New Citroën C5, official and in depth

Not long ago we previewed spy photos, and curiously one of them was taken in the very place where this photo shoot was held, the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. Now, true to the planned launch date, we can see more images, details and information about the popular Citroën saloon, the C5.

At first glance, I think that without the emblem on the grille we would have quite a hard time realising it’s a Citroën. In my opinion its design is flawless, solid and very much in line with Citroën’s latest models, yet with a look that I would dare say is reminiscent of German saloons. It’s clear that its inspiration from the Airscape has served it very well.

Its dimensions of 4.78 metres in length (the estate is 5 cm longer), 1.86 in width and 1.45 in height translate into a look of great poise. The Hydractive 3 Plus self-levelling suspension, the same as on the C6, guarantees excellent ride comfort while giving it perfect handling on the road, since the driver can choose between “soft” mode, for more comfortable and relaxed driving, or “sport” mode for a sportier drive; both settings act on the firmness of the suspension.

But if we step inside, we realise we are in a whole new world, quite far removed from every Citroën known until now. To begin with, the instrument panel has abandoned the classic and dull for new gauges that house screens showing the driver a great deal of additional information, something its direct rivals such as the Mondeo or the Laguna also offer. The steering wheel, as on the C4 and C4 Picasso, has a fixed central section with plenty of buttons to control many functions, but unlike those two models, this one is the second generation of this type of wheel (though not everyone is convinced by this design).

Continuing inside, which by the way benefits from excellent sound insulation also inherited from the C6, the comfort its occupants will enjoy deserves a mention: the driver can opt for a seat with massage function, and rear passengers will enjoy plenty of legroom, even the one in the centre seat, since the famous centre tunnel has disappeared from this model. Children will also travel comfortably and safely, as it features 3 Isofix anchorages, 4 electric windows with anti-pinch system, and the option to lock the rear doors and windows from the inside.

The driver can also have parking sensors as well as a speed regulator and limiter to make the journey safer and more carefree. But the safety equipment doesn’t stop there; it is very extensive: 9 airbags, a chassis design that absorbs large impacts to protect its occupants, pedals and steering column that retract in case of impact, emergency braking assistant, brake force distribution, ABS, ESP, lane departure warning system (already well known on Citroën) and AFS adaptive headlights.

As for engines, two petrol units have been announced: a 1.8i 16V with 127 hp and a 2.0i 16V with 143 hp. On the diesel side, the well-known HDI units from the PSA group will include one with 110 hp, another with 138 hp, another with 173 hp, and finally a 208 hp V6, all fitted with their corresponding particulate filter to reduce polluting emissions. As for gearboxes, manual and automatic options will be available to buyers.

We round off the information on the car by mentioning some of the extras it can be equipped with, such as the new generation of the NaviDrive navigation system, controlled from a 7-inch colour screen in the centre of the dashboard, or voice control for certain functions such as the integrated phone.

More photos below:

Via | World Car Fans