Citroën C5 X – AutoWeek Test

A special appearance, which Citroën C5 X

Indeed, because the Citroën C5 X looks nothing like it at all. And we mean that positively! In our opinion, Citroën’s mission to create something special has not led to forced creativity on the part of the designers. The car is a cross between a hatchback, a station wagon and an SUV. In practice, this means that it stands relatively high on its legs, but at the same time it shows more slender and elongated than the average SUV. The butt of the confident-looking C5 X is undoubtedly its most striking side, with spoilers above and below the flush rear window.

The creative ideas of the designers have not passed by the interior. There is no lack of atmosphere and appearance. With luxurious, soft armchairs, beautiful wood and striking shapes, the Citroën C5 X feels like a very special car inside. The information in the dashboard has been completely digitized, the interior is therefore a futuristic environment – a bit like a modern CX.

But isn’t all this at the expense of functionality?

That’s better than expected. The instrumentation right in front of you is simple in design, and is supplemented on the Business and Shine version with an extensive head-up display. Which is not everyone’s choice: we know people who get sick of such a ‘floating’ projection of the data against the windscreen. Citroën has placed a large 10-inch screen in the center of the dashboard. That works nicely, thanks to the new and much faster infotainment environment that we have recently also seen at Citroën’s sister brands. Particularly nice is that life is not only made easier by a physical home button, but also by a separate and physical control cluster for the climate control.

And what about the interior space of the C5 X?

Okay, due to its special design, the Citroën C5 X is not the most spacious car in its class. A competitor such as the Skoda Superb has more to offer for its occupants. Which is not to say that the C5 X is a tight car, on the contrary. In the front you can slide the seats very far back, and there is no shortage of leg or headroom in the back either.

You can sit comfortably on the back seat of the C5 X.

Under the remarkably heavy tailgate we find a luggage compartment with a capacity of 545 liters. This puts the C5 X among the mid-sized cars with the largest load volume. If the rear seat is folded up, that kite will no longer open due to the flat rear window, because the Citroën then swallows 1,640 liters. Station wagons such as the Peugeot 508 SW and Mazda 6 Sportbreak have a larger cargo area. And the Skoda Superb Combi even more so: with 1,950 liters it cannot be matched by any competitor.

The fairly modest towing capacity of the Citroën C5 X is striking. If you have opted for the version with a 130 hp petrol engine, the towbar may not exceed 1,050 kilos. The 225 hp plug-in hybrid weighs 1,350 kilos. By way of comparison: the Skoda Superb Combi with a 150 hp TSI petrol engine can carry a trailer with a braked weight of 1,600 kilos.

How does the Citroën C5 X drive?

The C5 X not only distinguishes itself with its striking design, but also with the clear choice for comfort. That is with the new flagship of an even higher level than in the other models of the brand. A chassis with extra absorbent shock absorbers is standard, while a variant with electronically controlled dampers is reserved for the plug-in hybrid. But we never miss that adaptive system in the 130 hp C5 X PureTech 130, which, with a curb weight of 1,393 kilos, is also much lighter than its partly electric brother (1,697 kilos).

That the C5 X is the pinnacle of comfort, only connoisseurs of older Citroëns with a hydropneumatic suspension will probably deny. The car smoothes thresholds and potholes beautifully and emotionally there never comes a point where the chassis cannot handle the blow. There is a sport mode, with which the basic version of this chassis is also slightly tighter. However, ‘more stability’ covers the load much better than ‘more sportiness’, because the latter is actually not a question of the smooth tuning of the whole.

Even the interior exudes comfort and tranquility.

The steering is of the light type, but you can also consider that as comfort-enhancing. If you are a fan of sporty driving characteristics, then you better look elsewhere than in the Citroën showroom, but as a mileage eater, the C5 X is a wonderfully relaxing car. The slightly higher seating position compared to non-crossovers is nice for clarity, while as a driver you never get the feeling of driving an SUV.

Isn’t a power of 130 hp a bit scant for such a large car?

Indeed, 130 hp is not that much by today’s standards for a mid-sized car that weighs almost 1,400 kilos. But due to its relaxed character, the well-known 1.2-liter three-cylinder does not fall through the basket. At least, not for those who drive as it suits the car. The engine stays nicely in the background and delivers its modest performance in peace. If you want to get the most out of it, you can reach 100 km / h in 10.1 seconds (1.2 seconds faster than the manufacturer’s specification), and its top speed is 196 km / h. It is a pity that the standard eight-speed automatic transmission seems to choke every now and then in its tasks and sometimes a shock can be felt.

A restrained driving style pays off, because the C5 X PureTech 130 EAT8 is satisfied with only 6.0 l / 100 km (1 in 16.7), according to Citroën. In practice, it appears that the manufacturer has made a very cautious estimate, because during the test period we recorded an average fuel consumption of 1 to 18.0. On a full tank, it should be possible to drive more than 1,000 kilometers until the next refueling stop.

Is the C5 X an attractive alternative as a plug-in hybrid?

As said: Citroën also supplies its new top model as a plug-in hybrid. That version has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, which is linked to an electric motor. Together they are good for a power of 225 hp. The battery of the hybrid system has a capacity of 12.4 kWh, with which you can drive up to 63 kilometers fully electrically, according to Citroën. If you plug fanatically, you will arrive at an average consumption of 1 to 83.3, the brochure notes. Thanks to this extremely low WLTP consumption and modest CO2 emissions of 27 grams per kilometre, the C5 X Plug-In Hybrid 225 qualifies for the half-rate road tax, which applies to cars that emit no more than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometre. expel. A nice reward. Due to the low bpm included in the price, the plug version is less than €3,000 more expensive than the C5 X PureTech 130.

Smart detail, the sills are shielded so you don’t get dirty pants when you get out.

In which versions is the C5 X available and what do you get?

The C5 X PureTech 130 is offered as a Feel and as a Business Plus. Both models are exactly the same price. The Feel version is already quite complete, with standard navigation and an extensive safety package. This even includes a reversing camera with 180-degree view at the rear. You can expect things like a high beam assistant, traffic sign recognition, fatigue recognition, an active lane assistant and collision warning with emergency stop assistance and pedestrian recognition in a large mid-sized car of more than €45,000. The C5 X owes its unique character partly to the special shock absorbers with so-called ‘Progressive Hydraulic Cushions’ and the softly upholstered Advanced Comfort seats. Citroën does not charge extra for these comfort-enhancing matters.

Compared to the Feel version, the C5 X Business Plus also has adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, 19-inch wheels with part black finish and leather upholstery. Since the Feel and Business Plus are exactly the same price, it is easy to choose between these two trim levels. The even more complete Shine version is reserved for the plug-in hybrid.

The choice of AutoWeek test coordinator Marco Gorter

If you have the choice, it is best to go for a Business Plus version. It costs the same as the Feel, but is more fully equipped. A handy separate option remains the heated windscreen in both cases. This saves scratching in the winter, especially if the car is outside and not at the charging station. Given the relatively modest additional cost of the plug-in hybrid (€3,000) compared to the basic engine with 130 hp, it is strongly worth considering.