Citroen C5 X review

Introduction

If you imagine a big-ish hatchback with some SUV treatment, that sums up the Citroen C5 X.

It is the largest car Citroen makes, compared with the other crossovers in the range, and one of the most high-end of its offerings to date.

At 4.8 metres long, it’s a huge thing, even if from the pictures it looks too low to be considered a large car.

It is not the first time we've seen big, quirky models from Citroen. So, this continues that tradition, with the new car resembling a concept vehicle unveiled in 2016, albeit losing a dollop of its futuristic styling.

At A Glance

The C5 X is based on the Stellantis EMP2 platform, which is often home to smaller cars, but it seems to suit the larger Citroen well.

It is unlikely to be a big seller, as those who can afford to lease a luxurious Citroen will likely have deep enough pockets to go for a premium brand instead. And that's a shame because the C5 X has much going for it. Indeed, in terms of exclusivity, it’s bang on the money.

Like the many slightly insane Citroens that have come before, the C5 X wears its looks well.

The front grille is made up of straight lines that link up with the two arrows of the Citroen badge but then scoop up at the sides to sit above the day-running lights. These lights look like jagged razor blades, while the main headlights sit underneath.

A lower grille features vertical lines that contrast against the horizontal pattern of the rest of the front end.

Around the sides, the doors have a prominent indentation, while cladding emerges at the bottom, encompassing the wheel arches. There is a black roof, too, contrasting against the primary body colour.

From here, you can also see how high this crossover rides – not as much as a conventional 4x4, but more elevated than a standard hatchback.

The rear overhangs quite a bit, while the entire posterior looks sporty, with shapely taillights and two spoilers at the top and bottom of the rear windscreen.

Overall, especially at the front, it's a jam-packed design, yet, somehow, the C5 X manages to pull it off.

Key Features

There are three trims to choose from.

The entry-level Sense Plus includes 19-inch wheels, LED fog lights, front and rear parking sensors and a 10-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You also get rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and a leather steering wheel.

The mid-range Shine trim upgrades the infotainment screen to 12-inches and adds a wireless phone charger and head-up display, plus dual-zone air conditioning.

The flagship Shine Plus grade adds a powered tailgate, automatic air conditioning and heated electrically adjustable leather seats.

There are also three powertrains, all of which come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The PureTech 130 provides a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which produces 131PS.

Shine and Shine Plus trims are also available with a more powerful petrol – the PureTech 180 – a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine supplying 180 horses.

Alternatively, a plug-in hybrid comprises the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, albeit tuned slightly differently. When combined with an electric motor, the power output rises to a meatier 225PS.

Range & Batteries

The plug-in hybrid comes with a 12.4kWh battery. Not sure what that translates to? Take a look at our guide on what kW and kWh really means.

Citroen claims an all-electric range of 37 miles, although expect around 20-30 per cent less than this when driving in the British Isle- you can find out more about EV range in teh real world by reading our guide on official vs real-world battery range.

Electric range depends on various factors, including driving style, ambient temperature, and road and weather conditions.

Performance & Drive

We took the PureTech 180 and the plug-in hybrid 225 for a test drive.

The 180 pulls well, reaching 62mph in 8.8-seconds. It feels reasonably smooth and punchy, as if it's always got something in reserve for when you need it.

The four cylinders mean it’s marginally smoother than the three-cylinder PureTech 130, which sounds slightly tinnier. But the PureTech 180 doesn't need thrashing in quite the same way to make good progress, limiting the need to use higher revs.

That said, the C5 X isn't about performance, and, for most people's needs, the PureTech 130 will probably suffice. Both engines seem reasonably refined, matching or exceeding some of their rivals, such as the Honda CR-V.

Neither can equal the power of the PHEV, which gets up to 62mph in 7.8-seconds from a standing start. Although the added weight of the electric motor and batteries means it often doesn’t feel any quicker than the PureTech 180.

The hybrid isn’t perfect. Although the throttle responds well, it seems to take a little time for the engine, electric motor and gearbox to harmonise, which appears to delay the progress momentarily. In the non-hybrids, the gearbox seems quicker to kick down.

However, once you’re on the move in the PHEV, it changes gear smoothly but regardless of the powertrain, it can be a little jerky at lower speeds.

