Why The 2007 Citroen C5 is WAY BETTER Than You Think

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Today I drive a car that as a young man I really coveted - the Citroen C5. In its second generation, the C5 underwent an incredible restyling and came out as a genuinely beautiful and rather Germanic car - but with some distinctly French touches.
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[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@chaospxl_]

my old IT teacher has one with the hydropneumatic suspension. I love his decision to drive that and keep it in his collection, especially because, well, the Citroen C5 is probably one of the most criminally underrated cars of it's size class.

[@JoJoJoker]

The USA is sorely lacking in wagons.

[@Billy.Cunningham]

They like their pick-ups suvs and overlanders. Much to the dismay of the wagon lovers over there.

[@TwoDollarGararge]

Every time they sell one unless it's some high-end German performance wagon it never sells well why make a wagon that sells like crap when you could make a truck and not have to do any marketing at all in someone will buy it

[@damilolaakanni]

You now have the Subaru Outback and the upcoming Toyota Crown Signia. They're clearly wagons, it's just that the companies that make them call them crossovers so that they can sell well. Then there's the V60 and V90 from Volvo, together with lifted versions of them. And the Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain and of course, the unaffordable AMG E63. There are not many options as compared to the 90's.

[@N1ckZ]

And that's a bad thing? Wagons look like hearses or sausage dogs and they scream to other people that you are a family person. I never liked them and never will.

[@roydied15]

Because they don’t have a *jeremy clarkson voice* “v8 motorrr.” For real though, Americans want the most massive of SUVs because they provide a false sense of security. Probably 90% of American truck and SUV owners never actually haul stuff or tow anything. They just wanna sit high up in the air and know they’ll absolutely annihilate anything they hit while uploading TikToks or sending selfies to their friends

[@lucwijngaard8413]

Citroën has chosen a more fun design style recently, probably looking to appeal to younger audiences and city use like their electric Ami. In my opinion this was their last true showing of French style, a big comfortable, well designed palace on wheels

[@redwithblackstripes]

The big Citroen saloon mega comfy thing is now under the DS brand.Although criticized as an abominable thing violating the DS name to appeal to the tasteless Chinese market i suspect that people in decades to come will look back on it and say "oh, yeah, theses were actually awesome, too bad people never bought any, they should make them again" Thus perpetuating the cycle of people wanting French brands to produce cars they'll never buy.

[@Too1998]

@@redwithblackstripes Adding to this, I feel like Citroën has actually dropped in quality to where Peugeot makes more luxurious cars than Citroën nowadays, and DS makes the 'luxury' cars.

[@redwithblackstripes]

@@Too1998 Most mid to up range Peugeot and Citroens although not identical have so much in common that it's almost the same car. Most of the difference comes from the design language and marketing, Peugeot is playing up to its old school heritage which was very much of quality style and reliability (yes believe it or not Peugeot was exactly that before the 00's) and Citroën being the fresh "bringing innovation to the masses" forward looking kind of brand its known for.

[@Too1998]

@@redwithblackstripes I mean, I do always say to my friends I really quite like Peugeots like the 205, 405 and even the 309. Those aren't exactly luxury staples but still I just really dig the styling on those.

[@Supraifyification]

@@redwithblackstripes What about the C5 X then?

[@darrenguest2170]

Good to see another French shed on the channel, much more interesting that all those boring old Ferraris.

[@chrisdooley1184]

I couldn’t agree more! I’m so tired of overpriced super cars and prefer these types of vehicles that are worth a second look like this 😊

[@frenchbred2081]

Indeed although I have both! French cars and Ferraris!

[@antiochiaadtaurum3786]

a French shed lol. I'm thinking to buy one tomorrow

[@The_BenboBaggins]

Massively underrated, and it's a real shame that estates fell out of fashion so hard!

[@davidcolin6519]

Absolutely. The estate form factor fits so many more scenarios than those absurdly ridiculous "SUVs", which are neither sporty, nor utility, but just an excuse to tack another 5K onto the price tag, while also seriously affecting all the dynamics. SUVs truly are an abomination. And yes, I'd have a C5 diesel estate any time. Unfortunately, there aren't many around that aren't stupidly priced where I am.

[@davidcolin6519]

@@tomaskroupakkfoto4132 What makes an SUV "Better"? For most users, these POSs never even get close to conditions in which their extra abilities are needed. FFS, I use an old Renault 5 on the kinds of roads that most people think they need an SUV for! And the dynamics of SUVs are horrendously compromised, and all for what? 5cm more ground clearance? 10? All that weight higher up, with longer travel suspension (that then has to be electronically controlled, solely to prevent the damned things from turning over? Then there's the extra weight. FFS, th econstant complaint is about EVs weighing so much more, but the 10 heaviest cars on UK roads do not include one single EV, because all those top spots are occupied by SUVs! They are an unmitigated disaster for the environment...AND dynamics

[@davidcolin6519]

@@tomaskroupakkfoto4132 But it is truly awful to drive. Practical? Do you never have to park such a vast car? Pay for its fuel? Tyres? Are you f*cking crazy? Practical? In which a vehicle the footprint of a medium sized van has the interior space of a f*cking FIESTA? In what the f,,, way is that practical?

