Citroen C5 Tourer

Citroen has succeeded in giving the all-new C5 Tourer a prestige image with a more sculptured and muscular styling lines for the long, sleek body. All it has to do is convert the new image into sales. Sharing the front-end styling of the saloon version the Tourer is characterised by a sculpted rear that unites style with load space. At 4.83m long and 1.86m wide, the Tourer maintains the elegant front appearance of the Saloon, but with added room and functionality at the rear.

The C5 looks a classy vehicle and the plush and well-equipped interior is a considerable move up-market.  It feels a true five-seater, bordering on ‘premium’ class and there is a huge load area in the Tourer. For the driver the new C5 introduces the second-generation fixed-centre controls steering wheel introduced first with the C4 models.  Standard equipment includes stability control, seven airbags, a collapsible pedal assembly to reduce foot injuries in an accident, cruise control with speed limited and air conditioning. Citroen say particular attention has been paid to soundproofing, so the ride is as quiet as it traditionally comfortable with big Citroen passenger cars. Next to the very acceptable styling changes the quietness within the C5 from engine and road noise are the most praiseworthy features and the laminated acoustic glass significantly cuts down on wind noise.

The C5 range is offered in a choice of three trim levels- SX, VTR+ and exclusive and just like the saloon; the Tourer is extremely well specified. There is a wide choice of engines in keeping with the varied requirements of fleet, business and retail customers. Petrol engines are the 127bhp 1.8i and 143bhp 2.0i-litre units and there are four turbodiesel units with 110, 138, 173bhp outputs and a V6 208bhp unit. Automatic transmission options are also available for some models, depending on equipment specification, with 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre and 2.7-litre V6 diesel engines.  The diesel units, shared with Peugeot under the PSA banner plus Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, are the pick of the bunch. Most customers will opt for the 2.0-litre 138bhp turbodiesel unit, which in the C5 Tourer gives a top speed of 124mph, 0-62mph takes 12.1 seconds with 46.3mpg being the official average fuel economy. To maximise on obtaining the best possible fuel consumption and the lowest possible CO2 emissions Citroen has applied high ratios for fifth and sixth gears in the manual gearbox. This means that on the open road and motorways the 2.2HDI Tourer is really at its best. It coasts along quietly and effortlessly at 70mph just using 2,000rpm. However once on busier A and B roads the high gearing means considerable use of the gear change and on many occasions driving in fourth gear in slower traffic is required.

There is little to choose between the conventional coil spring suspension layout and the ‘magic carpet’ ride offered by the optional Hydractive 3 Plus system but many current C5 owners changing to the new models will want the traditional Citroen big-car comfort feel. The steering is light at low speeds making parking easier, firming up at higher speeds providing good feedback to the driver. Citroen UK say they expect around 70 per cent of customers to opt for the dampers and coil spring suspension. The Tourer’s boot offers 505 litres of load capacity making it one of the most spacious in the segment. When the rear seats are folded, the capacity increases to a total volume of 1,462 litres. Whilst the design certainly looks elegant due to its sleek, wide and low stance, the relatively small side windows combined with the wide pillars reduces visibility out of the car. The new Citroen C5 is a marked improvement over the outgoing model. It is a significant step up in design, quality, comfort and overall refinement. 

Citroen Berlingo Multispace

Launched in 1998, the Citroen Berlingo Multispace has become one of Citroen's most popular vehicles, selling 53,000 in the UK alone, and more than one million in total. Many badge snobs look past the Berlingo Multispace and its kind when looking for an MPV; unable to get past the cars' van-derived heritage, but the new Berlingo Multispace is a different beast entirely this isn't just a van with windows. It boasts the same construction architecture and running gear as the award winning C4 Picasso MPV it not only performs and handles like a modern passenger car, rather than a commercial vehicle, it looks smarter and it is larger, but still not too large to be classed as a ‘compact’ people carrier.

In a world where low running costs and practicality are prime considerations for buying a sensible vehicle for active families, or a car that doubles as a workhorse, the Multispace fits the bill. It may not be totally stylish with Citroen’s usual passenger car flair, but it has a certain practical charm and will appeal to people who buy a car with their head not their heart. The Multispace is offered with three trim levels, and five engine options - two petrol 1.6i 16v (90bhp or 110bhp) and three diesel. All diesel engines are 1.6 HDi units, the principal difference being their power outputs, 75, 90 and 110 bhp, and consequent performance. All come with five-speed manual transmission.

Everything about the Multispace is practical. Its longer wheelbase but compact overall 4.3-metre length, combined with easy-to-use rear side sliding doors, makes it user friendly and very spacious. Add to that the huge load area and the option to fold or take out the rear seats and the load space is at worst large and at best huge, up to 3,000-litres. There are lots of internal storage areas, including the roof section, so the practicality of the vehicle seems endless.