Citroen was keen to point out to us that it’s very proud of the suspension and ride comfort in the C5 X – and with good reason.

It has what it calls ‘Progressive Hydraulic Cushions’, which, combined with comfortable seats and, in the plug-in hybrid, Active Advance Comfort suspension, shields the cabin from pot-holes and creases in the road surface.

It doesn't mean you can't feel bumps and imperfections, though. In fact, despite the active dampers in the hybrid, the extra weight of the batteries and electric motor means it's not quite as comfortable as the petrol.

Nevertheless, it’s a ride that is right up there with some of the best names in the business.

Unfortunately, the best names in the business, such as Audi, can also manage the comfort without sacrificing the handling too much. And the C5 X falls short of this.

As a result of the soft setup, there's little to no stiffness in the suspension, so throw it into a bend, and the car’s bodyshell feels like it’s trying to go straight on. This creates a lot of body roll, which somewhat ruins the fun if you enjoy sharp handling.

Nevertheless, it isn’t woeful. The steering is precise and reasonably weighted, but it's a car for wafting along on a steady cruise rather than being chucked around corners.

Road and wind noise are well contained, thanks to Citroen working the soundproofing to maximum effectiveness and fitting an acoustic-treated windscreen.

The regenerative braking on the hybrid is not the best we've ever used. It can be challenging to judge braking distances and isn’t always consistent, although it isn't as grabby as in some cars.

Charging

If you pick the plug-in hybrid, it's essential to keep it charged up so you can take full advantage of the fuel savings and keep the emissions as low as possible.

Charging from 0-100 per cent will take under two hours using a home 7.4kW wall box. To make sure you get the most out of every charge, take a look through our guide on pick your ideal charger.

Running Costs & Emissions

Unsurprisingly, the hybrid has the best fuel economy and emissions figures – and by some margin.

Citroen claims it’ll achieve 217.3mpg, although you'll need to keep the battery topped up to get anywhere near this. Meanwhile, it produces just 30g/km of CO2.

That compares with 43.4mpg in the PureTech 180 we also drove, emitting 147g/km of CO2, while the PureTech 130 claims figures of 47.1mpg and 136g/km of CO2.

Of course, if you mainly make short journeys, you can get infinite miles-per-gallon and emissions-free driving thanks to the 37-mile range of the electric motor on the PHEV.

If you're after a company car, you'd be crazy to look anywhere else but the hybrid. Thanks to its low emissions, the savings from benefit-in-kind tax make it a no-brainer, although you’ll save even more if you’re offered an all-electric car instead.

Regarding reliability, Citroen is very much on the up nowadays, scoring reasonably well in customer satisfaction surveys, but it’s by no means top dog.

As you’re leasing, you may not be interested in this. But in case you are, Citroens come with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty, plus a third year limited to 60,000 miles.

Interior & Technology

The C5 X has a very nice interior which is well laid out and looks the part.

In our test cars, a lovely grey wood-effect pattern spans the dashboard's width, which breaks up the upper and lower sections nicely.

The steering wheel is like a rounded hexagon, which looks nice with a dash of silver trim along the bottom, while there’s more silver décor on the centre console.

The infotainment screen sits high next to the steering wheel, surrounded by a gloss piano black border. Thin, wide air vents sit beneath, while there are several physical dials to operate the air conditioning system below. This is preferable to having them buried within the touchscreen – a habit Citroen gets into on some of its models – but not here.

Our test cars are fitted with the larger 12.0-inch infotainment screen, which is sharp and reasonably responsive, although not as user-friendly as some rivals.

The digital instrument display, included as standard across the range, is customisable to prioritise the information that's most important to you. At the same time, the head-up display available on the Shine and Shine Plus trims adds a nice touch.

Overall, the interior is visually appealing and provides the best design across Citroen's range, despite stiff competition from some of its other cars.

Practicality & Boot Space

The driving position is slightly raised, sitting between what you'd expect from a standard hatchback versus an SUV.

That is no surprise in a crossover like the C5 X – and getting comfortable is unchallenging thanks to the Advanced Comfort Seats Citroen selected. The chairs include memory foam and adjustable lumbar support, even at entry-level.