[@TomasGraf-rr6co]

Corporations pushed SUV so they can sell the same stuff all over the world. Less choice, more profit.

[@davidcolin6519]

@@TomasGraf-rr6co And they charge 30% more for effectively the same car.

[@thestevenjaywaymusic7775]

I am British, but live in France, and have done so for twenty odd years. I had one of those cars. The ride is best ever! Really! Incredible, smooth and unbelievable on uneven roads. It also had a button to press if you wanted to raise the height, if for example there was a flooded road. I did use that on a few occasions. A wonderful addition. My only concern is that it manifested an electrical problem. When it got hot, it would not start again, until it had cooled down. Which meant, that if you drove for an hour to go to a store, and were in there for ten minutes, you would either have to wait for an hour, or open the bonnet and hope for the best. It would start if you were on a hill. Roll it down, put it in second gear, and when you reached a certain speed, lift the clutch pedal. Not always the best option. I went to the Citroen garage where it came from, and the mechanic’s answer was funny. ‘You either put up with it, or take it to the scrap yard. I am not going to take your money, because I could look for a week and never find the problem. That is just how electrics are with some French cars. C’est la vie.’ At least he was honest. Other than that it was a great car to drive.

[@arnoldmiga5689]

The problem you described usually means crankshaft position sensor on its way out

[@stephandolby]

@@arnoldmiga5689 I had my 208 1.6 e-HDi's timing belt changed last year just shy of its tenth birthday and that particular sensor was ballsed up during the change, displaying exactly the same symptoms after a drive of about 20-30 minutes, though you did have some warning - if the revs dropped and came back, that showed you had a few miles before it would conk out completely, and consequently was the best time to stop and let it cool down for a while. I also found that, if it did indeed conk out, you needed to wait a couple of minutes and it would allow you to restart the car and carry on for a few miles whilst it warmed up again.

[@KingofInterns]

Sounds like a very French reply from that mechanic. Perhaps get it serviced in the UK or in Germany.

[@mahmoudyassen8444]

Why you live in France

[@henrywhittaker2519]

My 2nd Gen C5 has done 275,000 km & still going strong. Very reliable.

[@DavidBrown-bs7gg]

Had one of these for the wife in 2007-2009, she had come from a Range Rover and was spitting feathers at the idea of driving the C5.. and you know what, she loved the Citroen.. she liked it even more than the E-class she had afterwards. Hugely underrated

[@baron5747]

I love this generation of C5, I've always been a lover of estate cars. I have a MK1 Peugeot 508 SW, with the 2.0 HDi like seen in this, they look very similar actually, although mine is from 2013. It's a great car, roomy, and luxurious.

[@Calvi36]

I still have your car's dad's car the 407 SW Executive, 2006 and it is still on the road.

[@ChristianRThomas]

I'm not even a natural lover of Estates but I have to agree with you. Not quite as modern as yours, but the 405 I once had was the most practical car I've ever owned. You just fall in love with them for their practicality and for just being such a faithful workhorse.

[@baron5747]

@@Calvi36 I wanted a 407 once upon a time. But as a younger driver (nearly 30). They are getting on a bit. I wanted a Passat originally, but where I live there wasn't many in my criteria for sale. I found my 508 SW, and fell in love with it. So here I am.

[@chrishart8548]

​@@ChristianRThomasI thought the rear bumper was a bit weird on a 405 estate. Its like they put a bigger lip on a trim panel. It was a nice car considering they came out on a D reg. The ride quality and the diesel engines were fantastic at the time.

[@normandiebryant6989]

The fixed steering-wheel boss isn't just for "quirkiness". It's so that a large, square air-bag can be fitted to boost driver safety, rather than a small round less-effective one found on every other car. Sadly, like with a lot of fantastic Citroen features of yore, motoring writers canned it and the bean-counters at Peugeot dumped it, just like the hydractive suspension.

[@richardharrold9736]

Why not just use a big square airbag in a normal steering wheel, like a 90s Merc, BMW or Lexus?

[@fairybuddy-angel2035]

You answered your own question ...why would a French car maker with an endearing reputation for flair and individuality want something as significant as the steering wheel to look like every other steering wheel? Thank goodness for French car makers.

[@dodecahedron1]

@@richardharrold9736 optimal orientation regardless of steering wheel position

[@josephjardine32]

I have one of these, had it for 4 years now and it moved me and all of my stuff from the UK to Finland, it's never missed a beat. Amazingly underrated car

[@DjDolHaus86]

My dad had a 1st gen C5 and I'm yet to find a car that covers distance better. A genuine magic carpet ride, only downside was that it had the turning circle of an oil tanker. Always fun to watch it try to level itself if you parked it on a bit of a slope, it'd quietly shuffle around on the hydraulics for a good half hour, it was sort of like watching a big dog trying to lie down for the night

[@gaffnaldo1]

This would have been a fascinating thing to watch

[@rodoherty1]

Very funny!

