We may have reached an SUV peak and some manufacturers still want to offer the usability of an SUV but without the visible size. And so, we’re seeing an increase in low roofline, Coupé/SUV crossovers. What Citroen excels at is a tremendously comfortable and smooth drive, like a big French luxury limo should. When other exec saloons go for harsher settings on the suspension, Citroen prefers to give you that cushy, comfortable cruising style in the C5 X. This is achieved through Citroens’ Advanced Comfort suspension with double (front & rear) progressive hydraulic cushions (with active dampers on the hybrid models only) and the acoustic insulated glass on the windscreen also helps swathe passengers from whatever mayhem is going on outside. While the powertrain is similar to that in the brand’s recently updated C5 Aircross SUV, the C5 X plug-in hybrid battery gets around 35 kms of range.
Special mention : Yes Citroens are known for their comfort but not like this, it immeasurably satisfying. It’s got a very comfortable cabin, is spacious and has pleasant materials throughout.
Needs work : Stellantis’ Start button requires an unnecessarily long hold and is awkwardly placed behind the steering wheel, the drivers binnacle graphics are basic, hybrid range should be bigger, petrol engine sounds raw without ev power.
| BHP 225 BHP | Petrol / Hybrid / Auto |
| 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds | Road Tax €140 |
| Price: from €55,120 | Boot Space 485(hybrid) – 1,640 litres |
With that hatchback design and the oodles of space offered onboard, the main competitors of the C5 X come in the form of the Skoda Superb and VW’s Arteon. Starting spec is the best value for money while still offering plenty of kit. The PHEV is punchy as long as it’s charged and for that you’ll get a small 35 kms of electric range which will take around 5 hours to slow charge on a 3 pin plug. It’s a beautifully serene way to get around, once you run out of juice, the engine can get a little grumbly in the way that most PHEVs do.
Along with infotainment gadgets and visibility aids you get the usual dual-zone climate control, 19in alloys, keyless entry, tinted rear windows, cruise control and automatic LED lights and wipers. You access the menu through a 7” digital dash, you get a heated steering wheel, all-round parking sensors, rear-view camera and advanced driver assistance systems. Spec up and you’ll get ambient lighting, wireless phone-charging, a larger 12in infotainment screen and a head-up display. Finally the top of the line trim offers acoustically insulated front and rear windows, an electric tailgate, blind-spot detection and an upgraded 360-degree reversing camera. One thing you might miss is the option of heated/cooled seats.
The Citroën C5 X is available with a choice of two petrol engines (PureTech 130 and PureTech 180, both with Stop & Start). The Plug-in Hybrid combines the PureTech 180 petrol engine with an 80 kW electric motor to deliver a combined power output of 225 hp. The e-motor assists the combustion engine and it helps the e-EAT8 eight-speed automatic gearbox deliver smooth shifts. The PHEV feels nice and swift enough and can move from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds. But the C5 X plug-in, fitting with Citroens style, is more of a relaxed drive, there’s no point in pushing it as you’ll reach its limits of refinement quickly.
There’s plenty of leg room for front seat passengers as well as large cup holders and lots of storage, the largest of which is under the front centre armrest. There’s also lots of space in the back. The C5 X’s load bay is a shape which has been designed to withstand plenty of loading and unloading. There’s less space in the hybrid version with around 485 litres of boot space, which is around 60 litres less. Otherwise there’s a decent level of legroom in the rear seats despite the curved roofline there’s decent headroom.
Driving the C5X is a relaxed affair. For its size, the 130 hp 1.2-litre PureTech 130 does a good job of getting its passengers around comfortably and the 0-100km/h time of 10.4sec reflects this. And while you can go for a bigger engine, the 178bhp 1.6-litre PureTech 180 petrol reduces the 0-100km/h time to 8.8sec do you really need to spend to get not that much more? If you do, then we’d probably recommend the PHEV as it is much more lively & it reduces your tax. The 180 hp petrol engine and 109bhp motor pull along together nicely. Like all hybrids though, you will loose out on boot space. The most we’ve seen from the range was around 35 kms. The PHEV also ensures a smooth start during commutes which we feel helps ease the tension in some cars during congested city traffic.
Citroën must mean the French for ‘comfort’, they care not for your ‘sportiness’, and the C5 X has a way about it that doesn’t mean it’s somnolent. The Citroën C5 X has impressive levels of comfort, refinement, space and an appealing driving position that gives great visibility. The interior is finished in a splendid swathe of quality feeling materials, it all feels premium and is well put together. The infotainment and graphics are similar to most other Stellantis offerings, when they start to recoup some of their investments, we look forward to some more design going into the screens with updated graphics and menus.