The article was originally produced on December 14, 2011, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Citroen DS5 Hybrid4

Maybe you shouldn't use alcohol as similes in a car context, but DS5 really is like a combination of the strongest and tastiest spirits in a blissful mixture, either you hate it and think it tastes like monkey or you absolutely love the insane mixture.

It's time for number three in Citroën's DS family to take its place on the roads, this time it's the DS5 with the DS3 and DS4 as former younger siblings. The DS family carries a clear sign that is about premium, it is not difficult to understand what intentions the brand has with the twentieth century DS line, take ground from the German in short! Is DS5 the right wood for the job?

The DS5 is not a sedan, nor is it a pure station wagon, it is not an MPV and it is not a coupe either. A difficult nut to crack if you still stubbornly want to place the DS5 in a compartment. However, the DS5 contains a bit of all the mentioned factors, the best ingredients to be exact. It is almost as spacious as an MPV and station wagon, but has a torsional rigidity and a chassis similar to a sporty sedan or coupe.

 

At the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show, the DS5 was shown to the public for the first time, but the C-SportLounge concept was shown as early as 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Just over six years later, we are now on the French Riviera to indulge in this beautiful creation. For the DS5 is truly velvet to the eyes, with bold and challenging lines across the entire body, it is a joy to just stand and look at the DS5, not a single surface has been left untouched by the designer. For example, the leather work in the comfortable chairs has been imitated by a link to a wristwatch.

Inside, the fireworks of designed lines and surfaces continue, almost bordering on exaggeration. They wanted to get an airplane-cockpit feeling in the passenger compartment, says Pierre Monferrini, who is responsible for the DS5 concept. The roof panel above the driver and passenger is a two-part pane with a multitude of buttons and controls on the beam between the panes. The beam also contains two practical compartments for sunglasses, one on each side for the driver and passenger respectively. Like the previous DS models, the steering wheel is chamfered at the bottom for a sporty look. 

We are housed in a hotel in the upper price range at the far end of the Cap Ferrat promontory between Nice and Monaco. It is not difficult to understand the intention of the standard of the hotel and how Citroën wants us to oppose the DS5. And at first it really feels like the brand will actually succeed in getting the concept off the ground, because the DS5 both feels and looks exclusive and sporty. However, it is when you start the car and roll away that the impression changes a little, with a bumpy and noisy cabin, the exclusive feeling found in one of the German competitors quickly disappears. This can be explained by choosing not to use the fine air suspension found on the C5, for example. Then the twenty inch rims don't make the ride any less bumpy. In order to achieve that extra sporty feeling, Citroen has installed a membrane at the air intake which should give that sporty growl from the engine sound, something which unfortunately is mostly annoying after driving for a while. 

The engine options that Citroen will offer the DS5 in are a petrol engine of 200 horsepower and a diesel engine of 163 horses, as well as the Hybrid4 version. The latter has the same hybrid line that is currently in the Peugeot 3008h, a diesel engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear that drives the rear wheels, together both engines provide 200 horsepower. We chose to drive the Hybrid4 version on the test drive, precisely because it matches the rest of the car that looks forward. And right here the car's identity comes into its own again, because with silky smooth electric drive you glide along the city streets, just as smoothly as it should feel in luxury cars. At the same time, the system offers four-wheel drive, which favors road holding.

So is it possible to mix a drink with the strongest and tastiest spirits and make it a taste experience beyond the ordinary? In the case of DS5, one would probably at first sight and sip of the drink answer yes, the color of the contents is incredibly beautiful and seductive. And the first impression when the drink touches the tongue makes the taste buds explode in a symphony. But then when the first wave of flavors subsides comes the sharp hard taste of pure liquor, it bites and reveals everything that the drink is basically about, nothing can be hidden. But after the strong taste of liquor fades away, the fine spectrum of different flavors reappears and the feeling of well-being and pleasure comes to you again. DS5 is an incredibly interesting combination of different flavors and some will love them and others will hate it, we like it, do you?

+ Masterfully designed car with all flavors involved.

- Hard and bumpy chassis.