[@carguyvlogs9764]

Dad had a 2007 c5 vtr. Worse car I've ever been in. Handling terrible. Straight roads like a wobbly old boat. Kept going but God damn it made me sick 😫

[@Hattonbank]

My first gen C5 diesel did that. I would park up outside shops or a pub, lock and leave it and for a good ten minutes or so the suspension would continue to rise and fall by up to 5. Inches Many stopped to look at the strange phenomenon My 2nd gen C5 with oleo pneumatic suspension as well, did not do that.

[@DjDolHaus86]

@@Hattonbank Not all steps forward are in the right direction

[@HairpinMagazine]

Those are genuine C5 19" alloys, although obviously refurbished and painted black. I own a 2010 3.0 HDI biturbo limo in top spec (240 bhp, optimized to 270, xenon lights which turn with the steering wheel, 19" alloys, extended leather package - perforated leather seats with white inserts, leather dash and central console, alcantara roof and pillars, nav...) It's a decent everyday car, and awesome highway cruiser. Its not fast from 0-60, but it pulls really, really well from 90-130. I live in Croatia, so it gets its share of 120+ on a highway few times per month. Things that I don't like are squeaky door handles, you don't have any lights on the dash which indicate that your seat heating is on, the audio system is a bit sluggish when you switch between media. But, all in all, it's a decent car which looks good even today. Suspension is more on the soft side and it needs some getting used to, sport mode really is firmer, but it won't turn the car into a sport sedan.

[@100brsta]

Really nice car! My friend had one in full spec, with even a full leather dash. Super comfortable ride. I was only dissapointed by the performance. Felt pretty slow for 240hp. My (at the time) A4 3.0 TDI completely smashed it in any situation (yes I know it is a lighter car - but still a massive difference in performance).

[@jondasek]

I only have a 120kW 2.0 HDI, but also fully loaded with the full leather package, xenons, velvet kind of roof, panoramic roof. Idk how can I ever sell it, I just love the beautiful interior. I'm sticking to my 17" alloys tho, I'm not gonna sacrifice my comfort for looks, even thought the 18s and 19s look much better. My colleague has got a 2.2 HDI 150kW, 450Nm, and that seems like a perfect engine for the car, still a 4cyl easy to maintain, more refined than the 2.0, and a lot of torque, still a single turbo, cheap to replace.

[@HairpinMagazine]

@@100brsta yes, it's slow for its power, especially in 0-60 range. Mostly because of its gearbox. But it's much more souverain on higher speeds.

[@jondasek]

@@100brsta Maybe it's the torque difference? That Aisin gearbox has a limit of 450 Nm, that 3.0 HDI is limited to that.

[@100brsta]

@@jondasek indeed 3.0 tdi has 500 Nm torque, so it means that it makes more power in the lower to mid rev range, hence better real world performance at same power.

[@michaelmcdaid433]

Damn Jay, you've just pushed the prices of these up as I've been trying to find a good deal on a hydro equipped version 😂

[@keithlazell9681]

I had one of these and I can honestly say it was one of the best cars I ever owned. It was very long and sometimes parking it was a bit of a problem finding a space big enough but the ride quality made up for that. Unfortunately my car was written off and i could not find another to replace it.

[@mustsilm]

I miss when cars were cars not suvs.

[@lennylogknob]

My normal daily is a slightly later one of these and I absolutely love it. I've had it for many years and hope to keep it for many more. I bought it with about 50k on the clock and it's just coming up to 130k now. It's never let me down, nothing has fallen off or gone wrong, nothing squeaks or rattles, and it's been cheap to fuel, insure and service. As relaxing as a nice warm bath. Marvellous.

[@composedlight6850]

just run in then --- mine is near 300,000 miles never once let me down and not had to do any work on the engine just oil and filter change plus cam belt.

[@AdamAus85]

Double glazed glass and then you do that to the exhaust. Ay caramba

[@PaulHojda]

This generation C5 estate was quite popular here en Denmark. You still see quite a few of them on the road. Good cars

[@Divefire]

The last bastion of hydro active. Glorious.

[@deaks25]

That is quite handsome estate, the proportions and wide grille/badge design works really, really well. And that dash board looks really funky. The orange and white on black is a look I like. I can understand the tune on the engine, but yeah, I never understand why people put big exhausts on diesels (Usually Seat's in my experience). I can imagine it's a really good luxury mover, between the suspension and the double-glazing, I can imagine it's a really relaxing car to drive. And it's a bit different, and "a bit different" is always interesting.

