Citroen C5 Tourer test drive since 2008

Than Subaru Legacy worse than Citroen C5, Renault Laguna and VW Passat

The assault on the middle class: Citroen wants to win the market with its new C5, and Subaru intends to significantly increase Legacy sales thanks to the new diesel engine. Can both beginners resist the fight against VW Passat and Renault Laguna?
The winner Citroen C5 has not yet become. Over seven years, only about 50,000 copies found in Germany the owners in the person of fans of the French automobile industry. From now on, everything will be different: a new design and the best quality should correct the current situation. The French do not deny that manufacturers are on the other side of the Rhine they are guided by German models (here the Germans were in a friendly manner of fasting over the French - approx. Drom.ru). So the stylistic similarities of cars are not at all accidental. Subaru for the first time decided to attract the attention of German buyers, in love with diesel engines, an opposition diesel and thus increase the popularity of Legacy. Are both opponents strong enough to compete with representatives of the middle class VW Passat and Renault Laguna?
Body and equipment
At first glance, a high waist line and a weighty dashboard make the C5 cabin, but in practice it is very spacious. Renault and VW are also not sinful. But in Subaru there is much less space. Luggage car offices contain from 433 liters (Subaru) to 565 liters (VW). Only Renault has a back door (hatchback body), and, folding the rear seats, 1,337 liters of baggage can be loaded into this car. In the new Citroen C5 now there is no back door, instead of it the usual lid of the trunk. For large -sized cargoes in Citroen, as in Passat'e, an asymmetrically separated folding back of the rear seat is provided. Subaru does not offer such an alternative.
Citroen made a huge jerk towards improving quality. Materials and decoration look solid, which allows the C5 to get around Renault and even approach the level of VW, which, according to tradition, is a standard in this test. Some cheap materials and wide joints spoil the picture decently lags behind this parameter.
In addition, the Japanese is inferior to his competitors in terms of security. Subaru does not have much modern equipment at all, for example, rear airbags, light sensor or tire puncture. She does not have protection against injuries, which is provided for glass windows with electric drive and will not allow children to pinch their fingers.
On the steering wheel of Citroen'a there are more than a dozen buttons, in particular, to control the radio, cruise control and the on-board computer, only the compass is not enough, and this solution certainly cannot be called convenient. This applies to many too small buttons on the central console.
Comfort on the road
Comfort has long been considered the prerogative of the French. And C5 is no exception, but at first it was equipped with a regular chassis with steel springs. Hydropneumatic suspension refers to serial equipment equipment Comfort, which, however, does not cost more than the Tendance option for the 2.0 HDI engine. On a broken asphalt, C5 rides, as if on a soft carpet, showing that Citroen can masterfully configure even an ordinary car. According to this parameter, C5 was equal to Passat. Laguna, on the contrary, passes this area with less smoothness, and sometimes pierces the suspension at full load. Small waves of the road surface are turning for Subaru passengers into rally, and in general the Japanese provides its passengers with too detailed information about the state of asphalt.
Compared to the predecessor of C5, the French noticeably improved seats. Now they have a more convenient shape and good lateral support. In exclusive configuration, there is even a massage function. Laguna seats differ in good shape, but they are too soft. Subaru and VW front seats passengers have to constantly fidget, since the chairs do not have lateral support. The most comfortable rear seats were Passat.
Ez5 flaws are observed in the field of ergonomics: there are no compact messages in the cabin, nor buttons that include heating of the seats. In this regard, VW from Wolfsburg looks in the best light. But Citroen leaves a pleasant impression of his sound insulation. Almost just as quiet in the Laguna and Passat salon.
Engine and transmission
Of the two liters of the working volume of engines, candidates draw from 136 hp. (Citroen) up to 150 hp (Renault, Subaru). They have enough power to develop a speed of more than 200 km/h. With the new Subaru opposite diesel, it accelerates best, and also turns out to be the most economical competitor (6.3 l/100 km). The opposition engine is responsive, but it has a narrower shelf of torque than that of the Renault and VW engines, which are able to reach 5,000 rpm. The Japanese rides relatively smoothly, however, when loading, the engine noise is sometimes annoyed. In addition, from time to time, excessively vibrates at idle.
