{"id":13065,"date":"2015-10-01T00:33:21","date_gmt":"2015-09-30T23:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wheelsforwomen.ie\/?p=13065"},"modified":"2015-10-01T00:34:09","modified_gmt":"2015-09-30T23:34:09","slug":"ds-5-1955-limited-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wheelsforwomen.ie\/index.php\/ds-5-1955-limited-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"DS 5 1955 Limited Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"DS<\/a>

DS 5 Photo by Kyran O’Brien<\/p><\/div>\n

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? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

What is it?<\/strong> \u00a0With an Ink Blue exterior and bold, aggressive styling, the limited edition DS5 looks virtually nothing like a Citro\u00ebn. It may mark the launch of the the original Citro\u00ebn DS, 60 years ago but you will find only a few touches to remind you of the Citro\u00ebns of old. The facelifted DS 5 is a very modern interpretation of a classic and is the prototype for all future DS models.<\/p>\n

Who is it aimed at? <\/strong>Devastatingly sophisticated the DS 5 is for those who want to stand out from the crowd.<\/p>\n

Styling?<\/strong> 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 \u00a0the 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.<\/p>\n

Under the Bonnet?<\/strong> Underneath the bonnet the BlueHDi 180 engine \u00a0delivers 133kW with maximum torque of 400Nm at 2,000rpm.<\/p>\n

What about inside?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

On the Road?<\/strong> 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.\u00a0 The steering is still a little artificial feeling but overall it is much better car to drive than before.<\/p>\n

And Safety? \u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Options?<\/strong> Our limited edition test car is priced at \u20ac44,345. Specified in a new Ink Blue body colour, with unique 1955 badging it is based on the Elegance trim level but comes fully loaded with additional goodies such \u00a0as\u00a0 Criollo Semi Aniline Leather Pack with DS embossing, 18 inch ‘Adelaide’ brilliant grey alloy wheels and DS LED Vision headlight.<\/p>\n

Will it break the bank? <\/strong>Prices for the new DS start at \u20ac36,045 and go up to \u20ac50,195 for the range topping DS 5 Prestige Hybrid4 200 Airdream. There are two trim levels \u2013 the \u2018Elegance\u2019 and \u2018Prestige\u2019, three BlueHDi diesel engine variations and a Euro 6 compliant hybrid 4\u00d74 drivetrain
\n<\/strong>Running costs are particularly impressive and DS reckon the car will return 4.4 litres per 100km or 64.2mpg on a combined cycle with CO2 emissions of just 114g\/km.<\/p>\n

Verdict?<\/strong> The DS 5 is the true successor to the original 50\u2019s icon with head turning looks and futuristic design. Now with a more comfortable ride and improved road manners, there’s a lot to like about this new DS5.\u00a0 But it will take a lot to persuade Irish buyers that a big, French contender is a worthy rival to\u00a0 Audi, Mercedes or BMW though it is without doubt a smooth and luxurious car that will appeal to those who want something a little different.<\/p>\n

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Why you\u2019ll buy one? <\/strong>Styling; Economy<\/p>\n

Why you won\u2019? <\/strong>Pricey<\/p>\n

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Rivals
\nFord Mondeo Vignale<\/a> <\/strong>– prices from \u20ac43,900
\nVolkswagen Passat\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>– prices from \u20ac29,975
\n <\/p>\n

Watch our video review below<\/strong>\u00a0(Video Filming by Kyran O\u2019Brien<\/em>)<\/p>\n

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