[@TheBrokenBass]

I had an 08 for a few years, it was very comfortable, I drove it from Glasgow to Wolverhampton without needing a break. But aside from that journey, it regularly left me stranded on the side of motorways and cost me thousands in repairs. Never bought PSA again!

[@EddieG1888]

Same. I had an 08 Exclusive, and it was a total dog.Never buying Citroen again.

[@J.J._Mason]

Love the C5, very nice car, always wanted a C6 personally

[@recruitmentch]

The design has hardly aged. Pretty impressive.

[@Lord_Stig]

My fathers first company car was a Second gen C5 and the whole family loved the comfort. The seats did invite a bit to much slide tho 😅 But as a kid I used to fall to sleep while looking at the night stars from the panorama window. My uncle has had both gens with the last one still being used for his family's roadtrips and with over 310 000km it's still going strong 😃

[@rotteneggconcept]

Love your car reviews, you review our childhood hero cars with honesty and vigour keep up the good work we will keep watching.

[@TDCflyer]

The 2007 Citroen C5 was the best of the recent iterations of Citroen because it looked very much like a C6...

[@PoloRolo94]

In my opinion the c5 is so much better looking than the c6.

[@alextoft9199]

Amazing cars. Used to work for Citroen. Loved them when they were new and really wanted one. We also had a black and yellow high powered DS3 I lusted after. I did go in the Sales Manager's C6 and have wanted one ever since. Quite like the C3 Picasso for simple quirky motoring 😊

[@nuttycommuter3718]

I love the C6. One of the Chief officers of a company I worked at had one and it was just stunning. Citroen is one of those brands that just has the history and innovation and quirkiness to be truly great

[@woooozaaa6528]

Sometimes I regret I never bought one. A couple of years ago I was very close to buying a V6 diesel wagon. But in the end I got a very good offer for a Laguna 3 GT. Also a weird, quirky thing with all wheel steering.

[@arnoldmiga5689]

I had both a 508 Gt 2.2D (sister car to C5) and laguna 3 gt 4WS 2.0d manual at the same time and the automatic peugeot was infinitely better in every department. Laguna felt like an old car, suspension turned well but no grip compared to peugeot and laguna broke down a LOT all the time which was accompanied with many broken rusted fasteners to add to the injury. My biggest complaint was a massive turbo lag on the laguna. I loved the sound of the turbocharger whistle on the 2.2.d peugeot engine under load and when taking off, as well as the overall refinement and fuel economy

[@woooozaaa6528]

@@arnoldmiga5689I dient have any of the issues with the Laguna. Turbo kicked in at roughly 1600rpm and it was totally fine. Sold the car to a friend, he still drives it with 250k km without any issues. Only the cruise control broke

[@benpenagonzales6014]

I grew up with Peugeot and Citroen wagons. Including the safari with the hydraulic suspension. They’re brilliant

[@garthleckey9797]

Worth mentioning is the dual zone air con not only had separate temperature controls, but each zone had its own directional controls. Brilliant feature!

[@colincrawford6612]

I used one for three years as a taxi. Grafted it hard and in all weather. The only complaint was parts costs. Never let me down. Replaced with a C-class Merc estate, the Citroen C5 was the better car.

[@nuttycommuter3718]

I had one of these and it was lovely. Sufficiently powerful, supremely comfortable and a bit quirky. Loved it

[@FOXHOUND4143]

MORE OF THESE OLD SCHOOL GEMS PLEASE! I’ve learned so much!

[@EddieG1888]

