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CITROEN DS5 Review

OUR TEST CAR: CITROEN DS5 Hybrid4 2012

 
The Show
CITROEN DS5  - Page - 2
"Spaceship" - This was the most common word used by people to describe the DS5's looks during our test drive, with the range of persons asked about this varying from automotive engineers to construction workers.

Indeed, the DS5 bets on the futuristic card, but it doesn't take things too far, so it will be appreciated by everybody. It all starts with a few styling gimmicks, such as the use of huge 19-inch wheels to the introduction of two massive exhaust ornaments, out of which one has an actual pipe connected to it. However, from here on, it's all the designers' work that brings credit to the car.

The market needs such proposals, so we can all see that you don't necessarily have to be extremely aggressive, or turn to the past, to draw a stunning car. People don't just see the DS5 on the streets - they'll also remember it and, for those who pay attention to cars, it will inspire them, just like a work of art.

And the exterior is just half the story, as the cabin of the DS5, especially when using the range-topping equipment level on our test car, is just as appealing. Every little detail has been reinvented, and while some of the interior features draw inspiration from Citroen's past, it all gives you the same impression of "spaceship".

The driving position is comfortable, as the seats are just what you'd expect them to be: comfortable and even eye-catching. The futuristic steering wheel is ergonomic and so is the tiny lever of the automatic gearbox, once you get used to it. The instrument panel is a perfect example of how retro shapes should be mixed with LCD displays to produce an extraordinary result. The materials are nice to touch, whether we're talking about the leather on the seats or the plastic on the dash.

However, unlike the exterior, the cabin does have some flaws, most of them being the inevitable tributes paid to originality. First of all, the all-round visibility is not quite perfect, but you can live with it. The same goes for the ergonomics. Want an example? The window controls placed on the center console might complete the airplane cockpit look, but they're not intuitive.

In addition to that, it looks like the designers ran out of inspiration when they reached the front passenger's area. That's because the dashboard is way too simple in terms of styling here - it's all a huge plastic area that's far too conventional for this car's originality and premium ambitions.

All in all, the cabin wins you the audition for the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and when you activate the individual sunroof above your head, you feel just like you're on Enterprise' main deck. You do have to pay a practicality price for this, but this is not unreasonable.
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