Citroen C5 2005 Review

Citroens in general are not everyone's cup of tea, although local importers have high hopes for the compact C4 to lift numbers to 3500 by Christmas next year.

But the Citroen marque and its rich and wonderful heritage remain an enigma to many. Add a diesel engine option and there's more mystery.

Yet there is much to be admired and used in a Citroen across Australia, best appreciated on long drives over indifferent roads.

For a C5 diesel Citroen is a great tourer with its own, albeit small, cult following.

The hydraulic suspension offers excellent ride comfort, the diesel engine offers good fuel economy and there is the style to stand out from the herd. This C5 is also "the safest car" yet tested by EuroNCAP, scoring 36 out of a possible 37 in the crash tests.

This year's diesel model arrives in the reworked body with its clean, simple and distinctive nose and hippy profile which leads to a fair amount of passenger and cargo space under the rear hatch opening.

The $51,990 C5 diesel is kitted out with leather and automatic climate control airconditioning, stereo and trip computer plus lots of electric helpers from seats to windows.

It is a nice machine to be trekking from one end of the Gold Coast for early morning triathlons to the other end of the Sunshine Coast for football matters on a sunny Sunday.

It fires up with the hint of an old Magna with a couple of tappets out of whack, just a faint clatter.

This is smoothed out and away with a few revs on board and the C5 surfs through the traffic.

The Citroen is effortless out on the highway, engine revs sitting just above 2000rpm at 110km/h and trip computer reckoning on 6 to 8 litres per 100km on a gentle road.

Give the turbocharged 2.2 litre engine a tickle with the boot, or flick back from fourth to third, and there's an easy and smooth surge of reassuring, if not neck-breaking, acceleration.

There are 98kW at 4000rpm, 314Nm of torque at 4000rpm.

So the first couple of starts from the traffic lights needs a touch more throttle application than a V6 Commodore but the C5 is smart enough.

Using the gearbox manually helps but the shift from first to second is pretty short.

There is a Sport setting for the suspension but in the main best to let it get on with its own business. It loafs over speed bumps, keeps little lumps and bumps at bay on the open road.

It is not a sports tourer. There is decent feel to the steering and good road holding but the handling is on the softer side of sharp.

There is never any drama with the C5's road manners, it just prefers the long-distance runs rather than a sprint up a mountainside.

Back and around the city streets the C5 is flexible and family friendly.

There is an easy charm to the cabin and good visibility in most directions although that driver's exterior mirror with split screen takes some adjustment.

It is gentle, comfortable and safe. There are seven airbags around the cabin, including a knee bag for the driver.

The Citroen C5 diesel is a safe, comfortable and cosseting machine with good accommodation for people and luggage (through that big rear hatch) plus good economy.

It is not cheap but offers value. It will not appeal to a huge crowd but those who drive any distance in style will be much appreciative.