Conventional sedans, whether in a four or five-door format, have lost strength in the market. And the family bodywork too. It has been happening for a few years now. They command the popular SUVs, which have prevailed in all segments.
Against this background, Citroën, a brand that specializes in reinventing itself, has created a family car to stand out from other competitors. A car that perfectly embodies the innovative spirit, certainly groundbreaking, of the French brand. It also means the return to segment D, absent since the commercialization of the C5 model ceased, let's say, normal.
Citroën explains that the C5 X pays homage, in a way, to emblematic models of the 20th century such as the BX, the CX, the XM or the Xantia. What has become clear to us is the important treatment that comfort receives. The seats, for example, are really comfortable and incorporate Advanced Comfort technology.
According to the same people in charge of Citroën, the C5 X brings together the best of sedans, coupes, family cars and SUVs to offer an on-board experience that stands out for refinement and comfort.
Seen naturally, the new C5 X is attractive, but it has more of a saloon than an SUV. And being a symbiosis of concepts, the long hood, the stylized front end with the recognizable light signature and, above all, a rear end that ends in a sharp drop, imitating the silhouette of a coupé, draws attention. So much so that people over 1.80 have problems in the back seat not to touch their heads on the ceiling.
On the other hand, the standard 19-inch wheels (there are 20" as an option) also help to create a majestic, elegant image of a large saloon.
In any case, we are dealing with a car that does not leave you indifferent, and that fulfills very well the main task for which it has been designed: to travel comfortably.
The version in question has a somewhat high starting price, almost 50,000 euros, but it must be said that the equipment is the most complete and that plug-in hybrid technology is still expensive.
This Citroën mounts a gasoline engine, the main one, of 1.6 liters of 180 CV. Being a PHEV (the name given to plug-in hybrids), it also mounts a 110 hp electric motor and an 11.3 kWh battery. The total power amounts to 225 CV, which is not bad for a car with a family approach.
The great advantage of this technology is that we do not depend exclusively on electricity. That is, we can leave home with a charged battery and travel more than 50 km in electric mode. And when the battery runs out, the heat engine takes over. On the highway, combining highway and curved sections, consumption hardly exceeds 6 liters. Even with a depleted battery.
On a daily basis, if we make journeys that do not exceed 50-60 km, the C5 X Plug-in Hybrid is an excellent ecological mobility solution. In addition, in electric mode the car allows a maximum speed of up to 135 km/h.
Citroën does not forget the functional and familiar part in the C5 X. Thus, it has a 485-liter trunk with wide access, which offers space without corners and a low loading threshold, to comfortably transport several suitcases.
Also, rear seat passengers enjoy good legroom; not so much for the head due to the design of the roof. All this, the trunk and the careful suspension make it an ideal candidate for long trips with the family.
In addition, it has up to 13 compartments to store objects distributed throughout the cabin, which add up to 29 liters, one of the highest figures in the category.
In the passenger compartment, the driver benefits from the presence of a 12-inch touch screen on the dashboard to manage the infotainment functions. Behind the wheel, there is a large screen for the instrumentation and, above, an information projection system on the windshield (Extended Head Up Display).
It also incorporates a voice recognition system to recognize natural language instructions. It is activated by saying “Hey Citroën”.
On the road it is a really comfortable car, which takes care of the occupants. And the progressive hydraulic shock absorbers of the active suspension are a benchmark. In addition, the driver has three driving modes to choose from: comfort, normal and sport. It has a very pleasant, comfortable overall touch, with an always smooth response. And with the easy-to-use EAT 8-speed automatic transmission.
In the chapter on driving aids, it is worth highlighting the Highway Driver Assist that combines active cruise control and lane keeping or the rear cross traffic assistant.
Finally, we highlight the complete Shine Pack finish that includes 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, digital instrumentation, 12.1-inch central multimedia screen, leather upholstery, electric tailgate, electric front seats and the commented Advanced Comfort active suspension.
And for a full charge of the battery we will need about two hours on a 7.4 kW charger.
