Used Citroën C5 Estate 2008 - 2016 review

You may not expect the Citroen C5 Tourer to deliver style and substance, but it'll handle the school run, trips to the tip and shopping sprees, while still looking sophisticated.

For an estate the C5 is supremely refined and quiet, even at motorway speeds. Passengers are protected from wind and road noise, only a little engine noise creeping in. There's ample leg- and head-room for five, and the cabin is a pleasant environment; only the fussy dashboard may distract you.

The C5 does have a big boot, but rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6 offer greater carrying capacity, partly because the sloping rear tailgate eats into the load space. As you'd expect, the rear seats fold flat for larger loads.

The Citroen handles decently, and has a supple ride that irons out most lumps. It's unsettled by larger bumps, however, and there's noticeable body roll through faster bends. The conventional suspension set-up has the slight edge on the optional gas-filled system.

The 1.6-litre baby of the family manages an official of 49.6mpg, beating the 2.0-litre's 46.3mpg. The 2.2-litre is still respectable at 42.8mpg, but the rarely seen 2.7- and 3.0-litres manage 33.2mpg only and 38.2mpg respectively.

With CO2 emissions roughly the same as its rivals, the C5 won't cost much more to tax than the likes of the Mazda 6 - unless you opt for the powerful diesels, which peak at 225g/km for the 2.7-litre. Insurance premiums shouldn't cause any nightmares, with cars classed between groups 8 and 14.

This C5 marks a genuine step forward in build quality and design compared with the previous model, so should hold its value better. Expect it to keep up with the likes of the Ford Mondeo Estate, but not the Honda Accord Tourer.

Finding a petrol-powered C5 Touring on the used market is nigh on impossible, so you'll probably find yourself looking for a diesel.

The 1.6-litre diesel with 108bhp may provide an official average of 50.4mpg, but it can feel underpowered. The 2.0-litre with 136bhp will suit most people, as it provides the best marriage of performance and economy. For more power check out the 2.2-litre with 171bhp, the rare 2.7-litre with 205bhp, or even the almost mythical 3.0-litre V6 with 237bhp.

The entry-level SX comes well equipped with climate and cruise controls as well as electric windows all round. Stump up for the VTR+ and you'll get alloys, automatic lights and wipers, and duel-zone climate control.

In mid-2009 the VTR+ Nav edition included sat-nav as standard. The top-of-the-range Exclusives have electrically adjustable seats, parking sensors and air suspension as standard.