_"...if it breaks, it can be expensive to fix."_ Sorry, I have to correct that; WHEN it breaks. And it will. I had a 2008 C5 Exclusive saloon, which I bought in 2013 with 50,000 miles on it. It was silver like the one in the this video, immaculate inside and out, and was absolutely gorgeous. It was a joy to drive; a lot of the driving I did was over fairly decent distances, and the C5 was like surfing along on a cushion of air, and inside the cabin was silent, even at higher speeds. From a driving perspective, you'd be hard pressed to find another car that would beat it for sheer comfort. Leather interior, extremely comfortable seats, and I absolutely loved it, and at just under 6ft tall I still found it really spacious. Unfortunately, it didn't love me back... Soon after I bought it, the wing mirrors began doing strange things, like not folding back properly when locking the car, or folding out too far when unlocking it. About eight months after I bought it, it failed an MOT on the steering rack. After making inquiries I found that the fault (leaking seals) was one that was common to the model. I contacted Citroen to ask whether they would consider addressing it given that the steering rack was a factory fitted item and the fault was well known. They refused. I asked how much a new steering rack would be and was informed that because it was part of the hydrolastic suspension, a new unit would be....almost £1700. Luckily, a business down south did reconditioned units, so I was able to pick one of those up for around a quarter of that price. One of the suspension rams failed. That was almost £600 to buy. Three tyre pressure sensors (the valves themselves) failed, they were £150 a pop to have fitted and reprogrammed to the car. The driver side controller for the air conditioning began working intermittently; you could spin the knob and it would do absolutely nothing one minute, and then work fine the next. Then the sensors for the suspension began playing up, which necessitated replacing those. Not a fun drive when your car has jacked itself up about 3ft off the deck and handling like a blancmange on wheels, quite literally. Then the suspension would continually adjust itself while the car was parked (I could look out of my window and watch it moving) which depending on cold the weather conditions were and how frequently it did it, would run the battery down. Occasionally the suspension would also refuse to raise when adjusted to its lowest point. Periodically, the car would throw up weird codes which when investigated turned out not to be true at all, and the sensors were all checked and found to be ok. The suspension fluid reservoir burst. Twice. Inside, the rubber coating began to peel itself off of the controls on the steering wheel. The driver seat heating and massage functions failed early on, followed by the electric seat position mechanism deciding one day to eat the threads on the frame under the seat. Consulting Citroen for this, I found that not only was this tiny little part proprietary to the car (like the vast majority of the parts I had to replace in the time I had it, and rarer than rocking horse shit), but that it couldn't be bought without purchasing the whole mechanism. Which was only available from Citroen. At over £800. Other faults occurred during the ten years I owned it, so much so that I became very good friends with the receptionist of the garage I used to get it repaired in its last few years! But no matter which garage I went to, they would inform me of how supremely difficult it was to find parts for the car in the UK, often needing to order them in from France. Finally, in one last act of defiance it decided to boil itself to death on the motorway while neglecting to inform me of the fact it was doing so via the numerous sensors or gauges in the car, causing me to cruise to a surprising steam-enveloped halt on the hard shoulder. The car had done just over 96,000 miles, and had been totally babied the entire time I had it. I owned a 2002 C5 before this one, which compared to this mongrel was an absolute dream; it ran perfectly, the boot was big enough to fit a small semi-detached house, it wasn't covered with sensors for every teeny little function, and it didn't require a bank loan every time it needed repaired. So in summary, if you're planning on buying a C5 Exclusive from this era, either *DON'T DO IT!!!* , or make sure you have a lot of money tucked away somewhere. You'll need to, just to keep it on the road.

[@Hattonbank]

My experience mirrors your. I coverd 250,000 miles in mt 2 litre diesel C5 Mk 1 with practically no issues oter than normal replacement items (timing belt, brakes etc). I then bought a C5 Mk 2 Exclusive Tourer. Again, a beautiful drive in every way. But sensor problems, suspension motor replacements, steering bushes, fuel injector seals, steering rack, close to £5000 in repairs, excluding service items like brakes, battery etc. A lovely car but hard on the wallet. It's done 180,000 miles a runs sweet as a dream (fingers crossed), I will keep it as the depreciation curve is flat, and its hard to find such a comfortable and versatile car You would think that the engineering of the Mk2 would be vastly better than the earlier Mk 1, but no, it was the other way round.

[@cme2cau]

About 3 years ago I went looking for a C5 as I had been fascinated by Citroën hydraulic suspension. I found a Comfort spec 2011 model with the 2l diesel with 147000 km. I figured if I got 3 years out of it, I'd be happy. Now, I have no idea what I would get to replace it. 206000 kn now. I have a great Citroën mechanic and I do routine servicing. It's not difficult but you NEVER get under a hydraulic Citroën without chassis stands. It's an event when I see another C5 on my commute here in Sydney, Australia.

[@fabianchow512]

Which Citroen mechanic do you use in Sydney?

[@cme2cau]

@@fabianchow512 I am in Western Sydney. I use Denton at European Autocare in Penrith

[@johnnywires943]

Great review.Makes me look at Citroens in a different way.

[@stuchly1]

I really appreciate your regular car reviews!

[@mitjahorvat24]

i've always loved these so much. styling, interiors, amazing. as a car to live with everyday, everything i look for in a car. to me one of the most beautiful cars ever made.

[@JMJoubert]

I've had my eye on one of these for a long time! Thank you for highlighting the pros of these.

[@darrenwilson8042]

I have a neighbour who loves his - pulls a caravan and reckons its the best suited for the job of any car he has owned. He is an engineer and describes it all as very straightforward and does his own maintenance on the drive or even in the street

[@MrAshleydickens]

Really enjoying these videos of attainable cars Jay - thank you!

[@benjamindoyle668]

My God. I had forgotten how much I want one of these. Too bad they never came to the US.

[@willp2936]

Mate, no one has mentioned this fab car at all. Our company car is one of these (2015 with the hydro suspension), 2.0 litre turbo. Gosh it's amazing, especially on long trips, really sooo smooth, and so economical, and quick. Never had one fault with it. The passengers say "so quiet and smooth". I think we'll keep it for years (isn't that actually being more "green"?). Hello from Melbourne

[@bobbobbybobinsonsminimovie4492]

In 2015 I bought a 5 year old C5 Exclusive Estate and I've still got it. I've had a hassle free 70,000 miles out of it so far and still haven't come across anything I'd like to replace it with.

