Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer

[vc_single_image image=”44884″ img_size=”article-image”]The new Citroen C5 diesel Tourer is a stylish, comfortable and even luxurious family estate that has taken this sector by storm. On sale since 2008, it continues to look fresh-faced in a class where style has rarely been a priority.

Although it looks decidedly chunky, there are smart design details here that should appeal to you if you’re on the lookout for a family car that mixes a bit of flair with its substance. Inside, there is a lot to like, too, include plenty of space.

OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our Citroen C5 diesel Tourer review.

Overview Of The Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer

On The Road

Cars in this class are either excellent handlers or supremely comfortable. The new C5 Tourer falls into the latter category and is easily one of the most comfortable large family estates you’ll get your mitts on. The range-topping model now comes with an intelligently developed Hydractive 3 suspension system that adapts automatically to the surface of the road, as well as your driving style. With this system, you almost feel as though you’re in a limousine.

And although the entry-level models have to be content with steel suspension, they still feel really comfortable.[vc_single_image image=”44866″ img_size=”article-image”]It isn’t really recommended that you drive this car with lots of enthusiasm, though. It feels as heavy as it is, and there is lots of body lean in bends. The tyres take the edge off bumps and lumps, but the caveat is that they make the car less accurate. Unlike with the Ford Mondeo Estate, you won’t be seeking out country roads just for the hell of it with this one.

There are only two engines in the line-up, and they’re both diesels. You get to choose between a 2.0-litre BlueHDi 148bhp, and a 2.0-litre BlueHDi 178bhp. Both are adept enough at pulling this car on a full load, while fuel economy is relatively pleasing. Both are also refined units.

The diesel power plants excel out on the motorway, with lots of torque available for overtaking.

Interior, Design & Build

Comfort is arguably this car’s trump card, and the near faultless Exclusive Techno model might just be the comfiest car in this sector. This range-topping model comes with the aforementioned Hydractive 3 adjustable suspension setup that irons out niggling bumps in the roads. The setup also lets you vary your ride height, which means you can raise it in order to better cope with annoying bumps and grinds.

But even the base-level variant is more comfortable than many other cars in this class. Each model also comes with an acoustic windscreen as standard, and this helps to keep exterior noise to a minimum. [vc_single_image image=”44869″ img_size=”article-image”]Citroen seem to have taken cues from the big German brands when it came to designing their interior. Everything is properly screwed together, and there is plenty of quality throughout the cabin. Touch points are forged from metal, such as the interior door handles.

As well as being inspired by their German rivals, Citroen has also made sure that this car retains its distinctive French-ness. The steering wheel is fixed at the centre, and you can specify the interior with brighter colours – as opposed to the darker ones favoured by Volkswagen.There are two problems with the interior and, though; there are a tad too many buttons on the dash, and overall build quality is still behind the Mondeo and the VW Passat Estate. While Citroen have done well to improve things from last time around, its rivals have taken it up yet another level.

If you’ve been weighing up whether or not to buy this or the saloon variant, this Tourer Estate has a larger boot, as well as more space for passengers. Moreover, unlike the saloon, this estate variant doesn’t come with a sloping roof that eats into rear passenger headroom. Instead, it has a taller roofline, while its intelligent suspension set-up makes it getting in and out easy, thanks to its adjustability.

Interior storage isn’t fantastic, though. Small door bins and a small glovebox are disappointing, while the 505-litre boot is considerably smaller than what a lot of its rivals in this class can offer. It is really usable, though.

Equipment

Its predecessor didn’t offer much in the way of standard equipment, but Citroen have rectified that this time. Standard on the entry-level models is air conditioning, cruise control, front and rear electric windows, Bluetooth phone connectivity, and rear parking sensors.

The VTR+ Techno model adds front and rear parking sensors, climate control, satellite navigation, and electrically folding wing mirrors, while the Exclusive Techno range tosses in bigger alloys, an electric tailgate and electric front seats.

On the list of options are bright xenon lights, a panoramic glass roof, and leather seats that come with a massage function.[vc_single_image image=”44867″ img_size=”article-image”]

Costs Of The Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer      

Prices for the new Citroen C5 Tourer start out from around £26,000. If you want to lease the car over three years, you’ll be looking at paying somewhere between £250 and £500 + VAT per month dependent on specifications.

Running costs across the range will be fairly low in light of the fact that there are no petrol engines to choose from. Citroen claims that each of their two diesel units will be capable of achieving returns of around 64mpg off a sensible drive. Even if you pair the more powerful variant up with an automatic ‘box, this number should still be achievable.

Running costs, then, are impressive. But it’s the alarming rate at which this car depreciates which will be of bigger concern. It is predicted that the range-topping models will only retain around 27% of their original value after 3 years of ownership. With that in mind, a BMW 3 Series Touring could actually cost less over 3 years because it can hold its value better.

It is expensive to insure, too, and sits in groups 30 and 31 – remarkably high for a car such as this. The warranty is your usual three year/60,000 mile one, while Citroen Originals servicing scheme offers an attractive fixed price deal on standard maintenance items, such as wiper blades.

Pros And Cons Of The Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer

Pros:

Cons:

Quality Interior

The interior of the Estate is almost identical to the one in the Saloon, with the major difference being that this one doesn’t have the Saloon’s sloping roofline, which infringes on rear space.

