2022 Citroen C5 X new car review
If you are sick of SUVs but still want a spacious car with a higher seating position this could be just the vehicle you’re looking for.
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Citroen is gambling that some Australian buyers are ready to end their love affair with SUVs.
The French car maker says its research shows that buyers are tiring of SUVs and looking for something less chunky and boxy.
Enter the C5 X, a svelte family wagon that sits a little higher off the ground than a conventional car.
The look is more haute couture than experimental runway fashion. Citroen has ditched the quirky styling of recent years for a more elegant and conventional look.
The C5 X is a niche offering, as is Citroen these days. The brand has sold just 204 vehicles through the first nine months of this year.
The wagon has a higher seating position than a wagon but a lower roofline than a SUV.
A decent sized boot will appeal to those thinking outside the box.
There is only one fully loaded Shine version available, priced from $57,670 before on-road costs, which is more than key rivals such as the Skoda Superb wagon.
Power comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 133kW and 250Nm, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. A long list of standard equipment includes flamboyant 19-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting front and back and black roof and side mirror covers.
Inside, passengers are greeted by a heated steering wheel and plush leather seats that are heated and electronically adjustable in the front. Top-notch materials have been used throughout and there are plenty of soft-touch surfaces broken up by textured inserts.
Delve a bit deeper and there’s impressive attention to detail. The stitching in the seats and doors matches Citroen’s famed chevron logo, as does the pattern on the wood dash inserts.
A hi-res 12-inch central touchscreen is one of the clearest in the business and is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other goodies include digital radio, in-built satnav, a wireless device charger and four USB-C ports. A seven-inch digital driver display is small compared to the competition but it’s complemented by a head-up display that projects your speed, the prevailing speed limit and important safety info onto the windscreen.
The cabin is a comfortable space with plenty of head and shoulder room.
A generous 545-litre boot is accessible via a hands-free power tailgate that can open with a swish of the foot under the bumper.
The C5 X will automatically brake if it detects a collision with a car, pedestrian or cyclist. It will alert you if a car is in your blind spot and sound the alarm if it detects a car approaching from the side as you reverse.
It’ll also keep you centred in your lane and warn you if you’re losing concentration or have been driving for too long.
Other handy driver aids include a bird’s eye view camera and radar cruise control.
On the road the C5 X’s engine is adequate, providing enough grunt for happy highway cruising. It can feel a little stressed climbing steep hills and there is a slight hesitation from the automatic transmission at low speeds.
The C5 X’s hydraulic suspension recovers superbly over larger bumps and irons out road imperfections and potholes better than most.
It isn’t the most dynamic car through corners but that’s the price you pay for a large, comfy family hauler. It wins back points for its light and direct steering, while the Goodyear tyres provide ample grip in the wet.
The cabin is quiet around town and on the motorway but over coarser road surfaces a dull roar disturbs the ambience.
Citroen claims the C5 X drinks 6.0L/100km, which is excellent, although it also needs pricier premium unleaded.
The C5 X is covered by a five year/unlimited km warranty and a capped price servicing plan costs a steepish $2818 over five years.
VERDICT 3.5/5
Comfortable and fashionable crossover that should draw in curious buyers looking for something different.
CITROEN C5 X SHINE VITALS
PRICE $57,670 before on-road costs
ENGINE 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol, 133kW and 250Nm
WARRANTY/SERVICING Five years/unlimited km, $2818 over five years
SAFETY six airbags, auto emergency braking, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, driver attention alert, radar cruise control
SPARE Space saver
THIRST 6.0L/100km
LUGGAGE 545 litres
Originally published as 2022 Citroen C5 X new car review
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