Review Citroën D S5 2,0 HDi A/T Sport

A few years ago , the French Citroën revived the almost premium DS series , for which it has so far built three models based on its conventional cars. Last year I tried the smallest DS3 , which is fantastic in every way, the DS4 impressed me even with the petrol engine, and recently it was finally the turn of the most elegant DS5. For the editorial test, I was provided with a version with a two-liter diesel engine, an automatic transmission and an attractive Sport trim level .

Design – Beauty and eccentricity

The Citroën DS5 was officially launched last April and from the first set of photos I knew I had to have it. I didn't think about engines, transmissions or the interior. It was about the external appearance! Less than a year and a half later, I'm standing in front of the real DS5 and I'm even more impressed than the photos. Despite minor quirks and concessions to pedestrian safety (especially the height of the front part), the overall design is incredibly balanced and beautiful!

Similar to the Citroën DS4 Sport , which I had the opportunity to test in the summer, contrast is the main currency here. The choice of white body paint seems to be the best choice from my point of view and it fits the DS5 perfectly. The front part of the tested car impresses with a massive central mask, truly functional vents for cooling the brakes and swiveling headlights that reach deep into the front fenders. Of course, they received the obligatory LED system for daytime running lights and chrome edging, extending to the front doors. After all, chrome was not spared in other parts either, a shining example of which are the massive strips located on the lower edge of the doors. To a certain extent, they fulfill the function of side protection bars. But God forbid anyone who touches them in the parking lot!

The most distinctive part of the car is clearly the rear. The gently sloping line of the glazed roof is here separated by a discreet wing, under which the low rear window continues. Due to better access to the luggage compartment, the upper edge of the trunk lid is set deep in the C-pillar. Dimensional rear lights create an elegant molding in the bumper and, like the smaller DS4 , I also encounter a contrasting lower part, containing oval exhaust outlets and black trim.

To sum it all up, the Citroën DS5 is a true masterpiece in terms of design. A French gem, standing not on a pedestal, but on 18" alloy wheels. Once I even encountered a situation where I had to beg for access to the car through a crowd of astonished onlookers who still imagine the C4 model with a fixed steering wheel center under the Citroën name. Nowhere. A new era has come. However, something tells me that the low construction of the 4530 millimeter long body will have a negative effect in certain areas…

Interior – a bit Porsche, a bit KITT

Citroën's designers have always been able to let loose in their cars. However, some elements have not met with understanding to this day, such as the already mentioned fixed center of the steering wheel in the C4 model. But the interior of the DS5 really did a good job! The incredibly robust and well-made dashboard unit literally surrounds the driver and thanks to the panoramic roof, it is perfectly illuminated in all circumstances. The ergonomics of the controls are at a solid level, and for those who don't want anything to smell, there is a rotary controller with adjacent buttons for movement in the multimedia center. It's just a shame that the PSA concern still hasn't come up with a solution using a touch screen.

The tested DS5 won me over with comfortable leather seats, which are also available for the C5 model, as well as an incredible center tunnel. Its design is reminiscent of the Porsche Panamera and it is also processed with the same care. A bit unconventionally, in addition to controlling the multimedia system, we can find the buttons for lowering the windows and the electronic parking brake. The design looks fantastic! In a similar vein, the ceiling buttons for controlling the electrically sliding shutters of the panoramic roof are also designed. I'm slowly starting to feel like David Hasselhoff in his inimitable talking car from Knight Rider here. In the central part of the ceiling panel, boxes for storing small items have also found their place.

At Citroën , they have a great sense of detail. I have in mind in particular the effective grouping of a modern start button and a retro analog clock . Contrasting modernity, on the other hand, settled in the design of the device chapel. The elegant solution with two tubes and a central digital speedometer looks great, as does the convenient control of the on-board computer with a button on the wiper control lever.

Style at the expense of space

Here I come to the negative that is directly related to the low construction of the body – the interior space. The front seats are still fine. It sits pleasantly low, the view from the car is adequate thanks to the double A-pillars, and even Michael Jordan would not miss it in the transverse direction. It's worse with roominess in the back. Here, passengers have to get used to the concessions due to the sloping roof and also its glazing, which willy-nilly takes away valuable centimeters above the head. However, I consider it a big plus to be comfortable getting out of the car thanks to the sufficient space after opening the door.

