New Citroen C5 Tourer estate review
The new Citroen C5 Tourer estate is a strong entry into the market
Author: David Miles
Published: 24 June 2008
Citroen has succeeded in giving the all-new C5 Saloon and Tourer a prestige image with the sharper Germanic sculptured and muscular styling lines for the long, sleek body. All it has to do is convert the new image into sales. The C5 looks a classy vehicle and the plush and well equipped interior is a considerable move up-market.
It feels a true five-seater, bordering on ‘premium’ class and there is a huge boot in the Saloon matched by a large load area in the Tourer. For the driver the new C5 introduces the second-generation fixed-centre controls steering wheel introduced first with the C4 models.
Standard equipment includes stability control, seven airbags, a collapsible pedal assembly to reduce foot injuries in an accident, cruise control with speed limited and air conditioning.
Citroen say particular attention has been paid to soundproofing so the ride is as quiet as it traditionally comfortable with big Citroen passenger cars. Next to the very acceptable styling changes the quietness within the C5 from engine and road noise are the most praiseworthy features and the laminated acoustic glass significantly really does cut down on wind noise.
Engines
There is a wide choice of engines in keeping with the varied requirements of fleet, business and retail customers. The option of which engine to choose depends on which trim and equipment level is ordered.Petrol engines are the 127bhp 1.8i and 143bhp 2.0i-litre units and there are four turbodiesel units with 110, 138, 173bhp outputs and a V6 208bhp unit. Automatic transmission options are also available for some models, depending on equipment specification, with 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre and 2.7-litre V6 diesel engines.
The diesel units, shared with Peugeot under the PSA banner plus Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, are the pick of the bunch. Most customers will opt for the 2.0-litre 138bhp turbodiesel unit which in the C5 Tourer gives a top speed of 124mph, 0-62mph takes 12.1 seconds with 46.3mpg being the official average fuel economy and my test car returned 44.3mpg.
The all-important CO2 rating of 160g/km puts this estate in Band D giving a road tax bill of £145. The company car Benefit in Kind tax rating is 23 per cent.
To maximise on obtaining the best possible fuel consumption and the lowest possible CO2 emissions Citroen has applied high ratios for fifth and sixth gears in the manual gearbox. This means that on the open road and motorways the 2.0HDI Tourer is really at it best.
It coasts along quietly and effortlessly at 70mph just using 2,000rpm. However once on busier A and B roads the high gearing means considerable use of the gearchange and on many occasions driving in fourth gear in slower traffic is required.
There just isn’t enough torque from the 2.0-litre diesel engine from 40mph onwards in higher gears to get this quite heavy estate moving without dropping a gear or two. However for motorways it is a very long-legged cruiser.
Suspension
Uniquely Citroen offers C5 customers the choice of two forms of suspension, again depending on which equipment level is chosen. Fleet and business user-chooser customers are likely to opt for the new conventional dampers and coil spring system. But for long standing Citroen customers the manufacturer retains its ‘magic-carpet’ ride option with its Hydractive 3 Plus self-levelling suspension which automatically adjusts its settings according to the road, driving conditions and the driver’s motoring style.
The new C5 is not as sharp or controlled in the handling department as most of its new German ‘best friends’ but it is comfortable without being too soft. There is little to choose between the conventional coil spring suspension layout and the ‘magic carpet’ ride offered by the optional Hydractive 3 Plus system but many current C5 owners changing to the new models will want the traditional Citroen big-car comfort feel. The steering is too light at low, speeds although this makes parking easier. It firms up at higher speeds but it still doesn’t provide much feed-back to the driver.
Citroen UK say they expect around 70 per cent of customers to opt for the dampers and coil spring suspension and that would be my choice.
Size and practicality
Sharing the front-end styling of the Saloon version the Tourer is characterised by a sculpted rear that unites style with load space. At 4.83m long and 1.86m wide, the Tourer maintains the elegant front appearance of the Saloon, but with added room and functionality at the rear.
The Tourer’s boot offers 505 litres of load capacity making it one of the most spacious in the segment. When the rear seats are folded, the capacity increases to a total volume of 1,462 litres.
Whilst the design certainly looks elegant due to its sleek, wide and low stance, the relatively small side windows combined with the wide pillars reduces visibility out of the car.
The instrumentation is comprehensive but the layout is ‘quirky’ Citroen. Newcomers to the brand will take some time getting used to the layout and it looks pretty cluttered.
The new Citroen C5 is a marked improvement over the outgoing model. It is a significant step up in design, quality, comfort and overall refinement. With residual values forecast to be around 36 per cent better than the old C5, it looks a serious proposition and true to form Citroen UK are offering C5 Tourer with 0 per cent finance over three years.
MILESTONES
Citroen C5 Tourer 2.0-litre HDI VTR+
Price: £19,595
Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre HDI four-cylinder turbodiesel, 138bhp, 236lb ft of torque from 2,000rpm, 6-speed manual gearbox
Performance: 124mph, 0-62mph 12.1 seconds, 46.3mpg (44.3mpg actual), CO2 160g/km, VED Band D £145
BIK tax: 23%
Insurance group: 10E
Dimensions/capacities: 4,829mm long, 1,853mm wide, 1,479mm high, load capacity, 505-1,462-litres, maximum braked towing weight 1,800kg
For: Sleek eye catching exterior design, much improved interior design and quality, ride comfort, quiet and spacious cabin, sound diesel engine, high level of equipment as standard
Against: Vague handling and light steering, poor visibility, fiddly switches
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Citroen is keen to stress just how good the new C5 saloon is, with a cheeky new advert designed to irritate BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
Our comprehensive list of specs, pictures and reviews of all the estate models on UK roads.
Citroen's Unmistakably German advert has won a gong for 'Best Car Advertising Campaign'
Prices for the new C5 Tourer estate will start at £16,695 and rise to £25,495.
The new Citroen C5 Tourer estate goes on sale on 17th June, with prices starting from £16,695
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