Citroen C5 Tourer test drive since 2008

Their weapons

The new C5, like his predecessor, was created and will be released in France. That's just in spirit this Citroen turned out to be very not French.
Call
I think it was no coincidence that the French decided to show us their novelty here. Cape Cabo and Rock, the western point of Europe, the place is amazing. The gray waves of the Atlantic one after another with a roar collapse on the rocks bristling with sharp stones. The brightly glowing sun in the blink of an eye can close the dark army of clouds. But a couple of minutes pass, and the flying wind from the formidable heavenly troops does not leave a scrap. The riot of water and land, darkness and light as a lively illustration of a brave call, which Citroen threw to German firms producing prestigious cars. You, it turns out, rebellious, ask for a storm?
Well, C5 looks more impressive than ever. It is 35 mm longer and as much as 8 cm wider than its predecessor, but the point is not even in size, but in shape. Now there is now in the appearance of the car neither the previous heavyweight, nor the eccentricity characteristic of many Citroens. Instead, a truly German solidity, straightening and become.
Apparently, they forgot the Parisian stylists about national pride and decided to turn to the classic of the genre. Unless in front they left the headlights and two chrome chevrons, spreading along the edges of the hood and bumper. But look at the car from the stern, neither give an Audi-A4. And the high window sill line and ribstampovka on the doors and wings? Isn't the same BMB three?
You with or without massage?
In the same way, German influence is easily guessed in the interior. Its academicity was for me an even more surprise when I met the author of the new salon of Fabin Darsha a guy of about thirty, in a strict suit and with a tie, but with a Iroquois on my head and earrings in the left ear. How much work costs the authorities to convince this informal species of Monsieur of the advantages of strict forms and I will not guess calm lines. It is important that Fabyen turned out to be all great to take at least a high tunnel between the front seats and the same climate control control unit. The close -up curtains of ventilation deflectors giving the interior of solidity are positively good.
However, it was not without branded Citroen’s little things in C5. The most noticeable of them is a motionless steering wheel, as in C4. However, the devices of the older brother are much more spectacular. In the middle, a speedometer with a shot-shooter running along the numbers and a large display, on which you can display the navigator's prompts, on the on-board computer or speed. On the sides are round tachometer, coolant temperature indicators and fuel levels, remarkably inscribed in the wings of deflectors. For boring charm, the torpedo decorates the overlay, it can be made of matte aluminum or black plastic in the form of a stretched letter S.

    
   
Regardless of the material of the velor, combined or leather upholstery in the chairs, a wonderful profile

Stylish devices are one of the main highlights of the cabin. Alas, the numbers on the speedometer scale are small, so it is better to display speed indications on the display
 
And it's all. I did not find even miracle cartridges with flavors so often found on Peugeot and Citroens. It is true: that the Germans do not need, then the Frenchman is useless.
 
    
With the help of a custom -made Citroen autopilot, he will not moor on the curb, the electronics will only tell you if the car is enough for the car

The leather cover of the automatic transmission selector looks rich, but when switching sometimes you stumble at the steps hidden from the eye. And the electric handbrake is useful for versions with a manual box

There is a place in the armrest for a pocket format book, but an ordinary bottle of mineral water in the cup holder does not hold

But most importantly, ergonomics got rid of branded and national monsters. The necessary buttons in C5 do not have to look for, they are all in the right places. The flight comprehensive menu has become simple and logical. The quality of the finish is the highest class. And what comfortable seats! I can’t even imagine how, instead of soft, amorphous and remarkably suitable for the perin living room, the French installed hard chairs with distinctly expressed lateral support. In addition, in expensive versions of the back, you can not only be tilted, but also bend. And how my fifth point I liked the massage pillows
 
     
The services of the rear passengers are not only a wide sofa, but also sunscreen curtains

You can't put anything larger than a mobile phone or pack of cigarettes in the rear doors
 
 
All the tool necessary for an emergency change of the wheel is laid in the organizer right in the niche of the dock

The volume of the trunk of the sedan increased by 50 liters, and the backs of the sofa, as before, are laid out in parts, forming an even floor

Alas, the sofa did not get a massage. But spacious in the second row is simply extremely. Comrades in a ninety -meter tall will be sustained without problems. That's just add Citroen dubs. They are not at all in front, and a couple of those who spell out in the rear armrest are suitable for large bottles and some unusually wide glasses. And the pockets in the rear doors are no more than trouser. Still, the French did not have enough German thoroughness and a reverent attitude to the little things alas.
 
