CITROEN intends to carve a niche for itself with the second-generation C5 wagon. Now dubbed Tourer, the spacious and strikingly styled mid-sized family car inhabits the area between mainstream competitors such as the Holden Sportswagon and luxury ‘estates’ typified by Audi’s A4 Avant and the evergreen Volvo V70. Whether you believe the French brand’s strategy works depends almost entirely on whether the C5 Tourer convinces as a prestige car. In mid-range 2.0 HDi Exclusive guise, it puts in a strong effort, but the Citroen is not without its flaws.
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Citroen Mk1 C5 HDi Series II Estate
Released: February 2005
Ended: August 2008
Family Tree: C5CITROEN’S front-wheel drive C5 five-door hatch and wagon series replaced the mid-sized Xantia range in Australia in June 2001, powered by 2.0-litre petrol and HDi diesel engines and a 3.0-litre petrol V6. The diesel also led the Series II facelift from early 2005, which saw an all-new nose and tail, as well as a heavily revised interior, grafted (visually uneasily) on to the old car. But worthwhile improvements were made to the hydropneumatic computer-controlled suspension system for better ride and handling characteristics. With fuel prices soaring, this smooth and frugal 98kW/314Nm 2.2-litre HDI unit – mated to an automatic gearbox – sold quite well, and had no problem hauling the huge five-seater wagon body around.
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