Shine Plus PureTech 225 12.4kWh 180hp + 81.2kw Motor e-EAT8 Auto Start/Stop 5dr

Good but with many flaws

I have done just over 9000 miles in my C5x Hybrid since Nov 2022, which have been (mostly) enjoyable bar a few irritations.

Pros:
The ride is comfortable
Economy when driven smoothly can be very good considering the size of the car
There is a 7kw on board charger as standard
The car is quiet and refined when driven smoothly
The seats (standard) are good and in the Shine Plus fully electric with memory
There is good overall space for 4 adults in the cabin
The boot is a reasonable size for a plug in hybrid
In electric mode the car is very smooth and quiet
There is a good level standard of equipment on the Shine Plus model

Cons:
The lane departure system snatches the steering wheel too harshly and often
The radar cruise is hopeless on crowded UK roads, the braking/acceleration is crude and harsh
There is no English voice available on the TomTom navigation only American English
There is absolutely no feel to the steering
The response from the engine/drivetrain when accelerating is sometimes unpredictable
Under hard acceleration there is a lot rise in the front suspension & vibration through steering wheel
The emergency braking function often over reacts to conditions
The radar cruise does not seem to see slowing vehicles until too late then cuts out altogether
Rear seat comfort is not as good as some rivals, C5 Aircross for instance has far better rear seats
The car wallows a lot if you try to accelerate to quickly
Its difficult to see the edge of the bonnet in relation to curbs due to how high it is
Driving in tight multi-story carparks is very difficult, the wheelbase means its easy to catch curbs
The upgraded Hi-Fi option improves bass only for the interior to rattle more loudly
Already, the dash is starting to rattle on harsh surfaces

This is not a bad car at all, if you drive it very smoothly and dont rush it you will have a pretty enjoyable journey without back issues or fatigue. However, the assistance systems are very crude, unrefined in their application, On a few occasions the LDW system has snatched the steering wheel mid bend on a wet road causing the car to swerve actually making it more of a liability than a benefit. A few times on the motorway when cars have braked in front the radar cruise just gives up and tells me to take over, which is not my experience in VAG. Mercedes or BMW cars.

I think some of these issues could be fixed with software/firmware upgrades but I am not convinced Citroen UK will take any notice of this feedback so I wont hold my breath.

If you are looking for a comfortable, quiet relaxing cruiser and you dont use the onboard driver aids this is a good choice for the cost. If you like to drive enthusiastically or are often in a hurry, I would look elsewhere.

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