[@gabrielcharles1178]

I still have one bought new in 2009. It is a manual gearbox petrol 2 liter Tourer, with all options except full leather and integrated gps system. A very nice and good car really, and cheap to maintain, everything works perfectly. Like and hate the steering wheel : like the stationary center, hate the metal part when icy or burning ! It is a heavy car, there is no 7 seat version, and it is not too roomy for the rear passengers. I didn’t choose the V6 engine because of no manual gearbox availability. King of the road in terms of comfort, and so safe when heavily loaded, with constant height suspension !

[@DrClaw77]

This is proper motoring. Can't imagine why you'd want a SUV over this

[@nocturnal1970]

The sheep copy one another is why, I hate SUVs and lookalikes

[@Spurdospaerde692]

If Citroën/PSA management had only had a few more braincells, they would have kept the hydropneumatic suspension, and would have offered a 4WD C5. The perfect SUV, without looking ridiculous like a "real" SUV. Instead, they made the C5 CrossTourer FWD only, and then killed off their USP; hydropneumatic suspension. Cretins!

[@PieterB76]

Excellent vehicle. I own a 2008 C5 Tourer (as the call the estate here in the Netherlands) since 2017, also 2.0 HDi in Exclusive-trim but manual gearbox. Ideal for long-distance highway-cruising and that's what I use the car for most of the time. Twisty country roads it doesn't like so much. Reliable engine, no problems with French electrics so far. My next car will probably be the C5 X because I just like big comfy Citroëns.

[@degroot50]

I have a 2010 C5Tourer 2.0i on LPG and it has 190k on the counter. So far the only problems were drowned window wiper motors(a bit my own fault) and a failing door window lifting system. Other ten this the car is flawless. Very happy with it. I bought it for towing a caravan as it was the towcar of the year(2009) here in the Netherlands. The drive is still absolotely lovely..............quiet and comfortable. I will keep it till I am too old to drive it, I am 74 now. Drove Citroens since 1998 and never looked at another brand anymore. I always had company cars and the Citroens were the best. The Volkswagens, BMW's,Opels(Vauxhall), Mitsubishi's, Toyota's were ok but not as comfy.

[@maz500]

Great video as always, I need need to bring mine to your channel

[@pharoahegypt]

Back in around 2007, my dad had the 1.9 diesel saloon of this with an auto box on a '51 plate. it was bulletproof reliable, drove smoothly, and he regretted selling it 5yrs later, as the car he replaced it with was never as good as his C5 had been. He still hankers after a new one, but doesn't want the C5X with its plug-in hybrid engine. Old school dad with old school views.

[@richardharrold9736]

'51 plate means autumn 2001 to spring 2002, so must have been the previous generation.

[@sbrader97]

Hacked apart exhaust sounds like they probably had the dpf gutted when they got it remapped the emissions is what kills modern diesel cars reliability especially if your not always doing long journeys they get blocked if they don't get chance to regen it also helps the engine breath better and a bit better mpg because its not having to dump excess fuel during regen to get the dpf hot

[@bruncebanani8854]

Bad news is: Citroen is very bad with parts supply, as soon as the cars run out of production. If you buy one, be prepared to source the parts yourself. I'm driving a 1998 Citroen XM for 10 years now. I can't remember that I ever brought my car to a garage and just got it back the next day. It's always like this: 1.: bring car to garage. 2.: get a phonecall that part xy is unavailable 3.: find the part myself 4.: send it to the garage 5.: get my car back. It's been like that from day one for me. Also, don't expect a citroen main dealer to know how to repair the hydractive suspension. Citroen stopped making them, and most dealers have no clue anymore. There still are some specialized garages, but you need to find them.

[@mbj__]

Love these more "every day car" reviews 😊 It is nice to see a review and think: hmmm... perhaps I should get one of these 🤔

[@aleksileskinen3097]

I was compelled to comment on this, since for once someone is singing well articulated high praise for something that I actually own. I am writing from Finland and I have that "thing" for Saab and Volvo we hold here so dearly, but during the last 10 years or so I've grown quite fond of having a Citroën as my daily driver. Having owned quite a few of them, I think the X7 ranks easily among my favourites: XM 21TD, BX GTi and Xantia 16v. It probably won't become a classic, but it's the last of its kind - and IMO much better than its predecessor (which for some reason felt like a glorified golf cart) or even the Peugeot 508 SW: the ride height was too low, you couldn't see anything at all except maybe the sky, there were some annoying design flaws and it constantly felt like it was falling apart. I can sense none of those problems with the C5. It's a surprisingly no-nonsense car from a manufacturer who's been obsessed with overall flamboyance to the point of two near-bankruptcies! They were pretty quiet about the petrol engines here as well. I suppose that's somewhat due to the basic 16v engines being already out-of-date and nothing special to begin with, but moreover to the numerous faults of the THP engine. Compared to that contraption, the good old oil squirting XU seems like a masterpiece. So unless it's all about getting a C5 with a V6, the only logical choice is HDi. I might've chosen the 1.6 liter option if it included the hydractive as well, because the lower fuel consumption and smaller emissions make it much less expensive, but the 2.0 with that Aisin 6-speed are what the C5 is all about: a really easy and enjoyable workhorse. Nothing too fancy, but nothing compares 2 it either.