The only complaint I have is there was limited room for my left foot there just wasn’t enough space to get my foot on the rest which is too close to the clutch. I guess this is down to the left hand drive initial design which for the driving position doesn’t convert so easily to right hand drive. I have to admit I’m over six feet tall so it won’t apply to all buyers. Thankfully there was plenty of headroom. Over all Citroen has done more than enough to keep its value MPV at the top of its class

Citroen C6

The Citroen C6 is the leading executive car of the Citroen vehicle series. Famous due to former French president Jacques Chirac owning an original model, the Citroen C6 is highly respected as a refined luxury car. It offers drivers a wide range of technologically-advanced options including a heads-up display, a lane departure warning system, directional xenon headlights and a rear spoiler which can adjust itself depending on the speed at which the car travels. Two V6 engines are available, both of them offered with a six-speed automatic transmission. The 3.0-litre petrol engine offers 212bhp. It sprints from 0-62mph in a moderately brisk 9.4 seconds and reaches 143mph flat out. The 2.7-litre turbodiesel offers 205bhp and beats the petrol model to 62mph by half a second. It also has a top speed of 143mph.

Set for comfort the C6 has a complex active suspension system designed to prevent vibrations from the road reaching the occupants from the tyres through the suspension, right up to the seats. Instead of conventional metal springs it uses an electronically controlled hydraulic suspension system, with two stiffness level and 16 damper settings. While the system is set up for comfort, it automatically firms up when the driver uses harsher acceleration and braking. It can also detect and distinguish between different types of road and adjusts its settings for maximum comfort. The steering is generally light and easy to use, but it does gain weight and feel as speed increases and is reasonably direct at less than three turns between the locks.

The C6 will carry four or five people very comfortably, while the suspension absorbs pretty much any bump or obstacle thrown at it, the airy interior of the C6 is a thoroughly pleasant place to spend time. The automatic climate control has 'soft diffusion' which ensures a less aggressive airflow to eliminate draughts and laminated, double glazed side windows do a great job of helping deliver a virtually silent interior environment on the move. Engine noise is equally subdued whether choosing petrol or diesel. Choosing the Lounge Pack option changes the rear to a two-seat bench with electrically adjustable seating positions and to maximise rear leg room there is a button in the rear armrest to motor the front passenger seat forward when unoccupied.

Three trim levels are available featuring nine airbags (driver, passenger, four lateral, two curtain and a steering column 'bag), electrically-operated front seats, an MP3-compatible audio system with colour screen, speed sensitive rear spoiler, alloy wheels and automatic operation of the headlamps and wipers, as well as automatic climate control and an electronic parking brake. The higher specification C6 Lignage has a head-up display, front and rear parking sensors and directional xenon headlamps, which make for better night-time visibility around corners. The range-topping C6 Exclusive adds heated front and rear leather seats, wood and chrome trim, satellite navigation, lane departure warning and a premium audio system with a six-CD autochanger.

The C6 interior is very upmarket with grey wood trim on the dashboard and superbly designed door bins help create the luxury car ambience along with the dark dashboard top and controls in the centre. Visibility is good with slim window pillars towards the rear of the car, while the concave rear window doesn't seem to cause much distortion. It seems appropriate that most of the main instruments have LED readings and it is possible to choose a C6 with a head-up display which projects speed, the main warning lights and the next sat-nav direction on to the windscreen. Citroen’s history of producing remarkably beautiful and comfortable large cars delivers something unique and exclusive to the executive world of motoring.

Citroen C2

The eye catching C2 1.6HDi VTS has distinctive and contemporary styling, conveying an individualistic and adventurous little character. This little beauty offers an unbeatable combination of punchy performance, low emissions and money-saving fuel economy of well over 60mpg. With its refined 110hp 1.6HDi engine, and 5-speed manual gearbox, this new C2 boasts a 0-62mph time of 9.4 seconds and a top speed of 120mph. It also delivers 80% more torque than its petrol stablemate.

The sports styling emphasises the performance qualifications of this model, which is the first diesel supermini to sport the VTS insignia. Importantly, the C2 1.6HDi VTS also has excellent green credentials offering a frugal 64mpg on the combined cycle and with CO2 emissions of just 119g/km, the new VTS model presents an environmentally conscious alternative in the hot hatch market. This means that the model falls into one of the Government’s lowest bands for Vehicle Excise Duty - Band B.

Complementing its sporty image, environmental credentials and fun-to-drive handling the HDi VTS comes with all the trimmings too - smart 16” ‘Cheetah’ alloy wheels, a chrome-effect exhaust tailpipe, spoiler, body-coloured side rubbing strips and bumpers, aluminium-effect door handles, alloy pedals, front fog lights, tinted windows, rev counter, racy red-accented upholstery - plus a comprehensive specification including side airbags, stability control, alarm, air conditioning and a CD player.

