Citroen's second generation C5 has proved to be a huge step forward from its rather quirky predecessor and the Tourer estate version is an even more desirable package. It's spacious, stylish and comes equipped with a range of clever convenience features. Some are familiar (like a motorised tailgate), while some are rare or completely unique at this price point (like self-levelling suspension hydractive suspension).

In its latter years, Citroen's original C5 struggled to sell in any meaningful numbers in the UK and those that did make it here were invariably estate models. The second generation C5 sees Citroen back to its best but its success will depend very much on the sales performance of the Tourer estate variant we're looking at here.

This car retains its predecessor's best bits and attempts to address its issues by injecting a little of the flair previewed on the C6. Can it propel Citroen back into medium range contention in an estate market dominated by impressive contenders?

As you'd expect, the engine line-up is exactly as you'd find in the saloon version, a car that borrowed most of its under-bonnet hardware from the first generation C5 model. The one exception is the 2.7-litre HDi V6 unit borrowed from the C6 executive saloon that suits the C5 Tourer variant particularly well. The petrol line-up begins with the 127bhp 1.8-litre unit and ends with the 143bhp 2.0-litre but it's the diesels that will account for the majority of sales. Citroen are offering HDi oil-burners of 1.6, 2.0 and 2.2 litre capacities respectively producing 110, 138 and 173bhp as well as the 208bhp V6 range-topper.

There are two suspension set-ups to select from in the C5 range. The first is a conventional arrangement that uses double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link system at the rear. The second is the Hydractive 3 Plus self levelling suspension that adapts to the road surface in order to deliver a smooth ride. This system lets the driver to select from three modes that offer progressively firmer suspension settings for a sportier driving experience or a more comfortable one as required.

"It offers a far more elegant ownership solution than one of those mini-MPVs."

At 4.83m long and 1.48m tall, the Tourer adds an additional 5cm and 3cm respectively over the Saloon. Load space is abundant, thanks to the Tourer's cavernous boot (505-litres) and split folding rear seats, which can be laid completely flat to create an extensive capacity of nearly 1500 litres - one of the largest in the segment. Access is made simple and convenient by the Tourer's large tailgate, which can be specified in motorised form and allows bulky items to be loaded or unloaded with ease.

When placing heavy items into the car, a button located on the rear lowers or raises the car's suspension, bringing the boot floor to a more convenient height. Simply closing the tailgate automatically returns the rear suspension to the correct level. Stylish elements include the black or silver roofbars and dark tinted rear side and tailgate windows. There's also an optional panoramic glass roof.

A 12V accessory socket is available for charging or powering electrical devices and a clever dual-function flashlight mounted into the wall of the boot operates as a boot light or a convenient rechargeable hand-held torch. Neat storage solutions can include shopping bag hooks on the boot side walls, side storage nets for stowing loose objects and a luggage cover blind. Ceiling hooks located behind the rear seats and the front seats allow a cargo net to be fitted to retain items during transit.

Prices start from £16,695 and the C5 range is offered in a choice of three trim levels - SX, VTR+ and Exclusive - and, just like the Saloon, the Tourer (offered at a premium of around £1,100 model for model) is extremely well specified. Cruise control and a speed limiter, air-conditioning, external roof bars, an acoustic windscreen and an adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) are all fitted as standard, whilst most versions are equipped with an automatic electric parking-brake and hill-start assist. For ease of parking and pedestrian safety, the C5 Tourer is also available with front and rear parking sensors, as well as a parking gap assistance system.

It's possible to specify your C5 up to a pretty serious level with the higher trim levels benefiting from a raft of desirable gadgets and yet more made available via the options list. The highlights include the integrated NaviDrive control system with its 7" screen, a voice-activated telephone system, a massaging driver's seat, the Lane Departure Warning System that warns you if you drift over a white line without indicating and two different kinds of adaptive headlamps that give improved visibility when cornering. There's also a collapsible pedal assembly that protects the driver's legs in the event of an accident.

The C5 Tourer's rivals are many and talented. There's the Peugeot 407SW with which it shares its engines and many of its underpinnings. An of course obvious rivals like estate versions of the Renault Laguna, Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat.

The diesel engines that most C5 Tourer customers will choose deliver strong economy and low emissions. All the oil-burners in the range are fitted with a diesel particulate filter that cuts particulate emissions to next to nothing. It should all go to make this C5 an environmentally-friendly car and, therefore, an affordable one to run.

Citroen dealers are also well known for their aggressive marketing tactics and buyers will doubtless be able to access some very favourable deals on C5 Tourer models in due course. We can also expect to see special edition derivatives that sweeten the value proposition further. Of course, this kind of discounting tends to have a negative effect on residual values and C5 buyers shouldn't expect a particularly strong performance from the car on the used market.

And residual values? Well, mirroring the performance of the Saloon, second-hand value experts CAP predict residual values for a C5 Tourer 2.0 HDi VTR+ to be second only to VW's Passat estate amongst nine key rivals, marking the C5 Tourer as a practical option for both design and cost of ownership.

Assuming that you don't need to carry more than five people, cars like this Citroen C5 Tourer give you a better reason than ever before not to buy one of those compact mini-MPVs that increasingly ply our roads. It does, after all, offer a far more elegant ownership solution.

Despite its increased dimensions, the Tourer maintains the elegant styling and aerodynamic qualities of its booted stablemate. With a range of proven engines and a choice of suspension systems, this Citroen certainly offers an involving driving experience, ideally suited to users who spend hours on the road or seek a secure and spacious transportation for their families and equipment.

TOP 5 C5 DEALS

The results below show the top C5 deals on buyacar

	Citroen C5 2.0HDi 16V VTR+ 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £283	Saving £4,422	Price £15,049
	Citroen C5 2.2HDi 16V Exclusive 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £351	Saving £4,089	Price £18,221
	Citroen C5 2.0HDi 16V Exclusive 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £316	Saving £4,301	Price £16,638
	Citroen C5 2.0HDi 16V Exclusive 5dr Auto Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £337	Saving £4,998	Price £17,508
	Citroen C5 2.7HDi V6 Exclusive 5dr Auto Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £405	Saving £4,718	Price £20,529

typical 11.98% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000