[@robbyprior5437]

My dad had a 3.0HDi V6 one of these. Mapped to over 300bhp was an absolute rocket ship. Never really had an issue with it and clocked up over 200k. He had a previous gen ES9 V6 one ugly green but was a right little sleeper back in the day. Such a shame they discontinued it. Not as good as mum’s Xantia Activa tho which we believe has been condemned😭

[@malc.s.5373]

The 59 plate exclusive I had from new was the best car I ever had.Lincolnshire to Cornwall, 60mpg, in quiet comfort. The part leather seats I found perfect. If I win the lottery I will treat myself to another...plus a DS6 and 2cv to play with.

[@Timpsukka]

My dad had one of these as a work lease for three years and I learned to drive on it, lovely car.

[@Theoderich]

I had one as a courtesy car for a week and I loved it. Supremely comfortable.

[@MrJackbms]

I love mine A 2013 Exclusive trim with the 2.2 ltr diesel with the full Hydroactive III plus suspension , 201Bhp, Xenon headlights, parking sensor etc… The most comfortable car I have ever own. It’s a very good GT, crossed France with no issue with wife and 2 kids

[@barry5138]

James, your videos are excellent 👏

[@123mbo]

My parents had Xantia estate 2.0 diesel with the pneumatic suspension. It was amazingly comfortable. My dad still talks about that car.

[@SpecialJay]

I rented the same generation of this C4 and was blown away with how soft and solid and luxurious it felt

[@colinjones2505]

Had several BX's, 3 xantias, and one C5 gen1, all absolutely brilliant. Can't believe I never bought one of these. I think I may have to soon.

[@jamesengland7461]

I don't think of this car at all- because I've never heard of it. But that's why I enjoy this channel.

[@jrice610]

Had 2x C5 estates as company cars. First one lasted 7500 miles before Citroen replaced it after numerous electronic issues. Second one ran for 2 years and 48000 miles with many visits to the dealer and many time consuming courtesy cars. Excellent long distance machines, great looking and excellent ergonomics but strangely differing built quality as other cars ran to very high mileages with no issues except for the dreaded DPF clean around the 80K mark. Oh when I say build quality I forgot I was talking about a Citroen/Peugeot. Many trim pieces came loose, the seat fabric gave up at around 20K, chrome seemed to depart after low usage, remote keys became intermittent and a general feeling of Gallic indifference. Strangely I miss my Citroen, just wish it was the car it should have been.

[@comcarclub]

Thanks for featuring this car, it deserves a lot more love than it gets, even among Citroen fans. I hate to be pedantic, but this generation of C5 was presented on the 15th January 2008 and launched in February 2008.

[@christianneitzel]

Thanks for the nice video! I'm the proud owner of a 2014 C5 1.6 THP Exclusive Tourer 😍 And I enjoy every minute of it!

[@TheSimonhammond]

Owned two mk1 C5 estates 2.0 hdi's, loved them! Fun, economical, practical and actually reasonably reliable. I actually liked the looks in estate form.

[@tkmaxism]

Worthy of a like just for the boot capacity push!

[@MotorTorq_ZA]

I think it’s a good looking car. Germanic with a slight hint of french flair

[@Sinr0ne]

My father had this car when I turned 18. Was my first car I drove after getting license. Can honestly still remember how smooth and airy it was to drive. Like the best mattress youve ever slept on.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Really like these especially the wagon version, might get one as a weekend/roadtrip car.

[@stuartkennedy4202]

I had 2 Xantia’s the SX and the VSX with that suspension great cars.

[@James-ld2jc]

Good review James. I've always liked the look of these. Makes me wonder what the point of an SUV is...

[@NokkaA]

This is such a good design, these Look especially sharp as a wagon in white.

[@person.X.]

I agree I have always thought that these are fantastic looking cars. I love station wagons for their blend of practicality and good looks.

[@tadficuscactus]

Very good looking car with the hydropneumatic suspension.

[@artsmithdrums]

I had one new from 2009 to 2012 and still the car we miss most, it was just a 2.0 diesel so no traffic light dragster but so comfortable and so quiet inside. Agree it is still a good looking car.

[@GTVScotty]

I picked one of these up from an auction about a month ago in saloon guise. FSH, no mechanical faults, 2 keys, good cosmetic condition and 117k. £1100 including auction fee! Great for my 40 mile commute each way to work, I’m averaging 55mpg.

