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CITROEN DS5 Review

OUR TEST CAR: CITROEN DS5 Hybrid4 2012

 
The Go
CITROEN DS5  - Page - 3
We'll start this chapter under the car, where, contrary to what you might've expected, we do not find the platform of the C5. Instead, the DS5 is underpinned by the PF2 platform, which it shares with vehicles like the C4 and the 3008 crossover.

Having a compact car platform in the mid-size segment brings drawbacks, starting with the fact that the rear suspension isn't independent. Fortunately, the Hybrid version we tested uses a setup that's different from the rest of the range. It does away with the torsion beam in favor of a multi-link setup, with this being required by the fact that the rear wheels have to be powered by the electric motor of the car.

The DS5 employs the diesel-electric cocktail that's been missing from the market, combining a 2.0-liter HDI oil burner with an electric unit. The 1,997 cc diesel delivers 163 hp and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft) of torque and sends its power to the front wheels. At the same time, the electric motor mounted at the back, which feeds the rear wheels, brings the overall output of the car to 200 hp. The mix also includes an automated manual gearbox, which offers six ratios.

The system is very good at turning the car into a relaxed cruiser, but this is the only thing it can do. If you're not in a rush, the three components will work together to give you the feeling that you're sailing along in hyperspace.

However, when you introduce the pedal on the right to the floor mat, you will be disappointed by the lazy gearshifts. Moreover, the indicator that replaces the rev counter will show you that you're using full throttle, you won't feel that there's too much action going on.

So, this car must be driven in a relaxed manner, in which case it will reward you with a pleasant experience that will make you want to use it longer and longer. The all-round independent suspension manages to deal with the road's caprices pretty well, which means that the DS5 Hybrid4 is a good cruiser.

As for the efficiency, the official figures send your jaw directly to the floor, with the carmaker claiming an official fuel efficiency of 4.1 liters per 100 km and CO2 emissions of 107 grams per 100 km. In the real world, the extra 150 kg brought by the electric systems and the lazy gearbox mean that you'll need to push the throttle a bit too often, and thus those figures become pure fantasy.

Through the corners, the extra weight of the hybrid can be felt, but the experience is a decent one. You won't be invited to throw the car into a bend, but you won't feel unsafe either. However, while the ride is pleasant enough for cruising, the handling isn't what you expect when you hear the notion of "four wheel drive".
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