Dieselization of the whole country
With which the new Citroen does not have a shortage at all is with motors. Europeans can choose any of three gasoline and four diesel engines. We will not see only the weakest of this quartet.
Frankly, I personally about the absent eater of the diesel fuel with a capacity of only 110 liters. With. I will not miss. Truly the other was upset. The 2-liter gasoline version with the automatic transmission, which seemed to me optimal in absentia, is very slurred. For unhurried warriors of 143 horses, but when overtaking and as lifting, their redness disappears somewhere. And a 4-band automaton literally last century. Exactly such a box was put on Peugeot 406. And now, like a dozen years ago, the machine is very thoughtful, and on the rise is waiting to the last go to the lower step, when it should have already be sunk into two. In manual transmission mode, it changes faster, but there is no need to talk about any intelligible braking by the engine.
He is also noisy. At a press conference, the French lounged all their ears about how they tried to make the car quietly from Tikhon. And special noise -absorbing lins were installed, and multilayer glass, and the body of aerodynamic resistance of the body reduced as much as possible. But already at 3500 rpm, the 2-liter four howls that no sound insulation saves. It’s not noble somehow that comes out, not at all in German. It creates a complete impression that the French waved a hand on a 2-liter motor, they say who needs him this way.
But with a gasoline V-shaped six, C5 knows how to ride both rapidly, fast and solid-clear. The automatic box of such a machine about 6 steps and transmission changes when necessary and barely noticeable. In the cabin, at the same time silence, in a whisper you can talk.
But how much more interesting it is to drive a car with a diesel engine! It would seem, 173 l. With. The army is not great. Nevertheless, horses are not at all like a diesel dashing from the bottom. Naturally, in the hill you can crawl in 3rd gear at 1500 rpm. And the motor is spinning to 5000 rpm. Neither vibrations in the cabin, nor noise. And do not like the mechanical box, you can purchase a 208-horsepower version with automatic transmission. It turns out that the main work is being carried out on, and gasoline units from old reserves are obviously for the assortment.
From now on the plus
Of course, the improvements also affected the proprietary hydropneumatic suspension. Previously, C5 at the command of the driver or, depending on speed, increased or reduced road clearance. The latest hydrogenation III+ has learned to change the rigidity of shock absorbers depending on the driving style, the condition of the road, longitudinal and transverse accelerations.
As a useful thing this is, I understood when, not including the sports regime, I famously screwed it into the turn. Citroen did not think to fall to one side, only a little tilted. Indeed, no sport button is needed. With a calm driving style, the suspension C5 is elastic, like a water mattress, and the fossa with the joints of the asphalt refuses to notice. It is worth starting to active a rather sharp steering contributes to a fairly sharp steering! Hydrofict will tenses the muscles stronger. But even in this case, the bumps of C5 passes without a shaking soul exhausting.
Moreover, for the most affordable versions, the French developed another type of suspension. No, this time the most ordinary springs. As it seemed to me, in terms of energy intensity, they are very close to hydropneumatics in combat mode are harsh, but acceptable comfortable.
So what did the fighter take place? Will the ambitions of the new C5 about German redoubts, like waves about the sharp stones of Cape Rock? Perhaps in Russia, Citroen will still be difficult to compete with cars from Stuttgart or Wolfsburg. Status appearance, rich finish, good sorcerer comfort, of course, significant advantages. However, among the popular gasoline engines in Russia, only the most expensive endows the car with adequate dynamics. The diesel engines are good, but they don’t complain about them.
The main price. So far, they do not call specific numbers in the representative office, but they said that the cheapest C5 in France and it is unlikely that we will have more accessible cars from 21,500. That is, at least 785,000 rubles. And this, excuse me, is the price of a well-equipped 122-horsepower passat. However, after all, the French decided to beat the Germans with their own weapons.
 
For two
As before, except for the sedan, C5 has a station wagon body. The salon and tour has the same gasoline motors with a capacity of 127 to 215 and diesel engine in 138 208 liters. With. The basic equipment includes seven airbags, including the knee for the driver, ABS, ESP, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, MP3 magnet. In Russia, it will be possible to order a navigation system, and for the station wagon an electric drive of the rear door.
 
 
Citroen C5 2.0i (2.2HDI)
common data
 
Body, number of places/doors
Sedan, 5/4
 
Equipped mass, kg
1583 (1721)
 
Length x width x height, mm
4779x1860x1451
 
Base, mm
2815
 
Front/back, mm track
1587/1558
 
Speed, km/h
205 (219)
 
Acceleration 0-100 km/h, with
11.7 (9.2)
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
8.9/12.7 (6.5/8.8)
 
The volume of the fuel tank, l
71
 
Engine
 
Location
Front transversely
 
Design
Control, 4-cylinder (diesel)
 
Working volume, SMZ
1997 (2179)
 
Power, L.S. at rpm
143/6000 (173/4000)
 
Torque, kgsm at rpm
20.4/4000 (37.7/1500)
 
Chassis
 
Drive unit
On the front wheels
 
Transmission
4-st. Automatic (6-st. Mechanical)
 
Suspension:
Independent hydropneumatic
 
Suspension: in front
on double triangular transverse levers
 
behind
Mollycent
 
Steering
rack type with amplifier
 
Brakes
disk, in front ventilated
 
Tires
225/56 R76
+
Spectacular appearance; expensive decoration materials; a large selection of engines and pre -equipment; amazing smoothness with hydropneumatic suspension; spacious salon; good handling and brakes
 
-
Weak gasoline 4-cylinder engines; small pockets in the rear doors; uncomfortable cup holders; high price
 
 
Andrey Koltun, photo of the author
 

Source: Magazine buy a car [03/2008]