Second-Hand Citroen C5
Used Citroen C5
The Citroen C5 was introduced in 2001 and was built to replace both the Xantia and XM ranges. A second-hand version does an admirable job of catering to a range of crowds. Trios of both petrol and diesel engines came with the first iteration, along with plenty of onboard technology that has only become better integrated and more impressive over the years. 2004 saw the Citroen C5 receive a bit of a facelift, along with the arrival of a bargain basement 1.6-litre diesel engine model. The most recent revision occurred in 2008, and this is considered to be its true second-generation entry, with a real overhaul given to the styling of the range to make it even more handsome than before.
What You Get
What really sets used Citroen C5 cars apart from their competitors is the Hydractive suspension, which allows it to electronically adjust ride height to accommodate the speed and road conditions that are currently being experienced. This system, even in the early models, is considerably better than the mechanically adjusted alternative used in Citroen's older cars and means that it offers one of the smoothest rides on the market. While things are generally controlled by sensors, you do have manual control if you want to make more specific adjustments. All of the used Citroen C5's iterations have benefitted from plenty of luggage room in the rear and the general quality of the interior is surprisingly high, with Citroen attempting to match up to the executive class models from German manufacturers in this respect.
How it Drives
The Citroen C5 makes absolute mincemeat of speed bumps and potholes, and it's virtually impossible to find any other car from any rival manufacturer that can match it when you have to tackle rough surfaces. You might assume that this means it will wallow in the corners, but Citroen's systems help to keep everything balanced and the car manages to remain flat all the way through the turn, which can be an odd sensation. Overall, a used C5 offers a decent and comfortable driving experience.