Citroen Dispatch Reviews

The Citroen DS5 sits at the top of the top of the French brand’s premium lineup, above the DS3 and DS4 models.It’s not quite a replacement for the old C6 flagship though, being significantly smaller, and about half the price too.Despite its ‘5’ nomenclature, the DS5 borrows its underpinnings from the Citroen C4, not the larger C5, and the uniquely shaped DS5’s nearest rival would be the BMW 3 Series GT, but the Citroen costs significantly less.Unlike the BMW though, there’s no disputing the Citroen’s beauty, with cohesive shapes and lines throughout and exquisite detailing.The DS5’s aesthetic delights continue on the inside, with a luxuriously appointed interior that looks like it’s just rolled off a motor show stand.This automotive artform is also a practical five door hatch, with a useful 465-litre cargo area and folding seats, and it can tow up to 1500kg.There are a couple of design quirks though, including a lack of cupholders in the centre console, and the rear wiper is like watching a finger sweep the glass.On top of the leather and textured aluminium trim, the $51,990 DS5 diesel comes with heated front seats and a massaging driver’s seat, panoramic roof sections with electric blinds, a heads up display and satnav, and Xenon headlights that steer around corners.The PSA Group’s familiar 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine is the default engine choice, but this one’s the optional 2.0-litre turbodiesel which is well worth the extra 3 thousand dollars.With 120kW and 340Nm, it does a great job of moving the 1615kg DS5, and still returns a combined fuel figure of 6.1L/100km.Both engines come with a six-speed auto, which made good use of the diesel’s torque in our tester.The DS5 carries a full five star ANCAP rating, with dual frontal, side and curtain airbags, ABS, EBD and stability control.A reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors are also standard, but the DS5 does without collision alerts or blind-spot monitoring systems.On the road, the DS5 is a quiet and comfortable place to be, as long as the road is reasonably smooth.The ride is harsher than what you’d expect from a Citroen, and the steering is a bit vague and the torsion beam rear end can be skittish over mid-corner bumps.Overall, the DS5’s unique character and unquestionable style helps to mask its compromised chassis, and its relative value and load-lugging practicality score it more points again.The Citroen DS5 is an alternative choice in the premium mid-size segment, but it’s not a bad one, and it’s definitely a good looking one.

enter the Citroen DS3 hatch, a sweet little car out of France with plenty of kit and a totally different look.

Citroen has been making passenger-car-based vans for decades and the latest Berlingo benefits from this as it's on the same platform as a Citroen people mover.

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the Citroen DS3 Cabrio DSport with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The DS3 goes for $29,740 and that includes plenty of standard kit like climate control air, full Bluetooth connectivity, satnav, power ancillaries and gorgeous alloy wheels.

They took back our 'long term' Citroen DS3 cabrio and gave us a three-door DS3 D Sport hatch instead.

Trust the French to insist that a sensible, functional people mover doesn’t have to be boring.

A car that comes with a drone to see what’s causing the traffic snarl ahead, another that accepts deliveries while you’re at work, and a self driving car with seats that face backwards.

Citroen has announced Australia’s first six year, unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assistance plan for its new Grand C4 Picasso people mover and DS3, DS4 and DS5 models, with the industry-leading duration including all buyers taking delivery after March 1.Several manufacturers offer five year warranty terms, but Citroen’s new six year coverage is double the industry standard three year duration, and Australia is the first of the French brand's several international markets to make such an offer.“Introducing this warranty shows our commitment to the product and our commitment to the brand in Australia. We’ve been here for 90 years and we’ve continued to be innovators so it’s only natural that we want to push the barriers,” Citroen Australia Marketing boss Manuel Tyras says.Citroen is a relatively small player on the Australian market, with its 1180 vehicle 2013 total including just 61 examples of the previous C4 Picasso and a total of 418 DS models, and is understandably keen to attract new buyers to the brand. According to research undertaken by Citroen’s Australian arm, warranty and roadside assistance duration is a key influence among buyers considering the Citroen brand, with even a five-year warranty offering double the influence of a conventional three year term. The new six-year warranty is fully transferable between owners, and there is currently no plan for the six year duration to filter down to other Citroen models.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

There’s a new master in the seven-seater class, adept at carting children and chattels. Can 250,000 buyers a year be wrong?