First drive: Citroen adds wagons

NOT content with its four-cylinder, V6 and turbo-diesel powered C5 sedan range released in June 2001, Citroen is set to add turbo-diesel and V6 power to its Australian C5 wagon range in August - around the same time the new C3 small car lobs here.

Both wagon models will boost Citroen's niche market sales figures in Australia by a small but valuable margin, and after a brief drive in France recently it seems the HDi version of the wagon in particular combines all of the acclaimed HDi sedan's attributes with the practicality of Citroen's C5 wagon.

Citroen Australia says it decided to import the turbo-diesel in C5 wagon form following the success of the HDi C5 sedan, which accounts for 30 per cent of C5 sedan sales and demand for which currently outstrips supply. The C5 sedan went on sale locally in June 2001, while the wagon arrived in August last year.

The HDi wagon is eventually expected to comprise between 10 and 20 per cent of C5 wagon sales, which - combined with HDi sedan volumes - could see Citroen Australia shift about 30 turbo-diesel C5s per month. Supply permitting, company insiders say total C5 sales volumes could soon top 800 cars per annum.

C5 sedan pricing starts at $41,990 for the 2.0-litre manual, with the sole (2.0-litre petrol) wagon selling from $43,500. So while the 3.0-litre V6 C5 wagon is likely to be priced $2000 above the $56,990 V6 sedan, the 2.0-litre HDi wagon is also expected to sell at a $2000 premium over the $44,500 HDi sedan.

Similarly, the C5 HDi wagon will be available in identical specification to the HDi sedan, meaning its SX trim level is similarly likely to bring driver and passenger airbags, front side airbags, full-length side headbags, ABS, air-conditioning, cruise control, eight-speaker/single-CD audio, self-levelling automatic hydraulic suspension, trip computer and rain-sensing wipers.

DRIVE IMPRESSIONS:

Sparkling low-rpm engine performance, a value-packed equipment list and unique technology - through the use of adjustable hydraulic suspension - warmed us instantly to the uniquely styled C5 sedan when it was launched last June.

And it seems all these traits will now be available with plenty of storage to boot, courtesy of the turbo-diesel C5 wagon.

Not just any old oil-burner, mind you. It may pack only a single overhead camshaft and two-valves per-cylinder, but otherwise Citroen's four-cylinder HDi is a technical tour de force.

Combined with common-rail induction technology, twin balance shafts and direct injection, the intercooled turbo-diesel's long-stroke cylinder dimensions deliver 255Nm of torque at just 1750rpm.

For the record, peak power is 82kW at 4000rpm, but the HDi engine's greatest strength is its low-speed responsiveness and wide mid-range torque band. Well spaced gear ratios (although the semi-automatic transmission is only a four-speeder) make good use of the wide torque spread and selectable hydraulic suspension offers a wide range of handling levels.

Already a well finished, luxuriously riding and well equipped tourer, the addition of effortless turbo-diesel performance for the C5 wagon is a welcome one.