Category: Large Family 
Price Range: £16,095 to £27,195
Comfortable, roomy, well-equipped with strong, smooth engines, especially the diesel; good value for money; five star NCAP crash test score
Nondescript side view, not as roomy in the back as it looks, can fidget over sharp-edged bumps, huge depreciation
Big, imposing, interesting Citroen, more striking since 2005 restyle
The C5's hydro-pneumatic suspension effectively smoothes out large bumps and road undulations, and the 2005 cars are less prone to pitching and wallowing than their predecessors - they're considerably better-balanced. There are still some slight shudders over small bumps and potholes, but low-speed ride is much better than before. Sound-proofing has also been improved, with thicker-laminated side windows (Exclusive only) and quieter wipers. Seats are firm and supportive, and front legroom and elbowroom is very generous. The C5's not quite as roomy in the rear as it could be, though, as the sloping roofline of the hatchback cuts into headroom, and rear legroom is not best-in-class. The boot is very big, and the compact rear suspension layout allows for a usefully square-cut, uncluttered shape, though it loses some space to the spare wheel stored under the floor (Peugeot-Citroen models usually have their spare wheel mounted externally, under the boot). There are plenty of storage holes, pockets, under-seat drawers, compartments and cupholders, and high-quality stereo and sat nav systems are available. A leather steering wheel is now standard, and interior quality has been improved.
