The New DS 5 is more than just a new car. It is the car introducing a new brand identity.
The original DS, the beautiful, legendary 50’s icon is a hard act to follow but it may finally have a true successor and kindred spirit in the new DS 5 writes Geraldine Herbert
What is it? The facelifted DS 5 is more than just a new car, it is both the flagship and the first model to introduce the brand’s stand-alone identity. Five years ago Citroën revived the DS nameplate, inspired by the original Citroën DS revealed at the 1955 Paris motor show and has now created a separate luxury brand.
First impressions of the new DS 5? Gone are the signature Citroen Chevrons replaced by the new DS corporate grille. The new front end and xenon/LED headlights of the refreshed 5 are distinctive but for a style-centric brand, the new muted logo may be a missed opportunity. The DS 5 is still however a chic five-seat family car and is a beautiful blend of estate, coupe and MPV.
What about the interior? Inside the changes are less pronounced, the interior remains inspired by the world of aviation and surrounds you in a cockpit style interior of pure luxury. On the practical side legroom and head room is good in the front and reasonably decent in the back. Rear visibility though is reduced by the avant-garde styling and the boot at 465 litres is not huge for a car of this size.
And on the road? Under the bonnet, the DS 5 comes with three BlueHDi Diesels all offering excellent economy and a 4×4 Hybrid diesel that delivers an impressive average fuel consumption figure of 3.5l/100km and CO2 emissions of around 103g/km. On the road it is a hushed and elegant cruiser. Handling is good and thanks to a new suspension set up the ride is not as firm as before.
How Safe? A five-star Euro NCAP safety rating as well as curtain and lateral airbags make this one of the safest cars on the market. There is also ABS and Electronic Stability control as standard as well as an Automatic handbrake, Hill start assist and Blind spot monitoring available.
How Much? Prices for the new DS start at €36,045 and go up to €50,195 for the range topping DS 5 Prestige Hybrid4 200 Airdream
What are my options? There are two trim levels Elegance and Prestige. There will also be a DS 5 1955 Limited Edition – to mark the anniversary of the first one – priced at €44,345. Specified in a new Ink Blue body colour, with unique 1955 badging, based on the Elegance trim level it comes fully loaded with additional goodies such ‘Criollo’ semi-aniline ‘watch strap’ leather seats and DS LED Vision headlights.
3 words to describe the DS 5; Opulent; Unconventional; Impressive
For more information check out DS Ireland or the DS Ireland Facebook page.
Geraldine Herbert
31st July, 2015
