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Citroen C5 (2008 – 2016) Review

Citroen C5 (2008 – 2016) At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Comfortable and refined, the Citroen C5 has just enough quirks to appeal to fans of the brand, but lags behind some family car rivals in key areas.

+Very comfortable. Fantastic refinement. Well equipped from mid-range models upwards.

-Trails Ford Mondeo dynamically. Patchy interior quality. Confusing dashboard. No hatchback option.

Insurance Groups are between 20–35
On average it achieves 88% of the official MPG figure

The Citroen C5 did a decent job of keeping brand die-hards happy with some quirky traits, while also satisfying more mainstream family car buyers, and company car users, with its clean looks and ease of use. Although always hampered by not being offered as a fleet-friendly hatchback, the saloon and estate were worthy alternatives to the Ford Mondeo and redoubtable Volkswagen Passat. Read on for our full Citroen C5 review.

Comfortable, spacious and slightly baffling, this second-generation Citroen C5 family car, launched in 2008, is at least more interesting than the original Citroen C5, which appeared to have been styled by stretching out a Citroen Xantia with a giant rolling pin.

Indeed, this Citroen C5’s exterior look is a strong point, with its styling sitting nicely on the fine line between challenging and handsome.

In the cabin, it’s not so successful, however, with a dashboard typical of Citroen’s occasional confusing approach to layout.

There are buttons, dials, switches and displays of various shapes, sizes and colours all over the place. Even the steering wheel is a novelty, with a fixed central boss and a rim design that bizarrely seems to encourage ‘eight and four o’clock’ hand placement.

Unlike many rivals that traded comfort for a sense of supposed sportiness, the Citroen C5 unashamedly did nothing of the sort. It’s as softly sprung and quiet as many a luxury car.

If you weren’t staring at two static chevrons on the steering wheel, you could be convinced you were travelling in something more upmarket or even the rare but appealing Citroen C6.

It means that while it’s not the most engaging car to drive, the Citroen C5 was possibly the most comfortable in its class at the time of its launch.

Towards the end of its life, the Citroen C5 became well equipped across the range, with all models getting air-conditioning, cruise control, electric windows all round, electric mirrors and Isofix for child seats.

These are the ones used buyers should aim for.

Fancy a new Citroen? Read our Citroen C5-X review here.

What do owners think of the Citroen C5 (2008 – 2016)? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Reviews for Citroen C5 (2008 – 2016)'s top 3 rivals

Renault Laguna
4/5
Comfortable, with reasonable ride. Nicely styled interior. Four wheel steer GT has remarkable handling.
Mazda 6
4/5
Neatly styled, entry-level models a good balance of ride and handling, excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine.
Volkswagen Passat
3/5
Incredibly spacious as a saloon or estate, excellent range of engines and trim levels, comfortable and...

Ask Honest John

Can I modify my car to save fuel?

"A local company says it can adjust the fuel use of my Citroen C5 6 spd, 2.0 HDi, upping it 10% without risking any parts. I'm a slowish driver, mostly 2,000 rpm and have the car in eco, whatever that does. She does around 45mpg, maybe less if I'm pushing it along on the motorway. Chipping is another thing which might improve it. Any suggestions, including leave well alone?"
We would be sceptical of any claims regarding fuel consumption improvement without risking any parts unless it is an engine remap or 'chipping' process. 45mpg or more for a car of this size is good, and most drivers will get save fuel by careful driving, ensuring their car is well maintained, has the correct tyre pressures and is free from any extraneous weight. A remap may improve fuel economy, but will require a significant financial investment and will also require you to decare the modification to your insurer with a resulting increase in your premium which could easily outweigh any potential fuel savings.
Answered by David Ross

Is buying an electric car for commuting realistic at the moment?

"My daily commute is a 180-mile round trip on a variety of motorway sections, roundabout filled dual carriage ways and B roads. I currently drive a 2009 Citroen C5 diesel automatic. Tax is a whacking £350 and fuel is costing me an average of 15p a mile with 30k miles p/a. I am 6'4'' with a grumpy back and have found the C5 very comfortable to drive. Plus, the automatic is much less tiring than my previous manual car. I would like to get running costs down. Is it worth buying a modern car and is an electric car even realistic? I live on a terrace street with no charging points but do have the potential to charge an electric car at work. I also travel abroad regularly so an electric option would need to be happy sitting in the airport car park for several weeks at a time. I am not in a position to spend tens of thousands on a new car. I have investigated lease deals on various new/nearly new modern diesels as well as some hybrids. However excess millage costs that I would incur make this an unrealistic option. Also if I were to buy a newer car, in the back of my mind is its actual value with 2035 not too far off."
Electric cars make sense for a lot of people. However, with no home charging available and regular trips abroad, you'd have to be really dedicated to running an electric car for 30k a year. We'd recommend sticking with a modern diesel for your mileage. No matter which route you go down, any car's going to depreciate rapidly if you add 30k a year (hence high lease costs). The only way to avoid this is to run an older model like your C5 but, as you're probably finding, that'll result in higher maintenance costs. I'd look for a frugal diesel like a modern Skoda Octavia, Kia Ceed or Ford Focus. You could consider a hybrid but fuel costs will be expensive - hybrids are at their best around town.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What's the right engine oil for my car?

"What's the right engine oil for a 2009 Citroen C5 2.0-litre petrol? There are so many brands and so many different types of 5/30 and 5/40 oils but which is the right one?"
Your oil should be 5W/40 synthetic (5 litres with filter change). As for the brand any of the major brands would suffice (Castrol, Mobil, Shell) it is a matter of choice and cost.
Answered by Alan Ross

I've just bought a secondhand engine off eBay - what would you suggest needs replacing?

"I have just purchased a secondhand Citroen C5 engine from eBay with 73,000 miles on the clock. Apart from a new cambelt, would you recommend anything else needs replacing at this stage?"
Waterpump, tensioner and alternator belt. Good idea also to take the sump pan off and check the sump oil strainer because if that's clogged up with sludge the engine won't last long.
Answered by Honest John
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