Test drive Citroen C5 Estate 2001 - 2004 station wagon

All faces of comfort

It is unlikely that the portrait of Citroen C5 will cause delight among the adherent of cars of this extravagant brand. However, having tasted the truly paradise hospitality of the novelty, the fan of the double chevron, of course, will be satisfied.
 
It is interesting what part of a billion dollars invested in the development and preparation of C5 production, Citroen addressed the design of the model. It seems very modest. In any case, we, considering from all sides the burly, round and some too amorphous body of the chain, never entered the image of the novelty. They compared the magnificent avant -garde appearance of such famous members of the family as DS, SC or XM, with the faceless fundamental of C5, and were approved in the opinion that there was a hole on the old woman ...
 
Our thoughts were interrupted by the exclamation of one of the passers -by: what a handsome man! We did not expect to hear such a polar assessment. What's this? Confirmation of the theory of relativity of the beautiful? Or a heavy, and therefore impressive Citroen, in addition to other qualities, has the gift of hypnotic effects? Be that as it may, we found out that the appearance of the car is able to like. Well, and the rest is unlikely to be a person whom C5 will leave indifferent.
 
The car may seem like a sedan offhand, but in fact C5, which supports traditional corporate identity, is a hatchback. In size, it is much larger than Xantia and compare with the flagship Citroen - XM recently settled from the stage. Temporarily, before the approach of an even more solid C6 (which will be based on the same latest platform as today's culprit of the celebration), the five performs the duties of the head of the lineup. The hatchback is deployed at the junction of medium and business classes and is designed primarily to compete with Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat.
 
One of the trousers C5 in the fight against competitors is the size of the salon. The places here are in abundance not only for the driver and his neighbor, but also for three rear passengers - almost like in Minivan. The front armchairs and the rear sofa (laying out, he makes an already roomy trunk with a cargo hangar) - to match the dimensions of the salon. It is convenient to get a job on all seats will be able to even obese people. True, in front of the lumbar support roller is too low, but an extensive range of adjustments is proposed. The steering column, which can be adjusted along the angle of inclination and in depth, also contributes to the optimal arrangement of the driver.
 
The finish makes a favorable impression, although the hard plastic in the lower part of the front panel contrasts slightly with its elastic top.
 
The equipment of Citroen C5, even in the basic configuration (from $ 21500), cannot fail to satisfy. If the glove compartment and the cup holders are scattered in abundance will not surprise anyone, then a huge glove box with a detachment for drinks and products cooled by air conditioning (more precisely, C5 has a separate climate control for the right and left halves), as well as double-leaf vanners with illuminating Mirrors are already from the category of increased comfort.
 
Continuing to reveal its secrets, the C-five shows a truly overwhelming electronic filling. The electric package in the hatchback is not only full, but rather crowded. Banal electric windows in all four doors, and they are equipped, as in luxurious limousines, systems of one touch and antipermination. On the steering wheel is a duplicate control panel of the CD-RDS-audio system. In the middle of the front panel there is a multifunctional display, which displays the maximum of useful information: from the external temperature and data of the on -board computer to the alarm about open doors.
 
And this is far from all. How do you like the automatic turning on the headlights in the dark and wipers at the first drops of rain? And the trunk that locks during movement and independently closing the sediments of the glass when falling out? And the displays in the central console and a special button on the key fob, which allows, being outside the car, open the windows for ventilation?
 
Our Citroen worth $ 24490 is even richer. In addition to the mentioned expanded capabilities of the seats, it is equipped with a leather steering wheel, washer washers and heating seats, and from delicacies - parking sensors, air pressure sensor in the tires and emergency mirrors folding at the engine (of course, electric and heated), the right of which automatically changes the position of reversing. We mention six airbags in the standard and a speech synthesizer in additional configuration. Agree, the set is not weak.
 
Up to a hundred 1300-kilogram hatchback, equipped with a two-liter 138-horsepower gasoline engine, accelerates in 12 seconds and develops a maximum speed of about 200 km/h, reacting quite responsive to the accelerator. The car goes well, without causing irritation by drowsiness.
 
In the world and harmony with the motor, there is a 4-speed machine, equipped, as it is now found, by manual switching mode. The gearbox is somewhat thoughtful, but knows how to adapt to a specific driving style. Her good faith is not a desire to switch the speed manually, except in rare cases of braking by the engine.
 
Like the former large Citroen, the new C5 has a hydropneumatic suspension.
 
The fundamentally not changed, but significantly modernized Hydractive system with index III is even better adapted to road cataclysms. It vigilantly monitors the coating profile, instantly (for 17 milliseconds) changing its rigidity.
 
The competence of the hydracture includes maintaining a constant road clearance - and not only during movement. Try to press the trunk of C5 on the edge of the trunk, and you will feel how, by biting off the insidious plan, the car will lift the stern.
 
The duties of the suspension also include the fight against the rolls in corners (for the reason the seats are practically devoid of side support rollers). In normal mode, C5 is very smooth. We would not use a common comparison with the flight on the carpet, but overcoming the obstacle strip is characterized by an increased level of sled comfort.
 
At a speed of over 110 km/h, for the best controllability and stability of Hydractive, the body presses the body to the surface of the road. Moreover, the front part is greater than the back (15 and 11 mm). The car perceives the speed below 70 km/h as a signal to an increase in clearance.

 
The driver can intervene in the suspension activity. Say, increase its rigidity by pressing the Sports button or change the road clearance at your discretion. Four options. At the maximum height (40 mm above the average level), movement at a speed of up to 10 km/h is permissible, on the next, also off -road - up to 40. How much such a suspension expands the capabilities of C5 and facilitates the life of its owner (changing the wheel without a jack) not to say. It is necessary. And as for the reliability of the chassis - hydropneumatics has a guarantee for five years or two hundred thousand kilometers of mileage.
 
Well -dosed, grip brakes with ABS and an emergency slowdown regulator, a sliding control system (ASR), electoral and flexible steering wheel, excellent sound insulation - everything is aimed at increasing safety and comfort.
 
Well, the efforts of the manufacturer are rewarded: the rational price of a machine that provides a lot of all kinds of goods makes an impression on the buyer, and C5 is in time.
 
Technical characteristics Citroen C5 SX
 
Equipped mass, kg - 1318
Complete mass, kg - 1845
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm - 4618/1770/1476
Base, mm - 2750
Maximum speed, km/h - 202
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s - 12.3
Control consumption of fuel, l/100 km, mixed cycle - 8.6
Fuel tank volume, L - 66
Engine:
- Type- gasoline, in-line, 4-cylinder., 16-valve.
- working volume, cm3 - 1997
- Power, L.S. at min -1 - 138/6000
- Torque, NM at MIN -1 - 190/4100
- power system - multi -point injection
Transmission - automatic., 4 -speed, sectral, adaptive KP, front -wheel drive
Tire size - 195/65R15
Wheel suspension: Hydractive III with stabilis. transverse stability;
- Front - type Mcphereson
- rear - on longitudinal levers
Brakes: with ABS, distribution. brake. efforts and system. emergency braking
- front - disk, ventilated
- rear - disk
Steering - rack type, with gur
Price, $ - 24490
 
Text: Igor Kuznetsov
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [06/2001]