The DS 5 has shed its iconic chevrons and gets a facelift, a revised interior and some efficiency tweaks. But will this be enough to transform it into a premium offering writes Geraldine Herbert? What is it? With an Ink Blue exterior and bold, aggressive styling, the limited edition DS5 looks virtually nothing like a Citroën. It may mark the launch of the the original Citroën DS, 60 years ago but you will find only a few touches to remind you of the Citroëns of old. The facelifted DS 5 is a very modern interpretation of a classic and is the prototype for all future DS models. Who is it aimed at? Devastatingly sophisticated the DS 5 is for those who want to stand out from the crowd. Styling? The new front end and xenon/LED headlights of the refreshed DS 5 are distinguishing and the DS logo now sits in the middle of a sculpted, vertical grille while the distinctive metallic strip, from the previous model that runs along the edge of the bonnet, remains. The DS 5 is a very chic five-seat family car and is a beautiful blend of estate, coupe and MPV. Under the Bonnet? Underneath the bonnet the BlueHDi 180 engine delivers 133kW with maximum torque of 400Nm at 2,000rpm. What about inside? 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. On the Road? The aspect most criticised in the previous version was the harsh ride that proved more jarring than a BMW 5 series but offered none of the superior handling associated with such sporty firmness. Thanks to some suspension tweaking and retuning the new DS 5 is significantly more comfortable for driver and passengers. The steering is still a little artificial feeling but overall it is much better car to drive than before. And Safety? 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...
The DS 5 has shed its iconic chevrons and gets a facelift, a revised interior and some efficiency tweaks. But will this be enough to transform it into a premium offering writes Geraldine Herbert? What is it? With an Ink Blue exterior and bold, aggressive styling, the limited edition DS5 looks virtually nothing like a Citroën. It may mark the launch of the the original Citroën DS, 60 years ago but you will find only a few touches to...
