7-day Test
Model: 2005 Citroen C5 3.0-litre V6
RRP: $55,990
Price as tested: $55,990
Road Tester: David Dowsey
Date tested: April 2006
Distance covered: 341km
Citroen is a clever car maker. Always has been. Over the years it has given the world some ground breaking stuff -- Traction Avant anybody? How about the 2CV? The company's place in automotive history is well entrenched and nobody can take that away.
But I get the feeling these days that Citroen's pioneering legacy is more of a burden than anything else. With each new model the quirky French brand appears desperate to impress with innovation -- for innovation's sake.
Here are two examples that we found on our C5 test car. Granted they are small gripes in the scheme of things but they do illustrate a point.
On a dark night slipping a key into the ignition of most cars can prove a challenge. But innovative Citroen appear hell bent on making it nigh on impossible. The 'clever' Phillip's head-shaped key is irritatingly difficult to insert -- the nasty knarling around the ignition testament to previous efforts before we arrived.
Another? The 'smart' inside door releases. No simple pull-back here. No Citroen want you to pull down and out. You get used to it, but one wonders at the thought processes that go into producing 'innovations' like these simply in an effort to be different.
Anyway, now we can start the car and get out, what about the rest? It's excellent. For a comfortable touring car it's hard to go past the C5. And it costs less than it did five years ago.
And, yes, there are plenty of advanced touches that do make sense. Like rain sensing wipers, front and rear parking assist and safety systems that close the windows when an impending collision is detected. Not to mention those see-around-corners Xenon headlights. The interior is incredibly comfortable too, the ergonomics are well thought out and there's plenty of room and storage space.
The supple adjustable Hydractive gas/hydraulic suspension smoothes out almost any road surface brilliantly. The V6 engine produces 155kW and 290Nm of torque propelling the car smoothly and almost inaudibly. But when pressed it can be grunty too. Top marks here.
The steering is incredibly light and it will be a personal decision whether this is to your taste. It wasn't to ours. We have a few gripes with the six-speed auto too. It seems to get confused at times and hunts for the correct gears. And the sometimes bumpy changes don't match the smooth engine and ride.
But let's not forget that this car scored the highest ever Euro NCAP safety tests with 36/37 making it the safest car in the world. We agree that this absolves any over-the-top 'clever' touches but they still get under our skin.
We appreciate Citroen's innovative thinking, but enough already. Yes, we notice and yes, we're impressed. But please, Mr Citroen keep busying yourself with the things that really matter and forget the quirky 'innovations'.