Citroen C5 X review: Unique French fancy is a hybrid in more ways than one

Motoring journalists have long had a soft spot for big French cars.

Something about their rejection of mainstream thinking and quirky design seems to appeal to a certain subset of the media.

But that’s not always reflected in the choices of the car-buying public. While the press wax lyrical about the DS, the CX and the C6, big Citroens often remain the preserve of a handful of brand enthusiasts and those looking to be deliberately different.

That has been particularly true in recent years as the D segment saloon/hatch - Mondeo, Insignia etc - has been supplanted by the SUV on people’s driveways.

According to Citroen, however, customer tastes are changing, leaving a gap for a new Citroen C5 Xtype of large car. Buyers still want the easy access and high seating position of an SUV but they want the “elegance” of a saloon and old-fashioned practicality of an estate. The French brand’s answer is the C5 X - an unusual amalgamation of the three which actually works better than you might expect.

Design

Visually, it has the long, swept-back lines of a saloon but from the sides there is an estate/shooting brake feel to the way the rear three quarters stretches out. Meeting the apparent endless need for SUV cues, ground clearance is higher than a traditional saloon and a thin line of cladding flows over the arches where 19-inch alloys lurk with refreshingly tall, comfort-focused tyres.

Practically, it also pulls off its three-in-one brief pretty well. That slightly raised ride height does make for more comfortable entry and exit and a good view of the road ahead, and interior space is impressive. It’s still more of a four-seater than a five-seat but as long as you and your passengers aren’t much taller than six foot, everyone will fit comfortably. Legroom is commendably generous and headroom is good for all but the tallest of passengers.