Citroën bundles all the virtues in the new flagship C5 X and dares to do something in terms of design. The C5 X is all about comfort, which ensures a driving feeling that is hardly known these days. In addition, there is a smooth, quiet drive and tried-and-tested group technology. Although not everything is right when it comes to the technical aspect and I ask myself once again how it is possible to go so far wrong in this decade when it comes to infotainment systems.
Unconventional designs have a long tradition at Citroën. In this respect, the wild mix of SUV and cross station wagon with a steeply sloping roof fits the French. The long wheelbase is reminiscent of large limousines. Citroën does without the air bumps of the earlier models in the C5 X, instead the well-known hidden headlights in the front and a rear, which has a very sporty finish, are used. Especially with the silver stripes and the two small spoilers, you don’t really know where to look. The cross look on the wheel arches and on the aprons complete the idiosyncratic look.
Ground clearance like an SUV, but a sleek silhouette.
Focused on the occupants
At first glance, the interior looks more conventional. Citroën stands for maximum comfort and the interior is designed according to this motto. You take a seat on softly upholstered seats, on which you can even sink slightly and enjoy various massage programs. Valuable and bright materials make the car look homely. In the rear you can enjoy a princely legroom and, despite the sloping roofline, more than enough headroom. The trunk is cubic and easy to load, making the French a great touring car.
The rear has a sporty touch. However, the overview suffers from the special design.
Screwed up infotainment system
Unfortunately, not everything is as successful as the ambience or the space available. The infotainment system is brand new and still causes heads to shake. As is currently fashionable, the touchscreen controls virtually all functions. Despite being a brand new system, the response time leaves a lot to be desired. In addition, intuitive operation looks different. Many functions are hidden in submenus somewhere and there is no back button at all. The menu can be called up directly with a three-finger click on the screen, and creating a profile enables personalized home screens for faster access to frequently used functions. But that doesn’t change the fact that the voice control doesn’t understand a word and is absolutely useless and the online navigation works poorly despite the 4G connection. It is absolutely beyond me how such a system can be developed in this day and age. In view of this catastrophic system, PSA and Stellantis should think twice about outsourcing the development of the multimedia software.
The slow and tedious-to-use infotainment system requires a lot of patience.
Like wrapped in cotton
In terms of driving, the C5 X is in a class of its own. I have never come across a car that detaches its driver from what is happening and allows for such smooth gliding. Due to the soft steering feel without much resistance and the slow compression and rebound, you only get the bare essentials off the road. Sportiness is not even to be thought of despite the corresponding mode.
Soft seats with various massage programs. Lateral support is overrated here.
On the other hand, the C5 X is even gentler on the road than some cars with air suspension. The chassis with hydraulic bump stops really smooths the road, so that the term magic carpet is really more than just a marketing gimmick in this case. The relaxed driving is completed by the low noise level, the soft seats and the high-torque plug-in hybrid drive. In keeping with the car, high revs are avoided as far as possible, as long as you are not driving in Sport mode. Instead, the C5 X uses the additional thrust of the electric motor.
Plenty of space in the rear.
best in class
Even the very well-equipped flagship from Citroën remains down-to-earth in terms of price. Citroën calls 62,740 francs for the test car. But there is a car with grandiose space, extravagant design and driving comfort that is rarely found even in higher price classes. The plug-in hybrid drive fits perfectly with the cozy character of this car. Unfortunately, the illogical and slow infotainment system casts a long shadow over the French’s newcomer. If you don’t mind that and are just happy if you don’t have to feel any bumps in the road, you should take a close look at the C5 X.
With the C5 X, Citroën is bold enough to try something new.
Everyday
The Citroën C5 X offers two comfortable seats in the front and plenty of legroom and even headroom in the back. The trunk is also impressive. Only a little more shelves in a touring car would be desirable.
driving dynamics
Maximum focus on driving comfort naturally has an impact on driving dynamics; the wagon is quite a rocking horse.
Environment
In view of the size and performance, the consumption is okay. In practice, however, the electric range is a rather meager 30 kilometers.
charisma
The bold design stands out from the crowd. Instead of designing an ordinary SUV, Citroen puts a sleek cross station wagon on the wheels.
Conclusion
+ Unique, cool design
+ High-quality workmanship
+ Gigantic space
+ Very comfortable seats, top ergonomics, optional massage function
+ Generous space
+ Excellent driving comfort
+ High level of noise comfort
+ Small turning circle
+ Short loading time
+ Rich equipment
+ Attractively priced
– Feelless steering
– Hardly any lateral support
– Little intuitive infotainment system with hangers and unusable voice control
– Small electric range in practice
Defects in the test car
– No defects
Characteristics
Brand / modelCitroën C5 X PHEVPrice basic model / test car51,790 CHF / 62,740 CHFDrivePetrol plug-in hybrid / front-wheel driveDisplacement / cylinder1598 ccm / R4Engine arrangement / engine conceptFront engine / turbo engine + electric motorGearbox8-speed automatic transmissionMax. System power 165 kW Max. System torque 360 NmVmax233 km/hAcceleration 0 – 100 km/h7.9 sElectrical range according to WLTP55 kmBattery capacity12.4 kWhWLTP consumption / CO2 emissions / energy efficiency 1.6 l + 22.4 kWh/100 km / 36 g/km / Btest consumption / CO2 Emissions / difference 6.0* l/100 km / 135 g/km / +275% length / width / height 4.81 m / 1.87 m / 1.49 m curb weight 1826 kg trunk volume 485 – 1640 l photos: Koray Adigüzel
*High test consumption: Due to the lack of private charging options, plug-in hybrids are charged irregularly during the test period. This results in above-average consumption.
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