Citroen C5 X – the car that gets you to the comfort zone

Published on 19 November, 2022

Overview

This week’s test car, the C5 X from Citroen, poses a few questions for any intending buyer.

It is just hard to tie it down to an easy description.

You could call it a large estate because it is so long. Or you could call it an SUV-cum-crossover because it has that sort of look, too.

Citroen says it is a blend of both, with a bit of large saloon thrown in for good measure.

The problem is: what do you use as a yardstick or benchmark to compare it against?

An estate such as the Skoda Superb Combi (estate) for example? Or one of the many larger compact crossovers? (I don’t see the saloon bit in it at all.)

There is good and bad to be derived from something that doesn’t easily fit any of the myriad vehicle niches out there nowadays.

I think if I was trying to buy a C5 X I’d argue that estates don’t sell too well in Ireland – never have, probably never will – and look for a better deal/price as a result.

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On the other hand, if I was trying to sell one, I would emphasise the SUV part because crossovers are always in demand.

So I suggest we cut to the chase and do the obvious: treat it as a unique take in its own right – that of a large family “car”.

Within its sporty frame and unusual visual scope lies a roomy interior with lots of creature comforts.

Yes, a family car it most certainly is, no matter how we try to pigeon-hole it. And it is all about comfort.

It has been some time, around five years I reckon, since Citroen had a car of this stature on the market.

If I told you five years ago that there would be a Citroen launched without a diesel option you would probably have laughed me out of the room.

Well, five years on, that is the case. There are two petrols and one plug-in hybrid – and that’s it. I had the 1.2 litre petrol version (130bhp) which showed itself to be a gutsy little three-cylinder worker.

It combined well with an 8spd automatic transmission. There is also a 4cyl 1.6 litre 180hp version.

I expect to have the hybrid version for test shortly so I’ll not stray into that territory for now.

I really like three-cylinder turbo engines and this proven powerplant didn’t disappoint. It never felt like it was struggling to shift the large body around but, even better as far as I was concerned, it was as quiet as a mouse except when pushed really hard.

Citroen has always regarded itself as being among the elite when it comes to suspensions. I can remember marvelling at the one in the old GSA hatchback (that’s late 1970s/early 1980s in case you’re wondering) that permitted speedy drives on poor, bump-n-lump midland roads.

With the C5 X I had on test, it had the active Advanced Comfort suspension system which keeps continuous control over that vital area on the road.

There are different modes to choose from and I leaned towards the sporty end of the range because the suspension is designed for soft rather than stiff and sporty handling and ride.

Seats too have a special high-density sheet and 15mm thicker foam so even the niggliest of little bumps are eased over.

I was left in no doubt that this C5 X is made for comfortable, not dynamic, driving. 

One area I was a bit disappointed with was the boot which, by my reckoning, is smaller than the Skoda Octavia’s. Maybe I thought the size
of the car warranted expectations of proportionately greater carrying capacity. There was a nice touch, however: “magic handles” allow the rear seats to be folded flat from the boot.

And the cabin was good and roomy front and rear. Well thought out, it had plenty of storage slots (loads of space under the arm-rest, for example). It felt a teeny bit upmarket.

Nearly everything on the dash is centred on the 12in touchscreen but rather than abandoning tactile buttons for key functions, it retains ones for climate and volume. And the infotainment system worked well for me.

There is one element I am always delighted to see on a car and that is the head-up display (eHUD in this case): important information is conveyed in your direct line of sight so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.

It has been around a long time and doesn’t get near-enough mention. May I advise that you check it out, or ask for it, on any car you are thinking of buying.

So would I buy the C5 X? I like Citroens, always have, and I enjoyed my time with this.

It was never less than easy going and comfortable. For someone looking for a “different” family car, it would be well worth a look.

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