Citroen DS5 review (16/05/2012)
Cars used to be easily categorised, particularly the family car segment. The advent of MPV, crossovers and SUVs has muddied the waters so the choice open to punters is seemingly infinite.
Manufacturers are devising new and fiendishly original machines with a singular appeal. The Skoda Superb and the Volkswagen Passat CC (reviewed here last week) are examples of this trend, cars with few competitors.
Citroen are further outside the box: the DS5 creates a new market. I call it the ‘sub-compact executive’ segment.
The compact executive market is populated by the Audi A4, the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class; the DS5 slots into an area just south of those machines, somewhere between the Ford Mondeo and the C-Class.
Citroen’s aim is a highly desirable machine heavy on unique design features, with eye-catching styling, fantastic interiors and a bespoke feel. Most cars that achieve what the DS5 has achieved are nothing short of bizarre and never progress further than the drawing board, or concept production at best.
What Citroen has achieved is unique.
While its DS3 and DS4 models are based firmly on the standard versions of the C3 and C4, the DS5 bears little or no relation to the C5. But, despite this problem, the Citroen designers have contrived a car that is startling in its originality.
If the exterior is eye-catching, then the interior is mind-boggling.
Take the cockpit roof. It comes in three parts — glass sunroof, electric sunblinds and aviation-style cockpit, and when you marry it to the quirky upholstery and the thoughtfully designed switchgear and instrumentation, you have the feeling that rarely, if ever before, has a manufacturer put so much time and effort into the interior décor of a mainstream car.
There are shortcomings in the design as the split A-pillars are still meaty and impede visibility, particularly at junctions, while the high-set and narrow rear windscreen also negates rearward vision. Rear leg room is not extensive.
But these minor shortcomings are overshadowed by the ‘wow’ factor when you sit into the car. Many mainstream cars are blighted by the manufacturer’s beady eye on the bottom line, but you feel that the DS — and each of the individual interior components — was crafted for the enjoyment of the user.
You don’t have that feeling from many cars, but you do on this one.
With the 120 kW (160 bhp) two-litre turbodiesel and 320 Nm of torque, you have a unit with very strong mid-range prowess and a claimed 5.1 l/100 km economy figure over the combined cycle, which is in the 54 mpg ballpark.
It seemed to me that the exhaust note was tuned to have a more sophisticated sound, but while I might be wrong on that, you still won’t be disappointed by the noise it makes.
All of this is very good — particularly so for Citroen. But there’s a downside regarding the car’s behaviour on the road.
Sadly, Citroen has foregone the multi-link rear suspension one might expect from a luxury machine and the DS5 has a torsion-beam system instead, with the predictable MacPherson strut layout at the front.
The ride of the car is mediocre at best and unsettling when you press on. The handling is average and feels fidgety and uncomfortable when asked questions. All of this is terribly disappointing in the overall context of the car.
The DS5 marks a sea-change for Citroen. It offers brilliant exterior and interior design dynamics and a fine engine, but fails to cut the mustard with ride and handling.
It is a pity that Citroen, having taken so many strides forward with this machine, has failed to cap it off with the final characteristics that would have earmarked it as an instant classic.
I was truly smitten with almost everything about this car and am delighted that Citroen has created a smashing new niche for itself, but I left the car with the overriding impression that it might just have been so much better.
THE Cork motoring scene is going to see considerable change in the coming months following the announcement late last week that Hyundai has appointed Keary’s as its main dealer in Cork City from Jun 1.
Keary’s of Cork has been operating for years from its Kinsale Road roundabout site selling Toyota and Lexus products. In 2011 the business also took on a Renault franchise.
Now, however, Toyota Ireland has appointed Grandon’s of Glanmire as a main dealer, and Macroom Motors will open a new dealership on the southside of Cork City in the near future. These appointments will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
This will give Toyota a strategic boost with dealerships on both the north and south side of Cork city.
Hyundai has confirmed the appointment of Keary’s as its new dealer and it is understood that existing Hyundai dealers in Cork have been given 12 months notice their contracts will not be renewed.
Peugeot Sport has revealed the new 208 R2, which last week opened the road for competing cars on the Tour de Corse, the fourth round of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Peugeot Sport driver Stephane Sarrazin and co-driver Benjamin Veillas drove the hot hatch ahead of the field at the event before staying on in Corsica for a week of testing.
Peugeot Sport has fitted a new 1.6 litre 185bhp engine to the 208 R2, based on the 1.6 VTi power unit that will be available on some versions of the new Peugeot 208, due for launch in Ireland this summer, and will come with variable valve timing (VVT) for the intake and exhaust.
Engineers worked to reduce the weight of the body shell to bring down the centre of gravity, optimise where the weight is located and reduce the inertia of the car with short overhangs.
The 208 R2 will also feature a newly developed gearbox. A five-speed,
manual, sequential gearbox with the lever mounted on the steering column is fitted and represents a significant evolution for a car of this class in which the gearshift is usually mounted on the floor.
The lever is much shorter and positioned higher to allow a more direct and precise shift. Hydraulic steering allows greater precision and greater feedback of information particularly on loose surfaces whilst the wishbone suspension improves traction.
The newly-developed engine, carefully designed aerodynamics, low bodyshell weight and new gearbox all work together to result in significant fuel consumption savings.
The gravel and asphalt versions of the R2 will both be available in kit form or in fully built form from Nov 2012 from Peugeot Sport.
The Peugeot 208 R2 will be the first of three sporting versions of the new 208 that Peugeot intends to reveal in 2012, one of which will be a replacement for the 207 Super 2000 rally car.
Opel has revealed the official name of the Opel “Junior”, the company’s new stylish urban car that will have its world premiere at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September. It will be called the ‘Adam.’ Adam Opel was, of course, the founder of the Opel company.
To read more visit the Opel Facebook page or see a video on YouTube for more information.
Renault has announced the arrival here of an unusual MPV.
The new Grand Scénic Bose, available in 1.6dCi Start & Stop, is now available at Renault dealerships and has a special Bose audio system which is specifically designed for the Scénic and gives a unique acoustic experience close to that of a live performance. Every seat has its own Bose speakers.
1.6 dCi 130 Stop & Start boasts 20% better fuel consumption than its former 1.9 dCi 130 stablemate, together with greater performance and even lower emissions (Tax Band A).
Both Renault Scénic and Grand Scénic, Europe’s number one compact MPVs are manufactured in Douai, in northern France, where they benefit from the most exacting production standards to guarantee the highest
level of quality.
You can purchase your new Grand Scénic Bose version from Renault
Finance and get peace of mind with 5 years unlimited mileage warranty.
The new Scénic range starts from 23,990 RRP, while the Grand Scénic Bose Edition 1.6 130 bhp Stop & Start edition is 32,390 + options.
The new 1.6 dCi engine falls into Tax Band A.