The best impression is made by the Laguna engine. It undoubtedly belongs to the quietest and smoother 4-cylinder diesel engines that can be bought. But, unfortunately, the high fuel consumption (7.5 liters per 100 km) slightly spoiled the picture. The Citroen'a engine with a flow rate of 7.3 liters per 100 km is also not an example to follow in terms of economy, in addition, it can hardly cope with a large weight of the car (1,640 kg). But at the same time, he works almost as skillfully as the Renault diesel.
The 140-horsepower TDI Passat engine has beneficial to change the settings of the injector nozzles. The result of these transformations was a more smooth move and higher revolutions, while increasing the fuel consumption was avoided. Passat consumes only 6.3 liters per 100 km and, thanks to this, has a range of 1,093 km at one tank gas station. In addition, a native of Wolfsburg is ready to boast of the best transmission. Subaru checkpoint with a quick gear shift works roughly.
Dynamics
Participants in the test are capable of developing a torque of over 300 nm, but this circumstance can lead to a significant overload of transmission of front -wheel drive cars. Therefore, Legacy, the four -wheel drive of which is included in the stock package, has a significant advantage. Even on a wet coating, it realizes its potential almost without slipping. The mobile Japanese shows neutral rotation, so he does not scour along the road. But his steering wheel is not informative enough. This quality also characterizes Renault, but thanks to his maneuverability, he also deftly passes turns. Citroen differs in more lethargic behavior, it turns a little worse at the limit of clutch with the road surface and, although neatly, is still too early slowed down by the ESP system.
Citroen's control is necessary to turn the steering wheel strongly, which is why the car can simply expand the car on a winding road. Passat management is much more accurate. Of course, the VW is more obedient, but in the turns, following one by one, it brings its body. Meanwhile, ESP provides him with sufficient freedom. When braking, Citroen again receives the largest number of points. Both with cooled and with heated brakes, he stops after 36 meters.
Prices
If we compare the prices of the participants, then Subaru turns out to be the most expensive car, but it appears in full configuration. The stock model is even painted in the color of metallic. When buying a VW for such painting, you will have to pay separately. The cost of the basic configuration of Passat is approaches 30,000 euros. Renault Laguna is cheaper than 2,165 euros. Laguna is profitable not only when buying, but also in terms of loss of cost: in accordance with the requirements of the German automobile trust, the price of a car that has been in ownership for more than four years and has a mileage of 80,000 km should be reduced by 14,518 euros . The maximum loss of value is observed in Subaru 16,548 euros. According to the forecasts of the ADAC German automobile club, the owners of VW and Citroen will have the least on the maintenance of their cars, and Passat and Laguna are most profitable in insurance. So in this standings Renault deservedly wins.
Conclusion
Bravo, Citroen! Having won the second place, the French showed that the new C5 would still make itself felt. Advanced quality, greater comfort and excellent braking give him a head start. But management and ergonomics leave much to be desired.
The Renault Laguna affordable, which took third place, can be an alternative to those who mainly appreciate maneuverability in the car, but are ready to sacrifice their comfort. Smaller compromises will have to go to those who liked the harmonious, but the most expensive winner of the VW Passat test.
A new opposition diesel engine is a good solution for Subaru and, above all, for its efficiency. Full -wheel drive gives Legacy reliability and almost sports management. However, in terms of parameters such as comfort and spaciousness, as well as the cost, the Japanese still lags behind.
The results of the test
Model scored points (Max. 5,000)
VW Passat 2.0 TDI 3 055
Citron C5 HDI 135 FAP 3 010
Renault Laguna 2.0 DCI FAP 3 002
Subaru Legacy 2.0d 2 915

Prices in Russia
VW Passat with a 2.0-liter diesel engine costs from 966,765 rubles. The diesel Citroen C5, according to information from the official website, today costs at least 876,000 rubles. (This is taking into account the discount of 60 thousand rubles), and Renault Laguna with a diesel engine of 906,300 rubles. Subaru is supplied to Russia only by the gasoline versions of the Legacy sedan, the cost of which begins with 987,600 rubles for the simplest package with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A source: Autozeitung.de