Citroen C5 Hatchback 2005 - Present

The Citroen C5 has been given a thorough going over by the R & D team ahead of the 2005 launch and the result is a sensibly refined car that performs proficiently in all departments and excels in some.

Inside the car there is leg and head room to rival most large family cars and an extremely comfortable ride, thanks to Citroen's unique Hydractive suspension system, which offers great insulation from the vagaries of the road, while giving a grip of it like a dog with a bone. The finish is nice with good quality materials used throughout the vehicle. Boot space is ample and access is good.

On the road the Citroen offers sharp handling that inspires confidence. As speed is increased the power steering system is relaxed offering more of a feel for the road and a more involving drive than earlier models. It's not up there with the class leading Mondeo or Accord but it's still a well targeted and enjoyable drive for all but the most fussy driver. The top models have a suspension setting to firm up the suspension offering a more taut supple ride and all models have the Emergency brake assist (EBA) system which helps bring the car to a halt under emergency conditions. A nice touch is that the hazards come on when this feature is activated.

The engine line up is simple with three diesel and three petrol options. None are stellar performers but all offer reasonable acceleration, between 10 and 11 seconds for the 0-60 and top speeds around 120 mph. the 3.0 V6 offers the fastest performance breaking the 140 mph mark but is the greediest with fuel figures of 28 mpg against 52 mpg from the 1.6 HDI. Throughout the range the fuel figures are pretty good for a large car and this rather than straight line performance is likely to be the driving force behind any purchase.

The Citroen C5 offers a lot of car for the money and is a competent performer in most conditions, it's unlikely to set your pulse racing too much but that not what it sets out to do.

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