Everyone says that the general saloons are dead, but the French do not think the same. The Citroën C5 X is a return to what the chevron brand does best. A modern sedan with a very classic approach.
After a few years of absence Citroën returns to the saloon market, and returns with a name that we already knew, C5, to which the letter X is now added. new Citroën C5 X it is a return to the classic from a modern point of view. The French have always stood out in the motor world for their sedans, and with that heritage a new saga is built that will have to fight against current fashions in order to survive.
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They say sedans are dead. The SUVs have devastated everything that has been put in front of them, and they have not left a single sector to shake. General sedans have suffered a significant setback in recent years, to the point that models like the almighty Volkswagen Passat seem to be living their last days for sale. In this delicate environment, the Citroën C5 X arrives to say that all is not lost.
And to win where others have lost, he opts for a design that breaks with the usual rules of the category. It’s kind of weird to define. It is a Berlina, because neither is an SUV, but it does have typical elements of these, such as greater ground clearance and the usual hard plastics covering the wheel arches and the entire lower area. It is also strange because of its line. Citroën has opted for a form that we could not cross out as a coupé, but as a Shooting Brake or family.
Keep in mind that we are talking about the largest Citroën model in our market, leaving vans aside, of course. The Citroën C5 X stretches to 4.8 meters long, 1.86 meters wide and 1.48 meters high, with a wheelbase of 2.78 meters and a boot volume with 545 liters minimum capacity, 485 for the plug-in hybridand 1,640 liters of maximum capacity resulting from folding down the second row of seats in its 60:40 ratio.
Only time and sales will pass judgment on this very special staging by Citroën. What is clear is that we have to get out of the norm, because if we repeat the same old formulas we already know the consequences that they bring. The C5 X is postulated as an interesting option for those who do not want to feel guilty for leaving the sedan segment, being able to tell family and strangers that they do not drive an SUV. It is different, and in terms of design and taste there is nothing written about it.
Where there will be no discussion is inside. The presentation could not be more attractive. The feeling is packing. Although it is a sedan, the dimensions are more typical of an SUV. Very large elements such as the 12-inch touch screen generate a very pleasant feeling of modernity, but without going too far, since traditional physical systems are chosen as the secondary air conditioning module. In terms of quality, I must admit that the general feeling is very pleasantwood effect mouldings, soft surfaces, leather upholstery… generally very good.
Obviously not all elements come standard with the C5 X. Citroën proposes various levels of equipment, three to be more exact: Feel Pack, Shine and Shine Pack. In its less complete endowment, the list includes elements such as 19-inch wheels, rear parking camera, LED headlights, browser, keyless entry and start, voice control, multimedia system with 10-inch panel, digital instrumentation, Apple CarPlay , Android Auto and many driving assistants.
In versions with higher equipment levels, details such as the 360º parking camera appearHead-Up Display, leather upholstery, electric and heated seats, wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, automatic tailgate, 12-inch multimedia screen and assistants with level 2 autonomous driving.
As I have already said, we are talking about a generously proportioned car, and that is going to be noticed mainly in the space offered to rear passengers. Both the access and the entrance to the car are done comfortably, without the door frame or the wheel arch getting in the way. Legroom is generous, even for tall passengers, leaving about four or five fingers with respect to the front seatbacks.. The width is somewhat more limited. Three adults will not be completely comfortable, much less one inserted between two child seats, and that the central square is quite comfortable, although it is necessary to deal with a somewhat elevated transmission tunnel.
That transmission tunnel appears due to the presence of plug-in hybrid mechanics. Nor can it be said that the C5 X’s engine offering is very extensive. There are only three versions: two gasoline with 130 and 180 horses and a plug-in hybrid with 225 horses. All of them send power to the front axle through the management of an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
Test Citroën C5 X
When one speaks of Citroën it is clear that in terms of driving you already know that it is going to be a comfortable car, and really the C5 X is a very comfortable car. All driving revolves around making each journey as pleasant as possible, and that, in turn, means that the dynamics is not its greatest strength, but nothing happens either. It is good to know why you bet. Other general saloons remained halfway between two worlds. In this case, no, comfort at its best, as happened with classic units such as the CX or the C6. In those terms it is difficult to stand up to a Citroën sedan.
To achieve their goal, the Gauls have mounted one of their usual revolutionary suspensions. As standard, the C5 X comes with a set of progressive hydraulic shock absorbers that reduce the impact of road irregularities.. These are combined with different sensors and they decipher the road, telling each suspension independently how it has to behave depending on the situation and the state of the road.
As for its engines, the fact of ditching the diesel makes Citroën’s intentions very clear. What times those where you could give yourself the pleasure of a diesel. During the presentation I was able to test all the units, and the truth is that you are satisfied with almost any. Being a car so focused on comfort, performance is secondary, although yes, the 130-horsepower access version with a three-cylinder engine is not the most ideal for those who tend to run, go loaded or through mountain passes . In that case, my recommendation is to jump to the 4-cylinder block and 180 horsepower, the most balanced of all.
The plug-in hybrid is the most powerful, but also the most expensive. Its advantageous ZERO label is achieved thanks to a 180-horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline engine that is accompanied by a 110-horsepower electric motor and a battery with a useful capacity of 9.9 kWh. At maximum performance it generates a power of 225 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque with an electric range in the WLTP cycle of 55 kilometers and an average consumption of 1.3 liters per 100 kilometers (with charged battery). For recharging, low power systems are chosen, up to 7.4 kW in alternating current. Thanks to the fact that it comes with a 3.7 kW on-board charger, we can recover the entire battery in just three and a half hours.
Surely you are wondering which version is worth choosing? Well, it all depends on the use you are going to give it, and also the bottom of your wallet. The Citroën C5 X of access has a starting price of 32,400 euros, without offers or promotions. Possibly the most balanced of all is the 180 horsepower PureTech, available from 36,600 euros. The most expensive, as expected, is the 225-horsepower plug-in hybrid, with a minimum price of 43,100 euros, without discounts or purchase assistance plans.
Conclusions
A modern bet for a classic segment. The Citroën C5 X has to fight against trends to succeed, and we must admit that the bet is quite interesting. After all, this is what Citroën does best. We are facing something new and different. A sedan that is delivered mainly to comfort, and is accompanied by an interesting design and very attractive equipment from its access point. In front it will have the market, the SUVs and a mechanical range that does not include diesel units, but diesel. And that means saying goodbye to big riders who are looking for a comfortable saloon for their trips.