The Citroen C5 X is a stylish four-door family car designed to restore former Citroen glory in the illustrious D car market segment. The C5 X hopes to achieve everything Citroen has set out to do with their very latest cars, which is bringing back the good old days of “luxury” French family cars. So, is Citroen C5 X a good car?
The Citroen C5 X certainly is an exciting new car that promises to bring Citroen onto a whole new level and toward a long-forgotten luxury customer base. The Citroen C5 X looks different, it looks quirky, it stands out, and that is not something you can see too often these days. As such, the C5 X is indeed a good car.
It also comes with relatively powerful, efficient, and relatively smooth engines. The driving experience focuses on ease of use and comfort above everything else. This means that the C5 X does not try to be sporty as that is something Citroen hopes to achieve with more focused models.
Reliability is still a sizeable question mark as the C5 X is way too fresh and it can’t yet be assessed properly. The C5 X does not come close to established luxury offerings as far as price is concerned which means that it does offer a lot of value for the money. Practicality is really good, but the rear seating space is a bit cramped due to a sloping roofline.
Citroen C5 X – The powerplant
The Citroen C5 X engine palette starts with the 1.2L 3-cylinder engine with 130hp and 169lb-ft of torque. This engine can do 0-60mph in around 11 seconds and reach a top speed of 122mph. The next in line is the 1.6L inline 4-cylinder engine that offers 181hp and 184lb-ft of torque. This engine can do 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 134mph.
The C5 X is also being offered as a hybrid that utilizes the 1.6L 4-cylinder, but also adds an electric engine on top of it for a combined output of 225hp and 265lb-ft of torque. This engine is also the most efficient one with a promised 78MPG while gasoline models can do up to 45-50MPG.
All models come with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and all of them are solely powered by a front-wheel-drive system. All in all, the C5 X does get a fairly efficient and smooth engine palette, but a diesel model would be a great addition, and the same story goes for AWD.
Citroen C5 X – Design and chassis
The Citroen C5 X follows a well-known Citroen design language in which the car aims to be different, quirky, and eye-catching. We can wholeheartedly say that Citroen did manage to do that as the C5 X looks like nothing else on the road. The interior of the C5 X is also unique and very well-appointed because the car gets pretty much everything you’d want.
The driving experience is solely focused on comfort and ease of use and the C5 X does not try to be a sports car. This means that the car is comfortable, it deals with potholes really well, and it stays composed over speed bumps. However, this means that the car rolls quite a bit during cornering and that it isn’t agile at all.
Citroen C5 X – Reliability and common issues
It is still too early to tell if the C5 X truly is a reliable car or not because it is way too fresh out of the factory. We will have to wait a decent while before we can properly assess the car as now there simply aren’t many C5 X models roaming around city streets.
Some journalists did complain about the hybrid system calibration as it can be jerky and jittery. Either way, we will have to wait and see as correct reliability assessments can only begin after the car is at least one year old.
Citroen C5 X – Value and practicality
One of the best aspects of the C5 X is its price tag as the car undercuts pretty much all established luxury cars out there. Granted, the C5 X can’t really compare to any of these cars, but you do get a lot of value for your money as the car truly does bridge the gap between Citroen’s of old and achievable luxury.
Practicality is also really good as the car gets four doors and a hatchback trunk. Thanks to a higher ride height, it is really easy to get in and out of the car as well. Storage space is accommodating as well which is certainly something most families will appreciate.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Citroen C5 X?
If you like the way the Citroen C5 X looks, you are likely going to love everything else about the C5 X as it looks great, offers lots of everything, and has enough space for a family. However, we do need to keep in mind that reliability is still unknown and is likely going to stay that way for some time.
As such, you ought to wait a year or two if you are not completely sold on the C5 X so you add reliability results to the equation.
Is the Citroen C5 X a safe car?
Yes, the Citroen C5 X does seem to be a really safe car as it got a stellar 5-star safety rating from many crash testing regulations. Moreover, the C5 X gets a bunch of state-of-the-art software active safety systems that are designed to keep you safe at all times, no matter if you are on the move, or if you are stationary.
Is the Citroen C5 X a luxury car?
The Citroen C5 X is the largest and most luxurious car Citroen makes, but is it a true luxury car? No, the C5 X is indeed a really well-put-together car, but it can’t rival the likes of BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. However, the price tag that comes with the C5 X is nowhere near as substantial as it is with these three other brands.
