2002 Citroen C5 Reviews

In Europe they have known about the benefits of diesel power for years and here in Oz the 4WD fraternity seems to finally have the message, but diesel powered passenger vehicles are something of a rarity.That's a shame because there are some real beauties out there like the Citroen C5 Estate.I remember pulling up next to a bloke at the tip not long ago as he was emptying the rear of his C5 wagon. He loved the car but rued the fact he had not been able to get a diesel – it wasn't available at the time.Citroen has rectified this situation with the recent release of the Citroen C5 HDi Estate.The C5 has been one of the stars in Citroen's Aussie lineup, with diesel models now outselling petrol ones with rising fuel prices.The wagon is stylish, larger than you think and not as expensive as you might believe.The HDi is powered by a hi-tech, 2.0-litre turbo charged common rail, direct injection diesel engine that produces 82kW of power and 255Nm of torque.Don't be too concerned about the power because it is the torque figuure that we are concerned about here, produced from a low 1750rpm.Torque is the stuff that gets cars off the line in a hurry and makes short work of long hills – and the Citroen has plenty of it.Combine this with an overall fuel consumption figure of 6.7L/100km and that gives the wagon with a 68-litre tank a theoretical range of 1000km.In the real world this translates to between 800 and 900km – still pretty impressive.Many people mistakenly believe that diesels are slow, noisy and blow lots of smoke. That may have been the case at one time but the diesel engine has come on in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years.The C5 HDi lacks the punch and urgency of a petrol engine, but is certainly no slouch. However, it is on the freeway where the low revving engine really comes into its own.The wagon comes in one fully specified model with tipshift auto tranny, climate controlled air, stability control and many other luxury features.On the road it is a little quick to get into second gear, but there is a sport option that retards gear changes or it is possible to switch to full manual mode.Citroens are famous for their variable suspension and the C5 is no exception, rising automatically for rough roads and dropping down to reduce drag on the freeway.You can also raise and lower the car for loading.The wagon is is a big comfy user friendly car that tends to grow on you, with a large airy interior, plenty of rear legroom and stacks of load space.Thoughtful additions include a reversible rubber backed luggage mat and a cord cargo barrier that slides forward when the rear seats are dropped.The tailgate window can be opened separately for quick access.Handling is good without quite being sporty and brakes are also good, but have a tendency to grab.There is an annoying amount of momentum as the car comes to a stop and the transmission changes down.The Citroen C5 Hdi Estate is priced from $47,490 plus on road costs. 

Citroen is famous for building quirky cars. The French carmaker has built a world-wide fan base with cars whose looks you love or loathe.But the tide is starting to turn, with Citroen's new C5 flagship adopting a more mainstream look. It is aimed at attracting Citroen owners who wouldn't have considered one of the oddball machines of the past.  The C5 is a good-looking car with a modern, user-friendly design.Body and platformAvailable as a five-door hatchback, which actually looks more like a sedan, and a station wagon, the C5 offers plenty of flexibility.  The hatch is a genuine five-seater, around the size of a Toyota Camry, with a generous boot and easy access.  The car uses an all-new base that will be shared with its sister company, Peugeot, and also forms the basis of Citroen's bigger, more luxurious C6 due in 2004.While Citroen may be heading into more mainstream areas of design, it has discarded its signature hydro-pneumatic suspension system with the C5. The Hydractive3 system is an updated version of the hi-tech hydraulic system first seen on the classic XM luxury car of the late 1980s and further refined on the Xantia, which the C5 replaces.The system has simple hydraulics but a more powerful computing system to automatically adjust the ride height of the car according to driving speeds and road conditions.  Standard setting remains constant during normal driving conditions at speeds up to 100km/h. Above that, the car drops by 15mm at the front and 11mm at the rear to improve fuel economy by reducing drag. The car returns to the standard position below 90km/h.The third setting is designed to increase driving comfort on poor surfaces. The computer can sense such conditions and raise the ride height by 13mm when the car is travelling at less than 70km/h.  