Collected my C5 2.0 HDi last week-end. A large saloon, Mondeo sized. Concave rear window seems cute but has no internal impact. Much less slab sided than the rather ugly C5 1 it replaces, and smoother more Citroen lines at the front; somewhat Beemer-styling at the back. Not as spectacular as the C6 but a good effort.
It's quite as quiet and refined as I had hoped. One of those that feels as though it could go for days in 6th at 1500 rpm sipping fuel. It really is silent, so the laminated windows do work. Engine feels powerful enough for me, but it won't burn rubber off the lights, and it is very quiet from inside. The suspension is wonderful if you like comfort mode; I went for the wafting-Citroen style over the optional, conventional springs, since the fluid-based suspension is Citoren's USP in my book. The difference is most pronounced over undulations rather than potholes by it copes with both as well as anything I've driven.
Minor gripes include an overly complex SatNav [Navi-drive] which almost does the washing up - MP3/CD/phone/etc all in one, and a tendency to get into 4th rather than 2nd when changing down, as 2nd is well left due to 6th speed box.
Wide internally, such that I can't rest my right arm on the door as it's out of reach!
The dash is clear and clever, but there are many controls which will take time to get used to - akin to using a computer, with menus/select and so on. Those on the steering wheel [centre module stays in a fixed position] are easy enough, controlling volume, cruise control/limiter, radio station etc.
I like the reverse gear parking aid in such a large car too. It's not that easy to gauge width when turning left tightly but I'll adapt I hope. 1st 200 miles at 45 mpg in mixed driving which I hope will improve further.
|
Thanks for that Ed.
I saw 3 new C5's on what was essentially a lap of Scotland today and liked what I saw.
|
|
Mike Rutherford in a weekly car mag last week reckoned the 2.0HDI was the pick of the engines in the C5 II, so you're in good company!
|
|
I went to a showroom and sat in a black C5 2.0 diesel one. It is a superb looking car in black.I found the driver's seat was extremely comfortable.
|
I like the look of them too, the estate looks great also.
I was hoping the new C5 would be like a smaller C6, but it's a good attempt at a real contender.
|
|
The seats are indeed the traditional "low-slung" Citroen style, but I don't feel un or poorly sighted in terms of driving position. And they're certainly very comfortable for me, and I'd guess for very tall people too, given the infinite electric adjustments available, including mid-back and shoulder movement.
|
|
I noticed that when I sat in the driving seat of one in a showroom,the seat was positioned too high (my head was quite close to the ceiling). When I dropped the seat to the correct height it seemed extremely comfortable. Interestingly I didn't notice the seat base sloping upwards towards the front as people mention. It honestly felt perfect for me ( I am a shade under 6 feet tall).There seemed nice back support.
|
|
I just saw a wonderful TV program "Citroen the French Connection" on "Men and Motors". Amazingly good and interesting.
|
Ed
Now that you are a couple of months in, could you provide an update?
I fell in love with the C5 at the motorshow and its a serious contender for my next car so I am keen to know how you are getting on in the real world as oposed to the usuall stuff in the reviews
|
Much as I expected. Very smooth, quiet and soft in terms of ride. Might have preferred auto gearbox [went for the fuel saving!] as I do town stuff often but the manual is fine, but not sporty. 6th is only used for cruising at 74! I use both the speed limiter [in a 30 zone which I zap on and off with one button push] and cruise control to avoid tickets. The clutch is light. Brakes are conventional, not frightening like old Citroens although they still engage higher on the pedal than most cars I've driven. Seats [mix of old French and old German - just right!] suit me [electronic adjustment] and have shoulder and lower back adjustments too.
In case you didn't realise, it IS a large car, so not all areas are easy [like the Mondeo/Vectra type that it is]. The reverse-gear warnings are useful if cautious, especially the angled ones [i.e. not directed at 180 degrees, but to the side] as they help protect corner bumps when parking.
I like but don't need the front fogs which come on when turning [only if the heads are on!]; It has auto lights and wipers if you like that sort of thing. I like the electronic handbrake - just a flick to engage fully, and no need to dis-engage as it does it automatically as you drive off; I like the height-adjustable central armrest/CD storage as it lets me have it high so it can in fact be an armrest! The car's too wide to use the door armrest!
The boot is large, golf clubs etc. no problem. And I like the flexibility of flattening both the rear seats to provide almost estate-like room in the boot, although the 'parcel shelf' obviously remains in place. There's a 'skis' hole too if that's all you need - useful for dog lovers.
I'm getting nearly 45 mpg with the 2.0 Diesel, but I don't race.
The "Navidrive" works fine - permanently stores all played CDs like a jukebox so may be great [or not] second hand! Pity it uses adresses for Sat nav rather than postcodes, but UK has a uniquely good coding system as far as I know so most countries would need addresses. Map variations are clear too. And it gets the cricket well on 4.
|
Put a few hundred miles on my new C5 Tourer so thought I'd add to this thread. Ended up chosing the 1.6HDi VTR+Nav model in a dark metallic grey.