Visibility-wise, the front pillars are thicker than on some challengers, and due to the slope in the roof and the angled back window, the rear posts are even broader. Mind you, parking sensors and a reversing camera help. In addition, the flagship Shine Plus trim gets a 360-degree camera.

There is a decent amount of space in the front, and even taller drivers won't struggle. Despite the car looking relatively shallow, headroom remains plentiful, despite a raised driving position.

In the rear, it’s good news, too. There is a lot of legroom, helped by the extended bodyshell, while the headroom isn't as insufficient as you might think, given the roofline slopes downwards slightly. That said, very tall rear-seat passengers might disagree.

There are plenty of places to store things, including two cupholders in the centre console, which also houses a reasonably large cubby.

Our Shine Plus trim's boot opens and closes automatically, but even if you don't have this feature, the boot space measures in at 545 litres, reduced to 485 litres in the plug-in hybrid, thanks to the positioning of the batteries.

Cargo space expands to 1,640 litres (1,580 litres in the PHEV) with the rear seats folded down in a 60:40 split at the pull of a lever.

The boot is wide and accommodating, so getting heavier and bulkier items in and out is straightforward, while the middle seat can be opened as a ski-hatch if you need to fit thin, long items in.

Safety

There is no official safety rating yet for the Citroen C5 X, as it's yet to be put through its paces by the crash-test pros at Euro NCAP.

However, only one Citroen has scored fewer than four stars since 2014, while the Citroen C5 Aircross earned a five-star rating when tested in 2019. However, this rating is reduced to four stars if you don't have an optional safety pack fitted.

The C5 X comes with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, driver attention alert, front and rear parking sensors, active safety brake and forward collision warning. You also get lane-keep assist, speed limit recognition and cruise control.

The Shine trim adds extended traffic sign recognition and highway integrated assist, while Shine Plus adds blind-spot detection.

Options

On all grades, the default colour is dark blue, while a few hundred quid extra will get you dark, medium or light grey, black or white.

Half-grey leather seats are available on the Shine and Shine Plus trim at no extra cost.

Other extras depend on trim, but you can add adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go function. This technology automatically brakes and accelerates for you, maintaining the distance to the vehicle in front.

Opt for the top-of-the-range Shine Plus trim, and you’ll get access to more options. These extras include an upgraded hi-fi system with a subwoofer and dashboard speaker, a panoramic roof and a black bi-tone roof.

Rival Cars

It isn't easy to know what to compare the C5 X with, as there aren't many luxury large hatchbacks out there.

In terms of shape, the only one that bears any resemblance is the Porsche Panamera, but it’s in a different league, so you’re better off looking at estate cars instead.

Regarding its style, the Volvo V60 Cross Country and the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack are worthy opponents, while the shooting brake Peugeot 508 Sport Wagon is a viable alternative.

If not, you could consider going for a proper SUV, in which case Peugeot’s 5008 (not to be confused with the 508) is a decent contender – as is Kia’s Sorento.

However, there isn't a direct rival for the C5 X that ticks all the same boxes.

Paradoxically, this makes the competition even more comprehensive. Why? Well, the type of car you'd choose as an alternative will need to be determined based on your needs in terms of performance, price, practicality and economy, as well as looks and body style.

Verdict & Next Steps

The C5 X is arguably the most luxurious Citroen on the market.

It is exceptionally comfortable, well refined and relaxing with a good range of decent engines that are reasonably economical. However, the hybrid dwarfs the petrols regarding savings in day-to-day running costs and tax.

The interior is well designed – probably the best in a Citroen to date – and it comes well-equipped as standard.

There is nothing wrong with the entry-level version, both in terms of trim and engine.

Although the PureTech 180 and PHEV that we drove were fine, the PureTech 130 will be more than adequate for most. Meanwhile, the entry-level trim has enough going for it to meet most people’s needs, as long as you don’t mind a smaller infotainment screen.

Keener drivers will want to look elsewhere, though. While it may run the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz close in terms of being a comfortable cruiser, the three German brands blow the Citroen out of the water regarding drivability.

The C5 X is expensive for a Citroen, but it's excellent value if you can look past that.

The spaciousness and practicality sprinkle a bit of sugar on top, too.

Where to next?

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*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the Citroen C5 X

**Correct as of 29/09/2022. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments or £2,796.21 Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.