Citroen C5

Volvo has ditched its saloons and estates in the UK, a smart business decision that no doubt still sends chills down the spine. If Volvo can’t turn around such commodities, what chance does Citroën have with its more exclusive products?

I like the idea of ​​the C5 Unconventionally elegant, it’s always interesting to see one in action (still rare). The whole split-headlight thing is contentious, and the rear end is incoherent, but there’s imagination here, and the spirit that infused the ’70s GS and CX is still detectable. That’s all good.

No one expects the dynamics of a BMW 3 Series, but it’s clear that the C5 The state-of-the-art comfort suspension system is a key feature, with dual hydraulic shocks at each corner and adaptive dampers. In most cases, it is compatible and consistent, but there are anomalies: it can feel strangely disoriented when caught by sharp protrusions or expansion joints. The C5 So you have to step back and stay in the very wide comfort zone. This is not one of those cars that encourages you to take the long way home.

On paper, the 1.6-litre PHEV looks like the model you’ll get, with the promise of 225bhp and a combined fuel economy of 236.2mpg. Yeah, right, and I’m not sure I’m a fan of the hybrid. The C5 I simply didn’t get used to charging him that much either. In other words, the battery and 12.4 kWh electric motor could become expensive extra baggage.

Then there was the C5 I saw 47 mpg on average, which is impressive for a car of this size, but even with 250 miles of range becoming the norm as we head into the sunlit EV highlands, I missed out on the 500-plus miles that made (makes?) Diesel is very useful. The eight-speed transmission can also become a bit confused, shifting down or up too early, if it’s tasked with anything other than cruising.

Yes, I know this all sounds very negative. The C5 It’s comfortable, the interior remixes the Stellantis’ hardware and software combination convincingly, and aside from my inability to really take advantage of its hybrid attributes, it was efficient to operate. It’s well equipped and good value too. There have been occasions when a smartphone inexplicably disconnects and then mysteriously reappears, but this is not a problem exclusive to Citroën.

I think the problems I found were more with me than with the car. As much as I crave comfort and mental alertness, two qualities the C5 Maybe it’s a case of “It’s not you, it’s me.”