[@navy7804]

It's crazy how cheap they are at auctions. I picked one up last year, an immaculate 84k mile exclusive estate With FSH for £850! Only downside is that it's a cat N from the boot being smashed in

[@elononoras1902]

In used cars topics, the reliability chapter is a must.

[@lorenzocoppa9005]

Just came up of a short trip with this car, that belongs to my girlfriend dad. The ride quality was unreal, spacious, silent, nice overall with a nice engine. Can't wait for him to get rid of it to maybe snatch it for myself. Even though it's an old car I love it so much. That one in particular is a sedan, even better looking in my opinion

[@disnox6902]

I have one C5 2.0HDI 16V hydractive III MK1 from 2004 and it still a fantastic car. Original suspension till today and the car has been very, very reliable!

[@thiccshrimp]

Forgot this car existed, it most certainly looks amazing, and way younger than it actually is

[@pk-dn5sj]

My 2006 C4 coupe in black still looks great compare to 3 door golf focus astra etc of such era. And the seats! My seats with lumbar support piss all over vw group or Japanese cars of this era. Best seats in business in this class...

[@martinboulden4388]

This car with the three litre diesel rocks ! Very rare but such a mile muncher ! ❤

[@HairpinMagazine]

I own one, and I can confirm that 😊

[@betterbeavailable]

Sounds pretty good to me. I miss C5 and C6. Such great cars.

[@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek]

My Dad Nearly Bought A DS21 in Tucson When I Was Young; the Deal Fell Apart When My Mother Threatened To Leave Him!!!! I Love Citroens!!!!

[@jayartz8562]

Yep, got a 2lt 2015 Exclusive Tourer, handles dirt roads magnificently, zero problems in my 4 years. Super good economical long distance cruiser. The sport mode is like other manufacturers comfort mode!

[@kjhusson]

Hey Jay loved this video, its great seeing some cars my first new car was, wait for it a Citroen AX 1.4 diesel way back in the 90's not sure why but loved that little car

[@francis2811]

I've always wanted that car! For those of us with back trouble, it's the only comfortable car to drive without feeling any road bumps.

[@garyburke301]

Had the previous generation C5 tourer for several years. The most practical and comfortable car I ever owned. The hydraulic hyractive suspension is truly amazing. As mentioned it self levels itself so even with a boot full with a heavy load the suspension will not sag at the rear. There was a button in the boot to manually higher and lower the rear for ease of loading. Using the button inside the cabin on the move to higher the suspension was so practical to get u over rutted tracks, obstacles and floods. The PSA 2.0 HDI was bomb proof. Never experienced any electrical problems people talk about in French cars of old. The only problem was finding a local mechanic to service the suspension. You would need to find an indy Citroen specialist. I would have bought the x7 generation you are driving but bad steering rack design and failures would put me right off as replacement racks are now difficult to source and expensive to fix.

[@crisrose9707]

Great minds think alike. I've been fancying one of these for a good while...

[@BaxterChobbery]

I supplies a C5 3.0 V6 tdi to Taggart. The drive to Glasgow and back was brilliant. C5s appeared in Waking the Dead too

[@rjdavies1982]

In the 80s my dad and I were bombing down the motorway in a BX and I pulled the lever for the suspension and we nearly bounced off the road 😂

[@Lqkas]

I have had a 2014 C5 2.0 HDi Exclusive Tourer I bought about 14 months ago with about 100 000 km on it. The A/C evaporator failed after six week of owning it. Apparently this is a relatively common issue although usually its just a slowish leak. You would think that would be a relatively easy fix, but no, the whole dash has to come out to get the heater core out and replace it. The Hydractive suspension can be expensive to fix when things go wrong and relatively difficult (at least in Australia) to source parts for. Power steering rack leaks are also a known issue. Reputational issues caused by dodgy electricals and Prince petrol engines in other Citroens models also put many people off. It is for all those reasons that despite the C5 being really good on fuel and the diesels engine and auto gearbox being solid and dependable units, they are really cheap used.

[@navy7804]

Many many things go wrong on these, some of the more expensive being the dual mass flywheel (lasts under 100k), handbrake module (£1k in parts alone) and the hydraulic struts that seem to have a lifespan of 5 years. Since most of these C5s are 10+ years old now, the suspension bushings ( there are 14 of them!) are probably all perished or worn by now, at least all mine were

[@jeremyjames1437]

I have a 3.0 HDI Tourer By Carlsson, so it has around 300bhp, I am a "boy racer" with it haha

[@AntoniusTyas]

Hey, a Citroen C5. Even when all the magazines saying that C5 is not a pleasant drive and all that, I always wanted a C5 because it's such a unique-looking thing, not another po-faced German saloon.

[@Hattonbank]

I have owned Rover's, Ford's, Honda's, Renault's, Opels and others, and both C5 models. Those C5's ride better than any other cars that I have driven in over 50 years!

[@Rhowhat]

Great review! Always had an odd, look from a distance, interest in big Citroen's.