The stiffened suspension with additional rear anti-roll bar and wider wheels of the C2 VTS translate to a responsive driving experience - just how you expect a hot hatch to be. The VTS is responsive and controllable: it corners confidently and it grips like glue to the road. Ride quality isn't especially harsh either so it will cope easily with those drive-thru speed humps. The C2 VTS looks good, it’s tightly priced, affordable to insure and is fun to drive.

Citroen C-Crosser

Citroen has never sold an off-roader before, but that hasn't stopped the C-Crosser being a cracker. It's stylish, comfortable inside and good to drive. C-Crosser is a big, roomy; car and can comfortably seat five with lots of head and legroom. The two seats in the third row are designed for children only - Citroen describes the C-Crosser as a 5+2 rather than a fully-blown seven-seater. When in five-seat mode, there's a decent amount of luggage space. The second row of seats folds quickly and easily to create a car with impressive load carrying ability (they also slide forward for extra room). The second row of seats are split 60:40 and the tailgate opening is split, allowing a flat loading area with the lower portion open.

The PSA 2.2 litre diesel engine which is lean and green with low CO2 emissions and a Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS) offers a good combination of performance, economy and environmental protection. The 2.2-litre156 bhp HDi diesel engine features direct common-rail injection and is capable of using a 30% mixture of biodiesel without any modifications. Delivering a driving experience that is both dynamic and pleasurable, the engine boasts impressive fuel economy and emissions performance, among the best in the SUV sector. Top speed is 124mph and 0-62mpg is covered in just 9.9 seconds. The engine is combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox to make the best use of the high-torque characteristics of the 2.2-litre HDi diesel engine.The C-Crosser is surprisingly agile for its size and capable of covering ground on back roads quickly. It feels stable at all times with surprisingly little body roll for a large 4x4. Grip is also good, making it possible to corner quickly. The steering is responsive and not too heavy at parking speeds.

The C-Crosser on-demand 4WD system enables the driver to select three modes of drive, while on the move. First is Permanent 2WD, intended for normal tarmac use, with all power directed to the front wheels. In Automatic 4WD, engine torque is delivered automatically to wheels that require the most traction at any time. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation however, you might need to select Permanent 4WD. This set-up splits torque 50:50 between front and rear wheels. The idea of all this technology is to give the Citroen C-Crosser the best of both worlds, enabling it to tackle reasonably rough terrain, yet still provide acceptable on-road dynamic behaviour and competitive fuel economy. The C-Crosser continues Citroens’ reputation for producing engaging cars with dynamic and safe road characteristics.

Citroën C4 Picasso 'Alive with technology'

When Citroën launched the Xsara Picasso in 2000 the Compact MPV sector was in its infancy, now MPVs’ represent a remarkable one in ten of all cars sold in the UK. However, the massive recent growth in this market has principally been down to the rise of the Compact MPV, with sales exploding from zero to well over 200,000 in the space of a decade. There are two versions of the C4 Picasso a five-seat version and a larger seven-seat version both versatile and well suited to family life. Here we review the C4 1.6HDi 110hp EGS VTR+ this is the seven-seat version.

With its sleek exterior lines, huge glazed area and uncluttered interior the new C4 Picasso sees Citroën stretching the boundaries of design once again. Looking at the C4 Picasso, the eyes are immediately drawn to the abundance of glass wrapped around the vehicle. This is most noticeable at the front, where the windscreen stretches back over the driver’s head, but equally extends to the large side windows. The result is that the cabin is extraordinarily light – especially welcome on overcast days – when it helps brighten the interior. Visibility is excellent and there are extra large sunblinds that pull down for extra shade.

The designers have worked hard to create an uncluttered look and feel in the front of the car. Take, for example, the steering wheel, only the rim moves, the boss remains stationary. That means all the function buttons it contains are in a fixed position, which is handy, as there are up to four discrete clusters: audio controls, cruise control and speed limiter and multi-function display controls. In common with a few other cars, the digital speedo is contained within a centrally mounted translucent display, which also includes a fuel gauge, water temperature gauge, odometer, speed-limiter settings, and so on. Nothing new there, except there is: the translucent display is light-sensitive, which means that it is always sharply legible, regardless of light conditions.

The new C4 Picasso is available with a choice of four proven engines - two petrol and two diesel and two transmissions, depending on model a 5-speed manual gearbox or a hi-tech 6-speed electronic gearbox system.
The C4 offers a driving experience to match any of its mainstream rivals. Safe, sure-footed and responsive, it carries the Citroen name forward with distinction.