New Citroën C5 X: comfort is the absolute priority

Citroën now has almost no cars with conventional body shapes left-the C1, which is about to disappear, is the final example. The arrival of the C5 X, its new flagship with a “hybrid” body style, a crossover blending several formats, reinforces that point. While the alphanumeric C5 name returns, it gains an X: a kind of gender-defining chromosome that is spreading freely across car brands.

At BMW, every SUV is an X; Fiat has the 500X; Mitsubishi calls the Eclipse a Cross-cross or X in English; Opel offers the Crossland; and Citroën itself has the C3 and C5 Aircross models. The list is far longer, but there is no need to labour the point.

Car manufacturers appear to agree that X is the best way to convey a mix of SUV, estate and crossover genes-another “cross”-and, in certain cases, a vehicle with off-road capability and a lifestyle linked to leisure and the outdoors.

The latest example is this new Citroën C5 X. It marks the French brand’s return to the D-segment flagship class, although naturally with slightly greater ground clearance, an extended tailgate and, above all, a higher seating position than traditional saloons. In short: X.

Comfort as the absolute priority

It uses the C5 Aircross’s EMP2 platform in an extended form, with a 2.785 m wheelbase-5.5 cm longer than that of the C5 Aircross and 5.5 cm shorter than the Peugeot 5008’s 2.84 m-and promises strengths closely associated with the brand, including ride comfort and generous cabin space.

For the former, every version comes as standard with the familiar Progressive Hydraulic Cushions, fitted within the dampers. A more advanced plug-in hybrid version is also available, featuring variable damping response to tailor the C5 X’s behaviour to the driver’s mood and the type of roads being travelled.

Inside, the aim is to set fresh standards among mainstream D-segment models. This is intended to be achieved through seats with particularly comfortable upholstery, designed to create body contact comparable with that of a good mattress. Acoustic comfort has not been overlooked either: laminated glass is used for the windscreen and rear window, a solution more commonly found among premium manufacturers.

With a 545-litre boot, the Citroën C5 X-4.80 m long overall-underlines its family-oriented nature. It should also be capable of carrying surfboards and other bulky equipment, particularly with the second-row seatbacks folded, which creates a load area of up to 1640 litres. The tailgate can be electrically opened and closed, while the loading floor is low and flat, making loading and unloading easier.

Greater technological sophistication

A new feature is the infotainment interface with enhanced connectivity, offering wireless connection, charging and mirroring for Android and Apple phones, alongside a new 12-inch touchscreen.

Citroën also promises an operating system with voice recognition that understands natural speech and expressions, as well as a large new colour head-up display projected onto the windscreen, with certain augmented-reality functions. This is a first for the French brand: until now, information was projected onto a plastic panel that rose from the top of the dashboard, a more basic, cheaper and less pleasant solution to use.

The end of Diesel

For the first time in a Citroën positioned above the brand’s smallest market segment-the C1-there will be no Diesel engine. As Vincent Cobée, CEO of the French brand, puts it: “demand for diesel engines is falling sharply in every segment and, because the C5 X is a car whose sales will be predominantly to companies, the plug-in hybrid powertrain is more attractive thanks to a lower Total Cost of Ownership”.

This 225 hp plug-in hybrid-offering more than 50 km in fully electric mode, consumption of around 1.5 l/100 km, a top speed close to 225 km/h and 0–100 km/h acceleration in just over 9 seconds-combines a 1.6-litre, 180 hp petrol engine with a 109 hp front electric motor.

There will also be combustion-only powertrains, namely the same 180 hp 1.6 PureTech unit on its own, without the electric motor, plus a second, less powerful 130 hp 1.2 PureTech version.

When does it arrive?

Sales of the new Citroën C5 X begin next autumn, with entry-level prices expected to start between €32,000 and €35,000.