buy a C5 just to be different, as that would be selling its bold engineering short. What lies beneath is very impressive.
If youre buying a car of this type, you really ought at least to try a C5 for size. You might even like it
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Citroen C5 HDi range
PRICES: £15,395-£23,695 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 152-187g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.2 HDi] Max Speed 127mph / 0-60mph 8.2
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.2 HDi](combined) 46mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin Front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [saloon] Length/Width/Height 4618/1770/1476mm
