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08/08/2011
REVIEW By EWAN KENNEDY
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The Citroen C5 delighted Australian enthusiasts of the iconic French marque when it was launched here late in 2002. Because after too many year of following mainstream thinking the company returned to doing things in its own, very different, ways.
Long famed for taking its own automotive path, Citroen had become conservative after major financial problems, but by the early 2000s it was ready to move on again.
Citroen C5 is particularly popular with people who want to move away from the increasingly common German machines in this class.
If you’ve never driven a Citroen before take it for a good long test drive to become accustomed to its different feel and sound. Indeed, make a point of telling the seller you’re not interested in buying the car until you have done so. If they are true Citroen people they will understand.
Some may find the styling of the Citroen C5 is an acquired taste, not an unusual thing in any Citroen, but more and more buyers are coming to appreciate the big swooping lines, not to forget the volume of interior space they permit.
The Citroen C5 is a medium-large car that’s extremely pleasant to drive and ride in. That’s thanks to the hydraulic suspension system Citroen has used for many years. It gives a magic carpet ride on most roads and even severe Aussie corrugations seldom find it wanting.
Citroen C5 is amazing in that it recognises when it’s on very rough tracks and raises its body to help clear obstacles. It’s not just for rough road driving, the ride-height system also helps get the big Citroen over awkward gutter crossings and the like.
Having said that, the Citroen isn’t as far ahead of steel-suspended competitors as the French company once was. There have been major advances in conventional suspensions and tyres in the last decade or so and this has closed the gap.
It’s not just in the suspension, the Citroen C5 also features some of the latest advances in voice controlled satellite navigation, phone and radio/CD player. It has air conditioning that automatically adjusts cabin temperature to compensate for the effects of direct sunshine or the chill of the night.
Then there’s the clever feature introduced in the 2008 models, of a steering wheel centre that remains fixed because the wheel turns behind it. So all the steering wheel controls remain in the same place all the time. A further bonus is that the fixed wheel hub allows for a better shape to the driver’s airbag.
Body types on offer are five-door hatchback, four-door sedan and station wagon. Until the second generation C5 was launched in September 2008, the five-door hatch was referred to somewhat misleadingly as a sedan. From then onwards it’s a genuine booted sedan.
Within the Citroen's spacious cabin there's stretch-out space for four adults, with room for another in the centre-rear position. However, it’s probably best if the three in the rear are children rather than large adults.
Citroen C5 comes with a host of engine choices: four-cylinder petrol, four-cylinder turbo-diesel and V6 petrol. The four-cylinder turbo-diesel has proven to be the surprise package, selling in quite large numbers long before other importers of European cars cottoned on to the fact that Australians might like diesels. So successful has been the diesel in Australia that from the gen-two C5 of 2008 no petrols have been imported.
These aren't cars for the do-it-yourself guys. Though some items are relatively conventional in design, there are many others that really should be left to the trained Citroen mechanic. These guys aren't as scarce as they once were and most major population centres have a Citroen dealership these days.
Insurance premiums to cover a Citroen C5 vary quite widely as this is an unusual car and some companies quote high prices to try and avoid getting your business. Shop around for the best deal, but don’t just look at the price of the premiums, also check the fine print in the contracts.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for sagged suspension, usually only noticed after the C5 has been sitting for a long period.
Any engine should start promptly and idle smoothly virtually from the moment it kicks over. The four-cylinder petrol engine isn’t the smoothest unit on the market but if it seems too bad be suspicious of it.
The typical diesel engine clatter should be all but unnoticed from inside the car, though it’s quite obvious from the outside, especially with the engine at idle. If it seems to be excessively loud have the engine checked out.
Diesels are sensitive to dirty oil, so again a full service record is important, though it doesn’t necessarily need to come for an official dealer.
Make sure there are no loose parts in the interior and that they don’t rattle and/or squeak on rough Australian roads.
Citroen recalled some C5 2011 models for a safety defect in the windscreen wipers. Check the work has been carried out on the car you’re considering.
Check all electrical items work correctly, after sitting down with the owner’s handbook and working out where all the switches are.
We suggest you look for a used C5 that comes with a full service record from a Citroen service centre. It may cost more, but it’s worth it. Keeping up that service record will pay in the long run. |
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