What they said when the Citroen C5 was new… (Apr 3 2001)
CITROEN makes no bones about it - its new C5 is aimed directly at the fleet market.
But that's not to say it will have no appeal to the private buyer. Admittedly, its not one of the most beautiful motors on the road, but the Xantia replacement is roomy, bristles with hi-tech gear and is competitively priced in the tough upper medium sector, where 75 per cent of sales are paid for with company money.
In the upper medium sector C5 is up against Vectra, Mondeo, Laguna, Passat and Primera, so it has a tough battle on its hands. But I think Citroen will succeed. Reps who clock up 40 to 50,000 miles a year, spending a huge amount of their working day behind the wheel, will love the new Citroen.
There is an engine to suit everyone, from 1.8, 2.0 and 3.0 V6 petrol plus a 2.0 HDi diesel which produces just a trace of particulate emissions, plus a more powerful 2.0-litre HPi petrol.
Ride quality goes without saying. All PSA products have tremendous underpinnings. The C5 has adaptive suspension which raises and lowers itself automatically depending on type of road, speed and conditions.
A light, airy cabin with 22 separate stowage areas and a hatchback boot which has 456 litres of space makes the C5 one of the roomiest in the sector with stacks of head and leg room
I tested the V6 Exclusive model with automatic transmission. This is second top of the range, and costs £20,500. This one won't be the big seller. But it will be snapped up by the higher ranks of the company car user and ordinary punters looking for a powerful, all-singing, all-dancing family car.
Included in the C5's basic LX equipment line-up are heat-reflecting windscreen, six airbags, power steering, remote central locking, electric windows and mirrors, anti-lock brakes and immobiliser.
That's an impressive list of useful goodies for the base model. The Exclusive test car added cruise control, rear sunblind, sunroof, rain sensitive driving lights, Xenon headlights, tyre pressure warning, alarm, front seat drawers, 6 CD autochanger and leather upholstery.
On the road the C5 is a comfortable car to drive. Suspension is first-class, steering is direct and responsive and road and wind noise are well suppressed. Seats are supportive and firm and with an adjustable steering wheel it's easy to find an ideal driving position.
New features on the Citroen include automatic activation of hazard warning lights under emergency braking, a braking assistance system which cuts stopping distance by around 25 per cent. For added security, if the C5 is accidentally unlocked, the vehicle will automatically lock itself after 30 seconds and the boot also automatically locks once the car starts to move.
As far as available power goes the C5 V6 is no slouch. The upgraded 3.0i V6 is one of the most powerful in class. It pumps out 210 bhp, which gives it a top speed of 144 mph and a 0-62 mph time of 9.7 seconds. Fuel consumption is claimed at 27.7 mpg overall, but giving it some stick during the week-long test I managed just 24 mpg. Service intervals for petrol models have been increased to 20,000 miles.
VERDICT: Huge amount of space and high-tech equipment make the new C5 a real contender in the repmobile market.
Words: Stewart Smith
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