However, less space in the rear seats and impaired visibility through the split rear window are the only negatives I could find in this area. It must be taken into account that the DS5 , although it looks like it, is not a limousine. It still offers a valuable 468 liters of space for luggage and, thanks to the central channel in the rear backrests, it can handle skis with ease.

Engine

As I already indicated at the beginning, under the hood of the tested version is a 2.0 HDI 160 turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. Cultivated and widely used in the world of PSA , the power unit has an output of 120 kW and a torque of 340 Nm. Since we are talking about a diesel engine, the following information is not surprising – the power peaks at 3750 rpm, the torque reaches its maximum at 2000 rpm. On paper, these values look very promising, but if I take into account the car's weight of 1,629 kilograms, I have an economical and quite nimble DS5 in front of me. After all, this is also confirmed by the installation of an automatic six-speed gearbox, which perfectly suits the calm character of the car. The manufacturer states a combined fuel consumption of 6.1 l/100 km. In practice, of course, the reality is a little different, but to my delight I did not exceed the indicated consumption by much. In real conditions, I drove for 6.5 liters during the test week, the 300 km highway means a loss of roughly 7 liters per 100 kilometers. In city traffic, where there is often no way to save, I was extremely satisfied with the eight-liter consumption.

At a time when dual-clutch automatic transmissions are the order of the day even in cars from mainstream brands, the six-speed automatic in the Citroën DS5 can feel a bit lazy. In the final judgment, however, I wouldn't ask for anything else from this car. In normal driving mode, you are only informed about gear shifting by a drop or increase in revs, while in sports mode there is no confusing downshifting of gears with every sharp brake. However, it is still true that the Citroën DS5 will never be a sports car. In short, the car respects the rule that the best way to success with the crew is calmness and balance.

Ride – On a cloud 2.0

The title of the paragraph has its justification. All the Citroëns I've tested so far had a slightly rocking (but sure) chassis setup. In addition to the DS line! The smallest DS3 (in my case the Racing version) is stiff and the selected tracks in the corners hold very fiercely. It's similar with the DS4 on 19" alloy wheels, but with a greater tilt of the body. However, the Citroën DS5 is quite different. Even with the basic chassis, it offers a valuable compromise between both extremes of settings and can literally spoil its crew on quality roads. However, the word "quality" means quite a lot in this case. The combination of a heavy diesel engine on the front axle and the installation of 18" alloy wheels has the effect of transferring shocks to the cabin. This can scare the driver a little at times, fortunately this fact does not affect driving confidence in any way.

Everyday use of the DS5 is very pleasant. The car is well made and feels comfortable in normal situations. The problem can arise when carelessly crossing longitudinal unevenness. In this case, the influence of the glazing of the roof on the torsional stiffness of the body is manifested and from time to time a small creak can be heard from behind. Otherwise, I did not notice any infamous findings. The DS5 is comfortable, spacious in the front and knows how to pamper its passengers with equipment. In ideal conditions, this makes it an excellent car for long journeys and everyday commuting.

Although the automatic transmission allows you to switch to sports mode, you won't really enjoy the sportiness in practice. 120 kW of power is enough for a 1.6-ton car to maintain a sufficient reserve for safe overtaking. At the limit, there is a natural understeer of the front wheel, which, however, can be easily corrected by taking off the gas. Don't look for too much sensitivity in the steering either. In practice, however, I have not encountered a situation where I had to additionally straighten the car in the chosen direction of travel when exiting a corner.

Conclusion

Citroën DS5 managed to win me over during the week-long test. The car has a very distinctive exterior and interior design and presents many solutions that the more conservative-minded competition is probably afraid of. Comparing it with other cars in the given category is like putting two different worlds next to each other. Given the exclusivity of the car, I have no objection to the basic price, which exceeds 700,000 crowns with the 120 kW gasoline four-cylinder THP. DS5 is simply its own. It does not play tricks and perfectly fulfills the purpose for which it was made.