The driver can also adjust the car manually into four separate positions: high, raised, normal and low.The car can only travel at snail's pace -- 10km/h -- in the high position, which is designed for easy changing of wheels after a puncture.  The raised position can not be selected above 40km/h and the low setting is designed to help drivers hitch trailers or caravans.DrivetrainsThe C5 comes with a choice of three engine options. The $41,990 entry-level model has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine which provides 101kW of power at 6000 revs and 186Nm of torque at 4100 revs. It drives the front wheels through either a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed auto with Tiptronic-style shifter.There's also a 2.0-litre turbo diesel which produces 82kW at 4000 revs and 255Nm at 1750 revs, but is comes only with the auto gearbox.  And then there's the range-topping 3.0-litre V6. The engine, which is an upgraded version of the powerplant from the XM and Xantia, produces 157kW at 6000revs and 260Nm at 2000 revs.All C5 models come with anti-skid brakes, front, side and curtain-style airbags. There's an automatic tyre-pressure monitor on the V6.  There's also a long list of creature features, including air-conditioning, CD sound, trip computer, automatic windscreen wipers and windows that shut when it rains.DrivingTravelling in the C5 is like floating on a big, fluffy cloud.  That's no surprise in a Citroen, as the company's trademark hydro-pneumatic suspension -- called Hydractive3 this time -- has been squashing the world's worst roads for years, but the C5 is different.The surprises run from the equipment and comfort to plastic pieces which are more Japanese than European. Citroen has removed the quirks, which makes the C5 feel as if it will run and run.  Prices, from $41,990 with plenty of fruit, are another bonus.The mid-sized C5, which will be followed next year by the great-looking baby C3 and already sells alongside the Xsara range, is a solid flagship. It's much more mainstream than anything Citroen has done in the past, which means it will be a lot more likely to convert customers from other brands.The C5 lines up against some impressive rivals -- from the Audi A4 to Volkswagen's Passat and other prestige brands between them -- but it has a unique combination of equipment and effortless motoring.  It's a car which would easily defeat a Melbourne-Brisbane run, or more, without stressing itself or the passengers. It's never going to win a twisty sprint, or a stop-light contest, but that's not the point.Citroen has always made cars which are best at touring, and the C5 is just the same.  Of the three engine choices -- 2-litre petrol, diesel and a V6 -- we've tried two. The basic petrol motor is good enough for most jobs, though it's no goer and doesn't encourage much revving or quick shifting in the five-speed manual, while the automatic diesel is a lazy combination for slowpoke drivers.The 2-litre engine is tuned for torque, which means it will lug along happily and take hills in high gears. The payback comes at the pumps, where the test car sipped just 7.6 litres for each 100km of mixed travel, with around 6.5 available on the highway.  The diesel is similarly frugal, but is for people who never hurry.The fuss-free side of things extends to the rest of the C5 package, and its brilliant suspension. The Citroen is still an acquired taste, and won't suit people who like a car that's remotely sporty, but it is a major change from earlier models and a car that's now worth adding to the mid-price prestige shopping list.  Good looks; smooth suspension.  Clunky auto, flat seatsThe bottom line: Citroen's new flagship is a stylish, affordable and feature-packed luxury contender.CITROEN C5 HdiPrice as tested: $44,500Engine: 2-litre four cylinder common rail diesel with intercooled turbo charger and direct fuel injectionPower: 82kW at 4000revsTorque: 255Nm at 1750revsTransmission: Four-speed automatic, front-wheel-driveBody: Five-door hatchDimensions: Length: 4618mm, width: 1770mm, height: 1476mm, wheelbase: 2750mm, tracks 1530mm/1495mm front/rearWeight: 1410kgFuel tank: 68 litresFuel consumption: 7.5 litres/100km average on testSteering: Power-assisted rack and pinionSuspension: Fully independent with front MacPherson struts and multi-link rear with hydro-pnuematic systemBrakes: Four-wheel anti-skid discsWheels: 6x15 alloysTyres: 195/65 R15Warranty: Two years/unlimited kmRIVALSMercedes C220 (from $63,800)Peugeot 406 Hdi (from $42, 170)Volkswagen Passat 1.8T(from $45,900)Audi A4 2.0 (from $47,400)