Citroen C5 X review

Good question. It is, on paper at least, Citroen's flagship. The French firm has a tradition of big eccentric cars, and the C5 X is its latest. But what it actually is... well, in some ways it's a big hatchback, except the tail end is longer and there's no loading sill, so you could use it as an estate. The body is raised up slightly like a crossover's, and there's a bit of lower body cladding. But the roof isn't as high as a crossover's and the drag and weight are lower. It's also quite hulking in the metal.

So it's a bit of many things but not wholly anything, except, Citroen thinks, a new thing.

So does it look a bit of a mongrel?

It's a confidently handsome thing. For sure it doesn't look like anything else. You wouldn't say 'there's an estate' or 'there's a crossover'. The face allows it to be recognisable as a modern Citroen, while the interestingly shaped arches and floating roof give some intrigue to the side profile. The rear end gets more LED lights and no fewer than two spoilers. The drag coefficient is an impressive 0.29.

Is it a boat to drive?

Despite the height and softness, the C5 X doesn't go all Marie Rose at the first corner. Not at all. The steering's really well done, and roll is well checked. It manages to feel both substantial yet light – especially the three-cylinder petrol one.

Whatever you look for in your car, Citroen is to be applauded for offering something a bit different, and we like how the C5 X quite overtly focuses on comfort, and does it well. It encourages you to be smooth and progressive with your driving to get the best out of the set-up.

And of course the powertrains are pretty critical to the experience here. The C5 X is available with a 1.2-litre 128bhp petrol paired with an eight-speed auto gearbox – straightforward and pleasant enough – plus a 1.2-litre 48V mild hybrid setup, which we haven’t yet tested here, but have in the C5 Aircross, and found pretty good.

There's also a plug-in hybrid, which does miracles for fuel economy on short trips, and BIK tax, and gives you lovely silent urban electric running. But on curvy roads it casts a miserable shadow on throttle response, gearchange strategy and braking progression. Don't say we didn't warn you. Click through to the Driving tab for more.

How much will it cost me?

In the UK prices start at £28,236 for the base spec petrol-powered C5 X. That puts it in the ballpark of a fair number of estate and crossover rivals, although it is a lot of car for the money. Top end is the fully loaded PHEV at £43,290.

If you’re worried about depreciation (it’s a big Citroen, so of course you are) then Citroen says it should hold its value better than before. Will the C5 X be the same? Only time will tell.

What are its rivals?

Good question. Citroen does quote a few – things like the Skoda Superb Estate, the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake and the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake. And that’s before you enter the world of many crossover options in the same price bracket.

Just because there's nothing like it doesn't mean it has no rivals. When you look at what people might own – a budget-brand big estate, or a midsize crossover most likely – the C5 X is fine value. Always a good start, especially for a French flagship.

It's also a very pleasant thing to sit in, to ride in and – more of a surprise this – to drive. It doesn't feel like a redressed Peugeot 508 either. It has a definite, comfortable character of its own.

Despite TG’s best efforts over the years to point out that crossovers aren't great to drive, they keep taking over the family car world. That very dominance is making them even more boring. The C5 X is a better driving, more interesting alternative.