The Citroën C5 is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive large family car produced in two generations from 2001 to 2017. It succeeded the Citroën Xantia and is the first of the modern Citroën vehicles to have the ‘Cx' naming scheme, used by the C4 and C6 in the 1930s. After a three year break, the third generation is expected to be released sometime in 2020.
The First Generation (2000-2007)
Codenamed DC/DE, C5 debuted as a five-door hatchback and five-door estate, with the hatchback designed as a three-box notchback and a hatch, which resulted in a sedan-looking vehicle despite its class. Citroën built a total of 720 thousand C5 units by the end of the production run.
An electronically-controlled suspension would adapt to the ride, lowering the car at high speeds to reduce drag and improve handling, or raise itself on bumpy roads, with manual control available, which would be overridden by the computer if not optimally set. The hydraulic system that powered the suspension was different to the one that powered the brakes and steering, which was a break from the tradition. A facelift version of the C5 came in 2004, with external changes to the front and rear, the addition of directional headlights, as well as increase in length both for hatchback and estate versions.
Basic equipment includes 3x3 point rear seatbelts, ABS, air conditioning, audio remote, body-coloured bumpers, CD, driver and passenger's airbag, Isofix child seat anchor points, power mirrors, folding rear seats, power front and rear windows, height-adjustable driver's seat, heated mirrors, PAS, remote locking, service indicator, side airbags, steering wheel rake adjustment, and steering wheel reach adjustment .
- LX trim level adds cloth seat trim, front fog lights, and steel wheels.
- SX trim level adds alloy wheels, front fog lights, and cloth seat trim.
- VTR trim level adds an alarm, alloy wheels, cloth seat trim, front fog lights, and full-size spare wheel.
- The Exclusive trim level adds an alarm, alloy wheels, CD multichanger, cruise control, power driver and passenger's seat, leather seat trim, parking sensors, and traction control.
- Exclusive SE trim level adds an alarm, alloy wheels, CD multichanger, power driver and passenger's seat, power sunroof, front fog lights, headlight washers, heated seats, leather seat trim, parking sensors, and Sat Nav.
The engines available in Australia come in a variety of 2.0L, 2.2L and 3.0L capacities, in petrol and diesel variants, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox or four and six-speed automatic transmission.
- 2.0L inline-four petrol engine producing 100kW (134hp) at 6000rpm and 190Nm of torque at 4100rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 9.8 and a top speed of 208km/h, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.0L inline-four petrol engine producing 100kW (134hp) at 6000rpm and 192Nm of torque at 4000rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 9.6 and a top speed of 209km/h, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.0L inline-four petrol engine producing 105kW (141hp) at 6000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4000rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 9.1 and a top speed of 210km/h, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 3.0L V6 petrol engine producing 152kW (204hp) at 6000rpm and 285Nm of torque at 3750rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 9.7 seconds and a top speed of 232km/h, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission
- 3.0L V6 petrol engine producing 155kW (208hp) at 6000rpm and 290Nm of torque at 3750rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission
- 2.0L inline-four diesel engine producing 66kW (89hp) at 4000rpm and 205Nm of torque at 1900rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 13.1 seconds and a top speed of 180km/h, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission
- 2.0L inline-four diesel engine producing 100kW (134hp) at 4000rpm and 320Nm of torque at 2000rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 9.8 seconds and a top speed of 204km/h, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission
- 2.2L inline-four diesel engine producing 130kW (170hp) at 4000rpm and 400Nm of torque at 1750rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 222km/h, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission
The Second Generation (2007-2017)
Codenamed RD/TD, the second generation of C5 came in four-door sedan and five-door wagon variants. The Citroën fans criticised the new design direction for looking like a German saloon, rather than a French one. In 2011, it received a facelift update with minor cosmetic changes. Another one came the following year with changes to the infotainment system. Euro NCAP gave C5 a five-star rating, the best score, although anything below that is considered unacceptable by today's safety standards.
Basic equipment includes 3x3 point rear seatbelts, ABS, alarm, audio remote, body-coloured bumpers, CD, cruise control, driver and passenger's airbag, power mirrors, folding rear seats, power front and rear windows, heated mirrors, height-adjustable driver’s seat, Isofix child seat anchor points, PAS, remote locking, service indicator, side airbags, steering wheel rake adjustment, steering wheel reach adjustment, and traction control.
- VTR trim level adds air conditioning, cloth seat trim, and full-size spare wheel.
- SX trim level adds air conditioning, cloth seat trim, full-size spare wheel, and steel wheels.
- VTR+ trim level adds alloy wheels, cloth seat trim, front fog lights, full-size spare wheel, lumbar support, and sports seats.
- VTR+ Nav trim level adds alloy wheels, cloth seat trim, front fog lights, full-size spare wheel, lumbar support, Sat Nav, and sports seats.
- The exclusive trim level adds alloy wheels, power driver and passenger’s seat, front fog lights, lumbar support, parking sensors, partial leather seat trim, sports seats, and GPS.
In Australia, two petrol and two diesel options were available, with decent power output and 6-speed automatic transmission. Citroën offered the C5 with conventional springs or hydropneumatic suspension system.
- 1.6L inline-four petrol engine producing 115kW (154hp), 0-100km/h acceleration 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 210km/h, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission
- 3.0L V6 petrol engine producing 115kW (154hp), 0-100km/h acceleration in 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 243km/h, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission
- 2.7L V6 diesel engine producing 155kW (208hp), 0-100km/h acceleration in 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 224km/h, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission
- 3.0L V6 diesel engine producing 179kW (240hp), 0-100km/h acceleration in 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 243km/h, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission
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Author: Luka Kusic