2.0i HDi 16v Exclusive Automatic Saloon

Luxury travel

This is the longest period that I have owned a car for without tiring of it, and I think that it is a reflection of just how good a car the C5 is. In Exclusive trim the C5 is an exceptionally comfortable car. In addition to the smooth hydropneumatic ride, the side windows are laminated and the cabin is near silent at motorway speeds, with just the faintest murmur from the engine bay under acceleration.

The ride can be unexpectedly crashy over speed bumps and broken surfaces, but in pretty much all other situations the ride is exemplary. Handling is far better than road testers would have you believe; it is possible to accurately hustle the C5 along at speed. Sport mode for the suspension gives a noticeably flatter cornering attitude without too much detrimental effect on ride comfort.

Testers likewise sometimes complain that the steering wheel controls are 'busy', but if you spend time in the car you come to appreciate that their positioning is logical.

It's a big car but easy to manoeuvre; the only word of caution is that the wheelbase of the car is very long, and so sharp turns alongside kerbs need to be treated carefully.

I don't think that I've had a passenger in the car who has not passed comment on the aura of calm, smoothness and luxury, and I think that really sums up the C5.

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