Citroën DS5 (2012 - 2015) 2.0 HDi Hybrid4 DSport 5d Auto Owner Review

Firstly, I love this car. The looks are absolutely fantastic. It's one of those cars that every time you approach it, it makes you smile. The interior is sublime. The steering wheel is perfectly shaped offering a sporty, yet adult feeling. The seats are comfortable and in the "watch strap" leather look amazing. My sport model was equipped with the Head Up Display, which when i bought it i thought would be a gimmick, but I find myself lost without it in other cars. Finally the over head switches. Who doesn't love overhead switches. This all gives the interior a feeling of being in an upmarket aircraft rather than a french hatchback. And in fact, almost everyone who has been a passenger has commented that it's like a "spaceship" or "fighter plane". Perfomance wise the Hybrid4 system is great. Considering the weight of the vehicle, this thing gets off the line fast. In sport mode, you can feel the rear motor surging you forward whilst the front wheels do their thing. However the gearbox in this version does need work. The electrically automated manual box takes too long to change up or down. Each change is accompanied by a heavy jolt as the vehicle suddenly loses drive and then regains it. The paddle shifters are a great inclusion, but don't work particularly well when you want to use them to drive aggressively. The ride is fairly hard, but the upshot of this is that the car handles very well, with minimum body roll and precise steering. Finally, the practicality. The boot on the hybrid4 version is quite small. With the rear seats folded there is a decent amount of space, but you get an awkward lump in the middle due to the location of the hybrid battery. Visibility is woeful. I find myself regularly trying to desperately look for oncoming traffic at oblique junctions. And i don't think I could comfortably park the car without the full parking sensors and rear camera package. There is an abundance of room in the front and rear for passengers, however the ridiculous excuse for cup holders in the front door pocket are useless. I think the big problem this car has is that it's trying to be all things to all men. It tries to be a luxury saloon, a sporty hatchback and a high end family car all at the same time. But doesn't quite get any of them spot on. If I was to recommend this car, it wouldn't be as an economical practical motorway cruiser. Itvwould be as a smart sporty hatchback. If you live in a city or in the countryside, then the Hybrid makes sense. However if you're going to be doing a lot of motorway driving, go for the standard 2.0l diesel. Either way this car will charm you into falling in love with it. And I suspect if you are reading this, you already have.