Driven: Citroen DS5 DSport BlueHDi 180 Review

DRIVEN: Citroen DS5 DSport BlueHDi 180 Review

Following a week long test of the Citroen DS5 here is my review on this range topping car.

What’s the Citroen DS5 DSport BlueHDi 180 all about?

The Citroen DS5 is the family sized super futuristic car which is a brilliant alternative to, what could be considered, a dull market.

Citroen DS5 BlueHDI 180

The exterior design of the Citroen DS5 is possibly the most exciting of the entire DS range, they certainly haven’t held back with any styling features. The DS5 still fits in nicely with the styling of the rest of the DS range. However the DS5 does have a few unique features including the wide sporty grill, and those vents either side between the day light running lights and the fog lights, and not to forget those  touches of chrome along the lower side of the bonnet.

Citroen DS5 (21)

How does it drive?

The Citroen DS5 on test was the BlueHDI 180. The car was fitted with a 2.0-litre diesel engine that puts out 180bhp and 400Nm of torque. The power then goes through a six-speed automatic gearbox and drives the 18″ front alloy wheels.

Citroen DS5 (34)

Driving the DS5 is a fun and quirky experience, the car is a reasonable size and will easily seat five people in comfort as long as they are less than 6ft in the rear, but the external size of the car is no larger than a your average family hatch. So manoeuvring and getting used to the car is as simple as it can be. The power supplied by the 2.0-litre engine feels very energetic, there is plenty to get you moving as fast as you need to, but there is a sample of diesel clatter from the engine. However, I wasn’t too bothered about the noise as one of the major advantages of the BlueHDI is the improved fuel efficiency, using the stop/start technology that is incorporated into the car. When the car is at a standstill, waiting in traffic, the engine will automatically cut off and will then start back up again when you lift your foot off the brake.

Citroen DS5 (62)

But just because it’s a family sized car and it has an economical engine doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in the DS5. The engine has plenty of oomph, and the handling set up doesn’t just improve ride quality but also feels very dynamic, and in the corners feels fairly flat and well controlled.

Citroen DS5 (72)

What’s it like inside?

The Citroen DS5 is as good on the inside as it is outside; it has a futuristic design that literally goes from ceiling to floor. One of the most unique features of the interior is the three panoramic sunroofs that you get. The entire roof is made of glass. So on the inside this means that there are two independent sunroofs at the front, and one large one at the rear. This means that you and the passengers can enjoy the natural light or looking up at the stars throughout your journey. And each opening has its own motorised blind to either cover up or let the sun shine in.

Citroen DS5 (57)

Moving down to the dashboard of the car, we find the media system stationed in the middle of the dashboard, with a large and colourful screen. The controls for all of the entertainment and satnav options are both below the screen and just behind the gear stick, and the media controls are surrounded by six, almost spaceship style, switches that control windows and locks for the car.

Citroen DS5 BlueHDI 180

The flat bottomed steering wheel is well crafted and feels very premium to hold, the digital instruments behind it are well laid out and there are plenty of options to scroll through, to ensure you get the information you want displayed.

If you like technology, you will be pleased to see that there is a head up display that shows speed and satnav information, a great little feature.

Citroen DS5 (54)

My personal favourite part of the interior of the test model is the red leather seats; they look very luxurious and are beautifully smooth to the touch. The chairs were also extremely practical, being electrically adjustable, heated, and the driver’s side even includes a messaging feature – perfect for long journeys

Citroen DS5 (48)

The Experience

I was completely content with the time I had with the DS5. Everything about it was a little bit more impressive and interesting than I thought it would be.  I couldn’t get over how exciting the car was just to look at, let alone to drive. I particularly loved the rear design of the car more than anything, with the twin exhausts and the glass roof that flicks out into the spoiler; it’s very unique and an ingenious design.

Citroen DS5 (81)

The experience of living with the DS5 was a very feature rich one. There is no doubt that the DS5 is the best equipped car that Citroen have produced to date, it’s a dream to drive both in traffic and on the open road, and in these carbon saving focused times the 2.0-litre diesel engine that Citroen have fitted just makes sense.

Citroen DS5 BlueHDI 180

Verdict

I certainly believe that you can’t actually go wrong with a Citroen DS model, and the DS5 really knocks that point home.

I was impressed with the DS5 a lot more than I expected. Everything about the car just has a little bit more finesse and style than you would expect. One of the biggest factors going for the DS5 is that it isn’t as conventional as its German competitors, the Citroen DS5 actually looks a lot more like a concept car than a production car and we should respect Citroen for making these bold steps.

Citroen DS5 (19)

Video Highlights

Specification

Citroen DS5 DSport

  • Price: £35,360
  • Engine: 2.0-Litre turbocharged diesel
  • Power: 180bhp
  • Torque: 400Nm
  • Transmission: 6 Speed automatic
  • 0-62mph: 9.2 Seconds
  • Top speed: 137mph
  • Weight: 1,725kg
  • Economy combined: 62mpg
  • CO2: 128 g/km

Full Gallery7 Day Diary

Author: Paul Hadley