Citroen’s new flagship model’s a triple threat

CITROEN’S super sleek new flagship model is going to appeal to a wide selection of buyers – thanks to clever planning.

For rather than aim at the saloon, estate or SUV market the designers were told to target all three with one vehicle.

And they have done a pretty good job of fulfilling their brief.

For the C5X has the elegant looks of a saloon with coupe-like styling, the carrying capacity of an estate car and the high stance of an SUV. It’s a tripartite triumph.

And even though the C5X is a large car by any standards the French car maker has managed to ensure that it doesn’t carry a bumper price tag. The model driven here is a realistic £34,000.

Power comes from a 1.6-litre, 178bhp turbo-charged petrol engine – linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox – which punches above its weight, ensuring that the C5X is quick, responsive and easy to live with.

There’s plenty of reserve power, too, for when you need it. Switch the driving mode button to Sport rather than Eco or Normal and things liven up even more, especially when using the paddles behind the steering wheel to take full control.

But whatever mode you drive in you will find the C5X refined, relaxing and comfortable, thanks in part to Citroen’s unique Advanced Comfort Suspension with progressive hydraulic cushions.

Citroen has always done things a little differently when it comes to suspension and the C5X is no exception.

The Advanced Comfort Suspension ensures that the effect of potholes, drains and speed bumps are ironed out as the “cushions” soften up the ride by adding a more gentle affect rather than a hard stop at the end of the suspension units, keeping everyone on board happy.

And to add to that there’s additional comfort from the Advanced Comfort Seats, which come with 15mm of added memory foam padding to provide even more support on long journeys.

But the suspension and seats are not the only features which make this car easy to live with.

For starters there’s the excellent head-up display which not only projects into the windscreen the speed you are doing but also the road layout as you approach a junction.

And when it comes to reversing the dashboard-located touchscreen shows both the view at the back of the car and an exceptionally clear bird’s eye view from above, making the manoeuvre simple

The interior is smart and sophisticated with clean lines and a twotone colour scheme on the dashboard and doors.

There’s a chunky leather steering wheel with a flat bottom to make getting in and out easier, but surprisingly

it’s only adjustable for height and not reach, although the electrically adjustable

seats go a long way to compensate for this.

And both the seats and the steering wheel are heated to help when winter arrives.

There’s no gearshift as such, just a neat toggle switch which allows you to engage drive or reverse and as soon as you switch the engine off the electronic handbrake engages automatically. Simple but pleasing when you do a lot of miles in a car.

The same simplicity extends to locking and unlocking the Citroen – because you don’t.

As you approach the car it automatically unlocks before you can even touch the door handle and locks again as you walk away. Great if you are carrying parcels.

And the added bonus on the parcels front is that the tailgate will open automatically if you just move your foot from one side to the other under the rear bumper.

On the road it’s incredibly quiet. You can barely hear the engine when cruising. And despite the length of the car – it’s close on 16ft long – it’s superbly manoeuvrable thanks to light steering and a small turning circle.

And it’s a car which just feels well-built and solid, with doors which close with the gentlest of pressure. There’s little doubt that this newcomer from Citroen is all set to be one of its best cars yet.

THE C5X IS THE BEST OF 3 WORLDS, WRITES

Citroen has always done things a little differently when it comes to suspension