THE Citroen designers have certainly provided the C5 saloon with the necessary looks to catch the attention of interested bystanders, its long, sleek body, neatly sculpted lines and high flowing waistline help to provide a true sense of status.
Large air intakes and attractively designed headlights also catch the eye at the front end, while the dual chevron chrome badge further stamps the C5 identity.
The two-part lighting set-up running across the bootlid flanked by a pair of shapely haunches adds further presence, giving a much more determined appearance to the rear, adding further weight to the flowing proportions of the body to reflect a decidedly strong and appealing profile.
Gallic flair continues throughout the inside, which focuses on an ergonomically sound cabin where very high quality materials join with opulence and sophistication to echo the similarly distinctive looks of the exterior.
Thanks to some clever work by Citroen, driver and passengers have plenty of head, leg and shoulder room in all parts to easily accommodate five occupants in comfortable seating which has been successfully redesigned to provide generous levels of comfort.
There are also a number of cubbyholes, including front door pockets with sensors which instantly light up when needed, while the boot provides a family style 440-litres of luggage space with all seats taken, which extends even further in flat floor mode courtesy of tumble and fold rear seats.
All models have ABS braking with electronic brake force distribution and assist linked to ESP with traction control, seven airbags and deadlocks, plus the very clever adaptive front lighting system which helps to improve visibility on corners and at road junctions.
In addition, entry level SX trim offers a generous list of standard kit including air con, cruise control, electric windows all round, powered adjustable and heated door mirrors, multi function trip computer and RDS sound system with CD and steering wheel mounted controls while the VTR+ model driven here adds dual zone air con, electrically foldable door mirrors, front fogs, electric parking brake with hill start assist, rain sensitive wipers and headlights.
The Citroen C5 can be had with petrol engines in 1.8-litre 127bhp and 2.0-litre 143bhp form, and diesel in the shape of 1.6-litre 110bhp, 2.0-litre 138bhp, 2.2-litre 173bhp and a 2.7-litre V6 208bhp.
Driven here, the 1.6-litre HDi model paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and it is smooth and refined. It also shows off some surprisingly decent mid-range pulling power and will average around 50mpg.
Ride quality is supple, courtesy of the steel spring suspension set-up and, despite its family car tag, the Citroen C5 is not short on producing a little fun.
Overall, this latest C5 has a very good chance for doing extremely well in a class where the German trio of Audi, Mercedes and BMW have been almost untouchable for a considerable time.
FAST FACTS
Citroen C5 1.6 HDi VTR+ 4dr
Price: £17,595
Mechanical: 110bhp 1,560cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 119mph
0-62mph: 13.4 secs
Combined mpg: 50.4
Insurance group: 8
CO2 emissions: 149g/km
BiK rating: 19%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust
Words: Malcolm Robertshaw