Test drive Citroen C5 Estate 2001 - 2004 station wagon

High-fashion

The double chevron - the symbol of Citroen - has long become the same symbol of France as the Eiffel Tower or Louvre. Because such a brand could not be born anywhere else. She absorbed the national character of the French. Citroen products can be compared with high fashion - many people like it, but not many will decide to buy it for themselves (in any case, outside France).
 

I don’t know why, but the type of Citroen C5 causes me associations with a large sea fauna. And in the Break version is definitely a whale. Huge and absolutely good -natured. Citroen designers managed to turn a utilitarian vehicle into a work of art - and not to the detriment of functionality. Soft contours and lines of the body seem to flow into each other, and you will not understand where one element ends and the other begins. Huge sickle -shaped rear lights are very beautiful, especially at night.

 
Having opened the door, you fall into the vast space of the cabin, during which the designers (among them were our compatriot) also gave free rein to fantasy. Unusually made torpedo - smooth, intersecting arc lines - creates a feeling of comfort, and on more expensive versions with wood trim, it practically disappears.
 

The front seats are equipped with all the necessary range of settings, only discrete background adjustment spoils the impression. Steering wheel - with an optimal combination of diameter and section, devices in any position are perfectly visible; They are easily read, although the shield seems to be overloaded - the devices are much. Some slurred indicators could be replaced with light bulbs. The shield is equipped with a pleasant greenish backlight. In my opinion, steering wheel switches are oversaturated with functions - in addition to the buttons in the ends, there are also a lot of all kinds of rotating rings.
 

In the middle part of the torpedo there is a multifunctional LCD -display of the on -board computer - the source of the information necessary on the road: which station is the receiver, fuel consumption, average speed, etc. In addition, he clearly informs the mode of operation of the hydropneumatic suspension. How many times I went to Citroen, but it invariably surprises me: you will click on the button, and the usual passenger car turns into an SUV.
 

Below, on the central console, there are an audio system and a microclimate control unit with separate temperature control for the driver and the front passenger. On the central tunnel, behind the lever of the gearbox - the suspension control buttons. The Sport button activates sports settings, and the shooter buttons are responsible for raising or lowering the body.
 

In the second row, three people can accommodate without any problems, spaces will be enough in the shoulders, and in the legs, and above the head. The trunk has a very impressive volume that allows the use of C5 Break as a cargo van. And if you still fold the rear seats ... In addition to the luggage compartment in the car, there are a huge number of various kinds of pockets, mess and other containers where you can hide any small things. The main thing is not to forget where and what you put, otherwise you can look for the desired item throughout the cabin for a very long time.
 

The two-liter engine surprisingly easily accelerates not very light, in general, the car allows you to feel confident in the city stream, even if it is seriously loaded. For this, special thanks to the designers who competently selected gear rates. The clutch is very light, it is convenient to ride in traffic jams with such convenient, but it lacks information content. The programs are turned on clearly, but the moves of the lever seemed great, however, many front -wheel drive models suffer from this. The brakes require addiction, the pedal’s stroke does not correspond to the effort on it, because of which you constantly repeat the first time - you peck your nose in front of each traffic light, cautiously squinting at the mirrors - no matter how anyone caught up.
 

There is probably no need to dwell on the features of the hydropneumatic suspension (motor #12, 2001), I only remind you that it is Hydractive 3, which itself adapts to road conditions and driving manner. It minimizes the rolls of the car when passing turns and grafting during braking. In addition, at a speed of about 110 km/h the suspension slightly lowers the body, and the front part is stronger than the rear, which improves the aerodynamics and distribution of loads along the axes.
 

At high speeds, C5 behaves almost flawlessly, avoiding trajectory deviations, while the speed is completely not felt. There is only one minus - a uncomfortable absence of reactive effort on the steering wheel, especially in the near -Zone. Small bumps of roads and joints are almost unnoticed, but a little noisy, more no longer for a magic suspension are no problem.

 
In the maximum turn, Citroen behaves like all front -wheel drive machines: it meets the demolition of the front axle to speed. The gas is practically not responded to the discharge of gas - it is necessary to use more effective measures up to braking. It is almost impossible to force him to go into a skid without the use of special receptions. C5 Break stands reliably on the road.
 

In conclusion, I would like to note that Citroen is a special machine and requires a special relationship, moreover, it can be said to determine the lifestyle. Fans of the brand will understand what I mean ...

 

Text: Alexander Nadens
 

 
 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 11/2002]