AS far as large family estate cars go, they don’t come much cheaper than Citroen’s C5.
This is not because it has an especially low list price but rather that the price you actually pay is so heavily discounted.
Even better still is to look out for one of the many pre-registered models that are now flooding on to forecourts at crazy prices.
It is now possible to buy a three-year-old Citroen C5 for just a quarter of its original price.
This is fantastic news for the average family in search of a spacious estate car for about £5,000 or less.
You may not exactly have your pick of 2.2-litre HDi versions with automatic transmission but look carefully and you will find one.
This is a particularly attractive combination, especially for those planning to keep their car for a while.
The lion’s share of the awesome depreciation has already gone and there is the promise of trouble-free motoring for at least the next decade with guaranteed economy of more than 45mpg.
Performance is good for a diesel, with acceleration to 60mph in just eight and a half seconds and a top speed of 135mph.
This enables the car to cruise effortlessly all day at the motorway maximum and even to occupy the outside lane of a German autobahn without embarrassment.
The figures are so impressive thanks to the replacement of the two-litre engine with a new high-efficiency 2.2-litre that increases power significantly from 138bhp to a new high of 173bhp.
This is the same engine as that of the new Land Rover Freelander, which is not only more powerful but also more economical than the two-litre unit and it is cleaner too.
This means that despite its prodigious performance, the C5 2.2 HDi achieves a company car tax liability rating of 20 per cent, which is five bands lower than that of the two-litre model.
The C5 estate has several other attributes, most notably its carrying capacity, which at a cavernous 1,658 litres is even greater than that of a Volvo V70.
Renowned for exceptional comfort dating way back to the legendary DS models, the C5 has the sort of floating-on-air suspension that you either love or hate.
It drives and handles well and is lavishly equipped with climate control, alloy wheels, and electric operation of virtually every function.
Search those forecourts for a nearly-new C5 and it is unlikely that you will be able to find anything else that offers so much metal for the money.
If you decide to opt for a new one be prepared to haggle and expect to pay about £3,000 less than the official list price.
FAST FACTS
Citroen C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate
Price: £23,295
Mechanical: 173bhp, 2,179cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 135mph
0-62mph: 8.7 secs
Combined mpg: 45.6
Insurance group: 11
CO2 emissions: 165g/km
BiK rating: 20%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust