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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.

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We consider luxury car options in the Citroën C5 3.0 HDi V6 a/t

Published in The Witness Motoring on Wednesday December 1, 2010

A Gallic alternative

When it comes to luxury sedans priced around half-a-million Rand, there are only about half a dozen choices; the same-old German Big Three, Jaguar, Lexus and Volvo. Until now, that is, because the ever-innovative French believe that there is always a better or more interesting way of doing things. Renault released its Laguna coupé earlier this year and now it's the turn of archrivals Citroën with the updated C5.

Whereas the Laguna's party trick is four-wheel steering, Citroën's top of the range model boasts the latest incarnation of the hydro-pneumatic suspension that made iD19s and DS20s famous. It's called Hydractive III+ and it adjusts spring and damper rates in response to driver input and road conditions.  Standard mode provides optimum levels of comfort within the adjustments mentioned above, while a switchable ‘Sport’ setting tightens everything up for a more dynamic driving experience. It works well, keeping the big, comfortable executive cruiser solidly on course when getting a move on through tight country bends.

Controlled by sensors on each axle, Hydractive III+ maintains ride height regardless of load and number of passengers. It also continually monitors vehicle speed and road conditions, lowering the car at speeds above 110 km/h to optimise stability and fuel economy, and raising the vehicle when driving over rough surfaces, for greater clearance and comfort.

It's not only the suspension that's tuneable; engine response settings can be tweaked as well. Two buttons, labelled respectively with an 'S' and a snowflake symbol, instruct the drive by wire system to adjust acceleration and torque demands to provide either snappier or more relaxed responses to right foot input.  I first came upon these two buttons on a stable-sister Peugeot 3008, but haven't had time to go into the chicken-and-egg question of which PSA vehicle used it first. Let's just accept for now, that both makes have it, OK?

The current C5 range consists of three models; a 1600 cc turbocharged petrol burner with a six-speed manual transmission, a 2,0 litre turbodiesel with six-speed automatic 'box and the review car that also uses a six-ratio autoshifter, in this case the Aisin AM6c device using PSA-specific programming. This is a more compact and lighter unit than the one used previously and is a pleasure to use.

First, it's the only auto 'box I know of that displays the gear in use, while in "Drive" mode. This isn't earth shattering in itself but it's reassuring, somehow. Like most automatics, it adapts its shifting style to suit the way you are driving at the time, but it never appears to change up unnecessarily early or hunt between gears - it's always in the right gear for what you are doing.

An "omission" I particularly like, especially on a car with upmarket aspirations, is the lack of shift paddles on the steering wheel. I find these pretentious: "Look at me, Mommy, I'm a racing driver!" The manual-shifting mode of the existing gear stick is perfectly usable and gets the job done. I like it.

Equipment-wise the C5 offers all the usual kit. Aside from the obligatory ABS with EBD and EBA, it is equipped with ESP and traction control.  Also included are seven airbags, three ISOFIX child seat anchorage points, an electric child lock, Static Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), automatic hazard light activation, an automatic electric parking brake with hill holder, and a tyre pressure monitor.

The outside mirrors fold away when the car is switched off and both heated, leather, front seats are electrically adjustable. The driver's chair boasts two memory settings and a lower-back massage function. I could force myself to get used to it.

Getting back to practicalities, the boot is huge and decently shaped with a low loading sill. The rear seat backs are split 40/60 and fold almost flat to extend luggage area. Rear legroom for tall people is best described as "sufficient" and headroom is good. My only reservation concerns the driver's seat that slides back about five centimetres when the ignition is switched off and the driver's door is opened. It's a neat trick and I'm sure has some practical reason for being, but I say to the person sitting behind the pilot, "get out of there before the door is opened." Things could get uncomfortable.

French cars received bad press in the past for servicing, reliability and parts pricing problems, but we are assured that the homework has been done and things are much better. I hope so, because the C5 is a worthy alternative to any of the regular contenders and deserves consideration.

The numbers

Price: R471 413 including CO₂ tax

Engine: 2 993 cc V6 turbodiesel

Power: 177 kW at 3 800 rpm

Torque: 450 Nm at 1 600 rpm

Zero to 100 km/h: 7,9 seconds

Maximum speed: 243 km/h

Fuel index: 8,9 l/100 km/h

Real life fuel consumption: 9,4 l/100 km

Tank: 71 litres

Warranty: 3 years/100 000 km

Service plan: 5 years/100 000 km

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.

What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax. 

So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

Comments?

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