Used Citroen C5 X (Mk1, 2022-2025) buyer’s guide: a great family car that’s spectacular value for money
A full used buyer's guide on the Citroen C5 X that was on sale in the UK between 2022 and 2025
Verdict
The Citroen C5 X may have been something of a sales disaster for the brand, but that doesn’t mean it’s a poor buy, especially now that you can pick one up for a reasonable price. Even when new the C5 X was great value for money, but now it’s nothing less than spectacular. We ran a C5 X PureTech 130 Shine for an entire year on our fleet; we extended the loan because we loved it so much. Stylish, comfortable, relaxing to drive and packed with technology, the luxuriously appointed and proportioned Citroen also has a roomy cabin and a spacious boot. We’ll be the first to admit that the C5 X isn’t an obvious choice, but sometimes that can be a good thing.
French car makers don’t have a great track record of selling large cars in the UK. The Peugeot 605 and 607, DS5, Citroen C6, Renault Avantime and Vel Satis all failed to deliver, and it’s always been the same. So when Citroen announced in 2021 that its C5 X was set to come to the UK, there were some who wondered why.
But there were also those who cheered, because this was a car that had a foot in three segments: saloon, estate and SUV. Citroen marketed the C5 X as a model with “audacity combined with innovation for a serene touring experience”, but buyers weren’t impressed and they largely stayed away – across the whole of Europe, not just the UK.
History
The Citroen C5 X went on sale in the UK in July 2022, having been unveiled more than a year before. There were three powerplants initially available, including two petrol engines. These were the familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech 130 unit, and the 1.6-litre four-cylinder PureTech 180. Alongside these was a plug-in hybrid, which combined the PureTech 180 engine with an electric motor to give up to 222bhp. The plug-in hybrid had a 12.4kWh battery which gave up to 37 miles of electric motoring; software updates in November 2022 raised this to 39 miles.
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A refresh in February 2023 brought infotainment system improvements, a contrasting roof option, faster wireless phone charging and, for Shine Plus editions, updated driver-assistance systems. At first there were Sense Plus, Shine and Shine Plus trim levels, but from August 2023 these were changed to You, Plus and Max; within a month the Hypnos had been added at the top of the range. Citroen axed the C5 X in May 2025.
Prices
There aren’t masses of C5 Xs on the used market, but there are enough to go round. Shine Plus is by far the most common trim and the vast majority of C5 Xs have the PureTech 130 engine, while the rarest is the PureTech 180. About one in five C5 Xs has the plug-in hybrid powertrain.
You can get your hands on a used Citroen C5 X for less than £13,000 through our Buy a Car service.
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On the road
Citroen focused on comfort above all else with the C5 X, which means a fabulous ride and excellent refinement to ensure that long-distance high-speed drives are as relaxing as possible.
The downside to this is that the suspension wallows a bit, so in corners there’s more lean than is now fashionable. However, there’s lots of grip and, unless you’re going far too quickly, the C5 X handles pretty well in bends.
Although the steering is a bit over-assisted it does feel precise, whereas the brakes lack feel and it’s this area that we reckoned left the most room for improvement.
Which one should I buy?
The PureTech 130 is by far the most common engine, but the least luxurious, although it’s perfectly adequate. The PureTech 180 feels much more lively, but it was dropped after a few months, which is why we’d go for the plug-in hybrid, not least because you could slash your fuel bills if you can charge at home.
No C5 X is spartan. Even entry-level cars get front and rear parking sensors and a rear camera, LED headlights with high beam assist, 19-inch alloys, artificial leather trim, dual-zone climate control, privacy glass, a 10-inch touchscreen and an eight-speaker hi-fi.
Mid-range models add multiple driver-assistance systems, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display and a 12-inch touchscreen. The Shine Plus got a 360-degree camera, leather trim, electric seat adjustment and an electric tailgate.
Alternatives to the Citroen C5 X
As a car that refuses to be pigeonholed, the C5 X has no rivals, or lots of them. The closest alternative is the Peugeot 408 that shares much with the Citroen. It also blends multiple segments and has a great interior, but the i-Cockpit design, with its small steering wheel, divides opinion.
