Striking looks

The DS 5 is no longer a Citroen product – officially, at least – and its new midlife update brings more than just a new, chevron-less face says Matt Kimberley

Although the front end of the new DS 5 is busier than Aldi on a Saturday morning, the overall effect is muscular and well proportioned. It’s a striking thing, with flowing lines and chunky bodywork with much more passion than most premium cars. There’s also a new suspension system that uses clever dampers to improve the ride quality, and a new touch-screen infotainment unit that cuts 12 buttons from the centre console. Space and practicality In finest French luxury tradition the DS 5 is built primarily for style and tactility of materials, with practicality taking a back seat. The boot isn’t especially big for the size of the car, and bottles have little chance of staying upright in the shallow cup holders. The glove box isn’t exactly cleverly shaped, either. But there’s better news for rear passengers, who have plenty of knee and legroom. Behind the wheel A large steering wheel with a broad, flat bottom is a matter of taste, but the new console layout is a definite improvement. It’s cleaner and less cluttered thanks to the high-resolution screen, which in turn responds to touches quickly. The seats are broad and comfortable, covered with cloth or high-quality leather. Visibility through the twinspar A-pillar is better than it first appears to be, but takes some getting used to. Value for money There is more than £5,000 Range from £25,980

Four-cylinder diesel producing 148bhp and 273lb/ft

Six-speed manual driving the front wheels

Top speed 127mph, 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds

68.9mpg 105g/km between the BlueHDI 150 and the complex diesel-electric Hybrid4 version, and while the latter benefits from the latest – and vastly improved – automated manual gearbox there’s only a 2g/km saving to be had from it, and both sit