Everything inside looks smart and of high-quality. Opt for one of the Exclusive models, and you’ll be truly spoilt to some nice touches. The seats are comfortable, but if there is one disappointment, it’s the overly fussy dashboard.

Usable Boot

The 505-litre boot is smaller than many of this car’s rivals, but it is more usable than most others. It has a useful square shape and comes with a wide hatch that makes it easy to load your luggage. The boot can also be extended to 1,462-litres when you fold the rear seats.

Super Comfortable

Citroen clearly decided to focus on making this car as comfortable as possible when they began work on it – and the hard work has paid off. The C5 Diesel Tourer is easily one of the most comfortable cars on the road today, with comfort in the range-topping model nothing short of exceptional.

No Petrol Engines

If you fancied powering this large family Estate with a petrol plant, you’d be in for a disappointment. As well as a lack of petrol’s in the range, only a pair of diesels are available to choose from. Rivals can offer more choice.

Poor Residual Values

The list price is quite high, and this car won’t hold its value very well at all over three years. Moreover, although its running costs are good, they can’t compete with what even the BMW 3 Series can offer.

Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer vs Volkswagen Passat Estate vs Ford Mondeo Estate

The C5 is good, but how does it fare against its rivals? Let’s find out in the comparison section of our Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer review.

Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer vs Volkswagen Passat Estate

The Volkswagen Passat Estate is one of the best all-rounders in the large family estate class. It’s comfortable, quiet, sophisticated, as well as practical and desirable.

Out on the road, the Passat is similar to the C5 Tourer in that it’s not going to excite your senses, but it is comfortable, refined and responsive. It’s not much fun, but it feels mature and grown-up. It’s also lost 85kg of weight, which has help to ensure better handling, as well as more welcome fuel economy numbers.[vc_single_image image=”44871″ img_size=”article-image”]Like the Citroen, the VW Estate offers buyers diesel engines only, although you can get it as a hybrid if you wish. All engines offer pleasing running costs, and because VW predict most of the sales will be to businesses on the lookout for new fleets, all models have low Benefit in Kind tax rates. The most frugal unit in the range can achieve returns of 76.5mpg, which makes it cheaper to run than the Citroen. It will also hold onto its value better over three years, and it’s cheaper to insure, too.Each Passat model is well equipped, and each is practical and luxurious. Much of the equipment is shared with vehicles across the VW Group range, including the SEAT Leon and the Audi A3. The interior is certainly of a higher quality than the one in the Citroen, and build quality is unquestionable. Top-notch plastics abound, while a big 8” touchscreen on the dash is user friendly.

The new Passat is a lot more practical than the model it replaces. The boot is bigger, and there is ample more head and legroom as well. This is surprising when you consider that outside, the car is actually smaller. But thanks to an extended wheelbase and clever packaging, VW have managed to create a spacious interior. Like the Citroen, though, interior storage is not fantastic, but the 650-litre boot is a lot bigger than the one in the C5.

Price:

Volkswagen Passat Estate- £24,000 – £41,500

Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer vs Ford Mondeo Estate

It’s not easy for car manufacturers to nail a handsome look in this large family estate sector, and Ford failed last time around with the Mondeo. The new model, however, is much better looking. It also offers more interior room and is cheap to run.

One area that the brand have purposely watered down, however, is this car’s handling. Ford usually deliver best-in-class handlers, but this time around they have sacrificed agility for comfort. The steering is noticeably easier to use, but it inspires less confidence when you approach corners quickly. As such, this is no longer a fun-to-drive family Estate.Still, unlike the Citroen it offers a few petrols – three to be exact. The 1.5-litre EcoBoost is the pick of them all, and can get you from rest to 62mph in 9.3 seconds. There are also a few diesel units to choose from, including a 2.0-litre 177bhp power plant that covers the 0-62mph in just 8.3 seconds.

Ford have worked had to lower running costs, and now the entire range is pleasingly fuel-efficient. The 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol is good for 47.9mpg according to Ford, while the most frugal diesel unit can achieve returns of 67.3mpg. You can add four-wheel-drive to the 2.0-litre diesel engine if you wish, but this will bump up emissions and running costs. The Ford Mondeo Estate is cheaper to run than the Citroen.[vc_single_image image=”44870″ img_size=”article-image”]The Ford is better built than last time around, while the brand have also done well to reduce button clutter. As such, the interior now has a cleaner feel and look to it. An 8” touchscreen dominates the dash, while plastic quality is much better. Unlike its predecessor, this one doesn’t squeak or rattle once you’re out and about.

Two adults can sit in comfort in the Mondeo’s rear, while space up front is fantastic. Access is easy, thanks to wide-opening doors, while electrically adjustable seats are offered with the range-topping model. They’re very good. Interior storage space is better here than in the Citroen, and the boot is 25-litres bigger.

Price:

Ford Mondeo Estate – £22,000 – £34,000

Verdict Of Our Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer Review

The truth is that there is very little to choose from between the outstanding cars in this class, one of which is this C5 Tourer Estate. Like its rivals, the Citroen is smart to look at, drivers with confidence, and is supremely comfortable. It lacks a bit of practicality, and it does depreciate badly. But if you fancy taking a punt on a car that offers lighter interiors to the usual dark cabins in this class, the Citroen C5 Diesel Tourer is worth a test drive.[vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#00625a”]

Want to learn more? Click below to view the review for the competitors in this article…

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Volkswagen Passat Estate Review

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Ford Mondeo Estate Review

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