The DS No.4 is another Stellantis rarity that’s refined and luxurious, but not as good to drive as it should be. The Skoda Superb is roomy, good value and comes with some great engines, but it’s very conservative compared with the Citroen. That’s also true of the Audi A5 Sportback, Ford Mondeo and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, all of which are very talented.
What to look for
Common faults
Fault patterns are hard to pin down, but forums suggest that parts availability can be a problem, the front seats are uncomfortable, connectivity can be erratic, and alarms can go off for no reason.
Going spare
All C5 Xs had a compressor and puncture repair kit instead of a replacement wheel, but a space-saver spare wheel was available on PureTech editions. The plug-in hybrid can’t house a spare wheel, though.
Mild one
By the time the C5 X was axed, Citroen had slimmed the model range down to just the Hybrid 136 edition, in Plus and Max forms. This featured a mild-hybrid powertrain, but full-hybrid editions are very rare.
All the gear
From the outset all C5 Xs came with an eight-speed automatic gearbox with no manual option, but the automatic transmission really suits the car. All C5 Xs are front-wheel drive.
Interior
The C5 X’s interior is brilliant: supremely comfy, with lots of premium materials and great infotainment; the dash looks modern with responsive digital displays, plus there are switches to control key functions. With lots of front-seat adjustment, excellent head and legroom in the back, plus up to 1,640 litres of boot space, it’s impressive.
Running costs
All C5 Xs need to be serviced every 12 months or 12,000 miles, with the first two check-ups costing £254 and £299. After that they run through a cycle of Minor (£219), Main (£254) then Major (£264). The brake fluid needs to be replaced every two years, at £65, and while the 1.6-litre engine is chain-driven, the 1.2 unit has a cambelt. This has to be replaced every 10 years or 112,500 miles; expect to pay £600 for this, plus £150 to replace the car’s water pump, which is recommended.
Insurance groups for the PureTech 130 are 20-21, but they’re 25-26 for the PureTech 180, and 30-31 for the plug-in hybrid version. All PureTech models cost well below £40,000 when new. Entry-level PHEVs were a bit below £40k, but mid-range and top-spec models broke that threshold, which means a £620 Vehicle Excise Duty bill until the car’s sixth birthday.
Recalls
Citroen has recalled the C5 X three times, all because of possible fuel leaks under the bonnet, which could lead to a fire. The first campaign was launched in October 2022, because a few C5 Xs made between February and June 2022 were fitted with damaged rubber fuel pipes on the production line.
The next action came in February 2025, because of insufficient crimping of the fuel pipes on some C5 Xs produced between August 2023 and August 2024. This could lead to the pipe detaching; the fix was a new pipe. The most recent recall was issued in July 2025, because the connections hadn’t been tightened up sufficiently on the high-pressure fuel rail of some C5 Xs built between October 2023 and April 2025. The cure was to tighten up the connections.
Driver Power owner satisfaction
The C5 X hasn’t appeared in our Driver Power owner satisfaction surveys, but lots of Citroens have, and they’ve tended to do well. In 2023 the Mk3 C4 topped the poll, with the C5 Aircross finishing ninth in 2024. The C5 Aircross moved up one place in the 2025 survey, while the C3 Mk3 ranked an impressive 12th.
Just as encouragingly, Citroen came fifth out of 32 in our 2024 Brands survey, proving that it has made huge strides with its products in recent years.
Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.
Used Citroen C5 Xs for sale
2022 Citroen
C5 X
16,007 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L
Cash £17,197
2023 Citroen
C5 X
17,605 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £15,700
2022 Citroen
C5 X
41,521 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £13,397
2023 Citroen
C5 X
34,651 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £14,697
2022 Citroen
C5 X
29,179 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £13,762
2022 Citroen
C5 X
33,502 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £13,100
2023 Citroen
C5 X
43,126 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £13,900
2022 Citroen
C5 X
36,998 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £13,697
2022 Citroen
C5 X
36,609 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L
Cash £16,927More reviews
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