The compact executive models sector is by and large dominated by BMW, Mercedes and Audi, but the Citroen DS5 is here to put a challenge as it attempts to break up the triumvirate of power.
The French have in the past been associated with avant-garde in art and literature circles, but there is little doubting that the concept has also found its way into their automobile trade, with the Citroen DS5 displaying the traits of an experimental artist to say the least. Perhaps it’s in the blood, but the French brand have certainly done a fair amount of dabbling, with the Citroen DS5 acting as a composite of elements taken from Crossovers, Coupes, family hatchbacks and sports estates. Does it really work for consumers who just want something simple and practical in the medium range model? Let’s take a closer look at what the Citroen DS5 offers with our Citroen DS5 hybrid review.
Different Spirit
DS stands for Different Spirit, and it’s certainly true that Citroen are walking in an opposite direction to the crowd. Citroen first released a car back in 1955, when modern French art was still fresh in the mind. The brand felt they had an artistic legacy to preserve and take into the automobile industry, with the first car innovative, futuristic and different. It refused to conform. It had a different spirit. The 2014 Citroen DS5 was the first Citroen car that came with PSA’s Hybrid4 technology, a system which combines a 2.0-litre HDi engine with a 37bhp electric motor. The 2.0-litre engine powers the front wheels, the electric motor the rears. This setup allows you to alter your power train options to suit your driving mode, meaning you can switch between front, rear and four wheel drive. You also get the option of running just the electric motor, meaning you get zero emissions.
The new Citroen DS5 also comes with diesel engines that range from older units, such as the 1.6-litre e-HDi variation that generates 115bhp, to newer units, such as the more expensive but more up-to-date Citroen DS5 BlueHDi units, among them the 1.6-litre 120bhp model. Either engine you choose will offer you a smooth and relaxed ride.
Neat
It’s easy to expect the new Citroen DS5 to derive its design from the C5, but in all honesty it’s more of a C4 derivative. It’s lengthier and thinner than a C5, though overall Citroen DS5 dimensions are very similar to those found in the C5. This results in a spacious cabin, a comfortable and spacious rear which accommodates for taller adults, and a hefty-sized boot. The cabin itself is neatly arranged, with a head-up display that displays configurable information on the windscreen, giving the Citroen DS5 a real touch of high-tech quality.
Final Thoughts
Citroen DS5 offers start at £22,000 with Citroen DS5 deals rising to about £34,000. Prices are largely dependent on trim level and power train options. It’s expected that the 2.0-litre 158bhp diesel will be the most popular with consumers, with prices starting from around the £26,000 mark. More expensive Citroen DS5 hybrid models benefit from leather seats, sat-nav and reversing camera as standard equipment,with base-level Citroen DS5s coming with keyless go, cruise control and air conditioning.
Citroen have always liked to be different when it comes to their cars, with the DS never letting the team down on that front. The DS3 and DS4 were good, but it’s easy to get the feeling that the Citroen DS5 2015, whilst not being the end product in and of itself, is the best offering yet. It’s a unique, stylish, charismatic car, the kind which will outlast by-the-number models such as the Mondeo in years to come.
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