Standout things are the looks which attracted me from the start and the amazing ride/refinement which makes it an absolute pleasure for my use on mostly poor A/B roads. This is a relief after my overfirm Mondeo III Ghia X of the past two years. The C5 seats cosset you, the ride is so so smooth and the noise levels are very very low.
Steering has an unusual feel with little road feedback and a lack of self-centering at town speeds that can take you unawares. The handling isn't as sharp as the Mondeo or something like an Audi but still massively safe... not an on the edge sporty drivers car though.
It's a big car to park too. The 360deg parking sensor pack would be a worthwhile option.
In truth they have taken away some of the interior space with styling/design and it has less room than the Mondeo despite broadly the same external dimensions. Also it isn't the easiest car to get into... certainly compared to the smaller C3 we have. Sounds at odds with a big luxury car but if I can explain it this way... if you were doing a rural paper round (!) using the car the C5 would be terrible getting in and out frequently yet the C3 would be so easy.
The C5 front seats (VTR+ & Exclusive models) are sports type with large side bolsters you have to slide over, the roofline is quite low with a steep raked screen so you have to duck your head and my position for the adjustable steering wheel means it is a bit close to the knees when getting in. Once you're in place though it's like being in a tailored command cockpit. Don't get me wrong it's no problem for me but if you were very tall or suffered any limited mobility it may be an issue.
Similarly the rear seat access is tighter than the Mondeo with a smaller door opening to get through and they have very much designed the rear seat to give great comfort for two people so not the same room if three adults would be carried frequently. Rear legroom is less than the very roomy Mondeo too.... sufficient but not space for your feet and a big bag of shopping.
The controls and instruments are utterly amazing in their detail and complexity... but in truth somewhat at the expense of clarity and easy operation. The steering wheel boss alone has 20 buttons on it! Fine for long term ownership but if you hired one for a day you'd never work out what did what.
Standard "extras" include traction/stability control with "Snowmotion", auto lights, auto wipers, elec folding door mirrors, extra cornering lights that come on with the steering, individual driver/pass climate settings, glovebox chiller, auto-dim interior mirror, a rechargeable torch clipped into the rear loadspace, pavement illuminating lights in the front door bottoms... oh the list goes on... it's a real gadget boy car.
The integrated dash 7" screen navi system is handy given it's standard. The same screen changes to the display for the stereo as required. The nav software isn't as good as a stand-alone Garmin, it is harder to find/select destinations. One good feature is that it's tied into the national roadworks network (by Trafficmaster/radio as I understand it) and it adds real time major roadwork warnings to the route. You can bring up all main route roadworks within 30mls on a separate screen even if not on your current route. It's fine for me as I dislike satnav routing but if you wanted to use it daily with just a postcode to find places it might be frustrating.
Design & finish is far better than the previous C5 with a Mercedes like feel in many ways... but not quite BMW/Audi solidity.... much much better than the previous model though.
Fuel consumption for my 1.6 is given as 53mpg combined and 50+ looks realistic as that's the computer average so far.... amazing for such a large car. In normal driving you would never guess it was just a 1.6... you'd think 2.0 at least... doesn't feel slow. I fully accept if your daily drive requires snatched overtakes on short sections of straight or lots of hills etc then you might want a 2.0/2.2.
Overall at least as good as I'd hoped in most areas and exceeding expectations in the ride/refinement/spec stakes.
|
the ride is so so smooth
Is it a steel sprung C5 or a Hydropneumatic "proper Citroen" version?
|
|
It's on steel... one of the best if not the best riding steel sprung car I've been in. I knew this was likely to be the case before deciding on the model so had no worries of missing out on the "proper Citroen" version as you put it. Mine has the advantage over "better" versions in having sensible 16" alloys with higher profile tyres. I was well aware the Mondeo's 17" alloys with 50 series tyres added an uncomfortable firmness to the ride so was pleased to avoid this on the C5.
|
Worth mentioning the Hydractive vs steel springs suspension option is confusing but I have a C5 brochure in front of me. Assuming you look at diesels...
You can't have Hydractive at all with a 1.6. If you go for a 2.0 the Hydractive only comes on the Exclusive trim models or on models with auto gearbox. Both the 2.2 and 2.7 diesels are Hydractive at all trim levels.
|
|
Do you have the manual box? And if so how do you find it compared to the Mondeo? Ive always found Ford gearboxes to be pretty good, but peugeot and citreon to be some of the worst. The new C4/C5/C6 etc seem to be completely different to the Citreon of a few years ago though.
|
Yes its a manual... the 5 speed. For me the era of Ford gearchange slickness was around the 70/80s when they were RWD and the gearlever went straight into the top of the gearbox. As competitor cars went over to FWD their gearchanges were mostly inferior due to the extra linkage.
To me there is very little difference between C5 and Mondeo gearchange. The C5 is much lighter to drive overall but with the payoff that it is less connected if you are a press on driver. I like to make good speed... but by swooping and gliding.
|
I have never driven a C5 but I did drive a Peugeot 206 which had the worst gearbox i have ever driven. Also a 207 which was a lot better but not as good as some modern Fords, GM cars etc.
Citreon really have come on lots of late. Im quite tempted by a C5.
|
