Used Citroën C5 2008 - 2016 review

When Citroen launched the C5, the marketing message was that the car was as good as anything built in Germany. Although it's not quite a match for the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series, you'll be pleasantly surprised by both the design and build quality.

The C5 is big on refinement, and impressively hushed at motorway speeds, because passengers are well insulated from wind-, road- and engine noise. It's also comfortable, with lots of legroom in the front and back, while only the tallest passengers will find the rear headroom restricted.

Citroen has upped its game with a contemporary cabin design, but some of the controls can be confusing, and rear visibility is restricted. It's a saloon, so access to the boot is restricted, but the rear seats fold down flat for longer loads.

The C5 has good handling, combined with a supple ride that irons out most lumps in the road.

There are plenty of diesel C5s on the used market - lower running costs and better resale values mean they're cheapest to own in the long term. The baby 1.6-litre manages an average of 50.4mpg, ahead of the 2.0-litre with 47.1mpg. The 2.2-litre is still respectable at 43.5mpg, but the 2.7 and 3.0-litres can manage only 33.6mpg and 38.2mpg respectively.

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

This C5 is a genuine step forward in terms of build quality and design - compared to the previous model, so expect its resale values to stay in touch with those of the Ford Mondeo, but it will lag behind those of the Honda Accord and Volkswagen Passat.

Finding a petrol-powered C5 is not easy, because nearly all new buyers favour diesels. The 2.0-litre petrol feels livelier than the1.8-litre version - and isn't noticeably more thirsty. There is an automatic petrol model, but these are extremely rare on the used market.

By contrast, there's a wide range of diesels available, which should suit all. Frugal drivers should go for the 108bhp 1.6-litre which averages 50.4mpg, but we would choose the 136bhp 2.0-litre, because it provides the best blend of performance and economy. If it's extra power you want, then check out the 171bhp 2.2-litre, or the 205bhp 2.7-litre - or even the 3.0-litre V6 with 237bhp.

The entry-level SX comes equipped with climate and cruise controls as well as all-round electric windows. Choose the VTR+ and you'll get alloys, automatic lights and wipers, and dual-zone climate control. In mid '09 the VTR+ Nav edition was launched with sat-nav as standard. The top-of-the-range Exclusive models bring electrically adjustable seats, parking sensors and a gas suspension system as standard.