Citroen C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive
Estate Automatic review
by Ross Finlay (12 November 2001)
A shorter test than usual, perhaps, in words if not in distance covered. We've reported on several versions of the C5, and this estate matches the particulate filter 2.2-litre common-rail turbo diesel engine with the sequential automatic transmission and the Exclusive trim and equipment package.
After driving a number of C5 types, I'm sure that this roomy car is more impressive in estate form than as a saloon. That's largely because, although the saloon is up against some formidable rivals, there's no estate of similar price and size so expertly kitted-out as a load carrier.
You just can't beat the Hydractive 3 suspension for adaptability, as well as ride comfort over almost all road surfaces, with the usual proviso that it doesn't appreciate hump-backed bridges. Its self-levelling capability, the way the car can be lowered so that bulky loads are easier to put aboard, its ability to reduce the ride height automatically so as to improve the aerodynamics on fast motorway runs, plus the way it can sense rough surfaces at more modest speeds and ride higher - the combination of these factors makes the C5 a sans pareil in the estate class.
The 2.2-litre particulate filter engine may have a much better CO2 emissions figure when linked with a manual transmission, but the adaptive automatic with its flick-over sequential mode works very smoothly.
Mind you, I'm far from convinced that owners of cars with a sequential option make use of it more than about 5% of the time, and even that may be an exaggeration. I tried the sequential shift on the C5 only when interested to see how it worked - and, to be fair, during a short blast of pass storming when the fully automatic system wouldn't have been right on the ball - but in almost all normal driving I never gave it a thought.
On the Citroen, the automatic doesn't lose all that much in the way of performance to the manual, but there's a deficit of about 4mpg in general motoring.
Even with the automatic transmission, though, the 2.2-litre C5 is a long-striding machine, very much at ease on motorway hauls, able to do more than 50mpg at a steady 70mph cruise, and with a beefy 232lb/ft of torque at 2000rpm. But it has been a characteristic of big Citroens for 50 years and more that they're not so happy being shuffled around in tight corners. The turning circle is always pretty big.
As with the previous but differently powered C5 estate we tried, the rear load space is class leading, and very sensibly arranged, with no major intrusions. This isn't one of those lifestyle jobs unable to cope with really sizeable cargoes.
Inside, apart from all the stowage spaces, one thing that shows the Citroen designers put a lot of thought into the C5 is that the rear headrests offer no obstruction at all to the driver's view through the interior mirror.
I'm still not quite up to speed with the amazingly comprehensive Colour-Plus satellite navigation and information panel system, an extra-cost option on the Exclusive, but it's a highly impressive piece of gear. On this occasion, one problem was trying to return the clock to UK time following a trip across the Channel. I handed the car back showing something like Upper Silesian summer time minus 37 minutes, but I know that an owner would put more effort into figuring out how it all works.
The Exclusive specification includes features like an electronic stability programme, a sport setting for the transmission to make upward changes at higher revs, 16" alloy wheels, an alarm system and a CD autochanger in addition to what comes on the SX. Items like an electrically operated sunroof, park assistance and heated leather seats are standard only on the ultimate Exclusive SE, although just how you can be more exclusive than exclusive is a puzzle.
Of course, the C5 is fitted with multiplex wiring on all models, and it has some highly sophisticated equipment right from the entry level.
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