Citroen was once known for massive discounts and cashback incentives. Thankfully that’s a thing of the past – it drove down values and left owners of the previous C5 with cars that were worth less than they expected when they came to sell. Predicted residuals are better on this car – more on a par with the Ford Mondeo. The diesels all return decent fuel consumption figures, parts are cheap and servicing is reasonably priced.

Fuel economy is good across the C5 range and the diesels particularly impress. The greenest model is the 1.6HDi which emits 140g/km of CO2 and averages an impressive 50mpg. It’s worth noting that the C5 will also run on biodiesel (diesel derived from plants – which is becoming increasingly popular on forecourts). It’s a greener alternative to conventional diesel and helps to future-proof the car.

The original C5, launched in 2001, did not have a good reputation for reliability. A significant facelift in 2004 brought improvements in build quality, but overall it lagged behind the competition. The latest version feels much better built, uses proven diesel engines and is well finished inside. This should translate into improved reliability, though time will tell if this is actually the case.