Skip advert
Advertisement

Citroen DS5 Hybrid4

We drive the new large luxury hybrid from Citroen - is it worth the high price?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Citroen DS5
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The DS5 is an incredible car to look at, has a fantastic cabin and boasts some impressive technology in the shape of a new, highly economical and very cheap to tax diesel hybrid drivetrain. Yet its stiff ride, jerky transmission and vague steering hold it back. As a result, it’s neither a sports saloon nor a soft and relaxing limousine. And although it’s very well equipped, that price tag puts it up against very talented and desirable rivals from premium brands.

Advertisement - Article continues below

You have to admire Citroen’s persistence. It has tried to grab the public’s attention with a large range-topping model many times – but no flagship since the original fifties DS has really hit the mark.

So can this latest interpretation do just that? The new DS5 is a luxurious, hi-tech crossover aimed at Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and top-spec Ford Mondeo buyers. It goes on sale in March, priced from £23,000, but that rises to £34,000 for the Hybrid4 model that we’ve tested here.

Video: Watch CarBuyer's video review of the DS5

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68829","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

First impressions are good. The DS5 is one of the most striking cars to emerge from Citroen’s design studios. Those who remember the C-SportLounge concept from 2005 will be pleased that the company has effectively put that car into production.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

52,849 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,900
View Qashqai
5008

2022 Peugeot

5008

46,225 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £18,506
View 5008
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

67,042 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,506
View Puma
EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC

It’s just as impressive inside, with a cabin unlike any other in the class. You sit quite high, surrounded by what seems like acres of soft-touch material. There’s a bank of switches overhead that control the individual sunroof panels and head-up display. Citroen says the DS5’s interior has been inspired by an aeroplane cockpit, and it certainly feels that way.

The seats are covered in watch strap- style leather, while aluminium and other metals are used extensively on the facia and doors. If it weren’t for the plasticky steering wheel-mounted gearchange paddles and below-par stereo switches, the dashboard would score top marks.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The DS5 is based on the smaller C4 rather than the larger C5 platform, and its 4.5-metre length falls between the two. At 1.87 metres, it’s slightly wider than the C5, yet it’s also taller (1.5 metres). These dimensions give the car its unique proportions, but they also result in some compromises. A six-foot-tall passenger sitting behind an equally tall driver will be cramped – there’s not much headroom or space under the front seats for feet.

In the Hybrid4 model, the battery pack and electric motor – which drive the rear wheels and sit at the back of the car – encroach on boot space. Conventional diesel and petrol DS5s have 468 litres of luggage room, but you only get 325 litres to work with in the Hybrid4.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

However, the new powertrain offers many benefits. The combination of a 163bhp 2.0-litre diesel with an electric motor gives road tax-free CO2 emissions of 99g/km on cars with 17-inch wheels. That rises to 107g/km on models with 18 or 19-inch alloys. It’s also remarkably fuel efficient, capable of up to 74mpg (on the smallest wheels) and runs mostly in silent all-electric mode around town.

Flicking the centre console dial to Sport gives you the engine’s full 200bhp and plenty of torque, which gets the DS5 up to motorway speed with ease. 4x4 mode runs the two power sources together for maximum traction, while ZEV puts the car in full electric mode for as long as the batteries have charge – about two-and-a-half miles. In Auto mode, the car will swap between the two as needed.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The drivetrain isn’t perfect, though. The six-speed automatic gearbox is very jerky when changing up under full power, the steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters are slow to respond and the diesel engine is noisy under full throttle.

What’s most disappointing, though, is the way the DS5 behaves on a twisty, bumpy British road. The suspension is fine over large undulations, yet manhole covers, potholes and cambered roads make it crash and wander. Even in 4x4 mode, the front wheels slip and spin in the wet and the steering tugs in your hands when you accelerate hard.

It’s not a particularly good cruiser, either. The ride is fidgety and the steering is oddly weighted – it’s responsive and light initially, then gets heavier the more you turn. It needs constant correction to stay in a straight line on the motorway.

So the Hybrid4 is not great to drive, but it is well equipped. Our car had lane departure warning, headlights that turn with the steering, plus a multimedia system with sat-nav, road sign recognition and Bluetooth music streaming.

The trouble is, you could buy a Range Rover Evoque, Audi A6 or BMW 5 Series for the cost of this Hybrid4. The DS5 will definitely attract customers who want to stand out, but we think the cheaper, non-hybrid models make more sense.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £8,094 off RRP*Used from £13,199
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,600
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025