With an aim to provide more practicality than the average sedan, the Citroen C5 X gets a raised ride height like an SUV to tackle bad tarmac and an extended rear like an estate for more cargo room. It is the brand's latest quirky looking and stand-out product that is supposed to lure customers away from traditional models.
Styling is the C5 X's main forte. It takes inspiration from the 2016 CXperience Concept which debuted Citroen's 'Advanced Comfort' design philosophy. At the front, the C5 X features a similar arrow head LED headlight design like the CXperience concept car, the sides get black body cladding which complements the extra ground clearance. The CX 5 looks like a proper cross estate, which primarily features an increased ride height to have the capabilities of an SUV minus the huge size. The CX 5's roofline slightly slopes at the back and the rear gets a raked windscreen and two spoilers.
Citroen's second task on the to-do list was to give the C5 X the famed ‘magic carpet’ ride quality like the DS and CX sedans of the past. They have therefore, with the C5 X introduced an Advanced Comfort active suspension. This system promises an even more comfortable and smoother ride than the Progressive Hydraulic Cushions system we saw on the Citroen C5 Aircross which made its India debut a few days ago.
The interior is also styled and set up with Citroen's Advanced Comfort design ethos. The CX 5 has a wheelbase of 2,785mm and a 545-litre boot space capacity. For utmost comfort the CX 5 gets Citroen's mattress-style Advanced Comfort seats. The dashboard houses a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen that features voice control, smartphone mirroring, over-the-air updates and a 360° Vision Surround View Camera. Also present are four USB sockets, a wireless charging pad and a full-colour heads-up display. The standard panoramic sunroof and large windows will ensure more light in and hence make the interior feel bigger than it already is.
“It’s a car you want to drive, but you want to be driven in as well”, says designer Pierre Leclercq.
Additionally, the C5 X offers semi-autonomous level two driving. This includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Keep Assist.
The Citroen C5 X has been revealed with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. This version gets a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine which gets electric assistance from a gearbox mounted electric motor and produces a combined output of 221bhp. The 13.2kWh battery promises an electric only range of 50km. It will also be offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines whose details are yet to be officially unveiled.
Citroen has just entered the Indian market with the C5 Aircross SUV, their future plans include introducing localised made-in-India models in the coming months. The C5 X, with the blend of three distinct body styles, is certainly an experiment in design and whether it will find acceptance in the international markets or not, remains to be seen in the coming months.