USED CAR REVIEW
CITROËN C5 TOURER (2008-2016)
A great drive, the C5 is a bargain if you do your homework first, says Euan Doig
A
B
WHEN THIS GENERATION of C5 was launched, Citroën was keen to flaunt how it had managed to make the car… German. Yup, that most chic of French brands bade farewell to Gallic flair and focused on Germanic quality and efficiency.
The car’s appearance had a certain Teutonic robustness, while build quality showed a significant improvement over that of older Citroëns (A).
But Citroën didn’t abandon all of its historical principles with the C5, so instead of focusing on the usual German attributes of ‘sporty’ driving experience and attendant ‘compromised’ ride quality, the French brand made the car comfortable and quiet.
If you have a long way to go, as most tow car drivers do, and want peace and comfort, take a look at the C5 Tourer (B).
Model history
In the mid-2000s, Citroën was seen as a bit of an also-ran. Models such as the C5 were not just off the pace, they were dull. For so long the standard-bearer for unusual, quirky design, Citroën had lost its way.