Citroen surprised a lot of people with their C6 executive saloon. It turned out a genuinely classy performer with just the right amount of Gallic quirkiness to differentiate it in an overwhelmingly Germanic market sector. Its lack of a prestige badge was always going to produce serious depreciation problems that would limit its appeal but Citroen was definitely on to something. The latest C5 could well be the car to deliver on that promise. It sets out to bring many of the qualities of the C6 to the medium range sector where a Citroen badge is no such handicap.

With hindsight, you'd have to say that Citroen's C5 never really managed to set the medium range sector alight in its first incarnation. The car that arrived to replace the Xantia in 2001 was never a favourite amongst the fleet managers and company car users who ultimately determine whether a model of this type stands or falls. That's not to say that the car didn't have its merits. Some decent diesel engines and the Hydractive 3 self-levelling suspension system made the C5 a comfortable and economical motorway car but bland styling and an almost complete lack of the sporty flavour that helped models like Ford's Mondeo dominate the sales charts ultimately hampered its prospects. The new C5 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?

Surprises are in short supply within the latest C5 engine range with the majority of the units carried over from the outgoing car. The one exception is the 2.7-litre HDi V6 unit that debuted to considerable critical acclaim in the C6 executive saloon. 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. Saloon and Tourer estate bodystyles are on offer.

"This C5 is a larger car than the model it replaced and one of the biggest in its class"

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.

This C5 is a larger car than the model it replaced and one of the biggest in its class. The saloon is fractionally longer than its Ford Mondeo equivalent and almost as wide with the estate measuring in with an extra 5cm of length. Citroen has paid particular attention to soundproofing in the cabin fitting laminated side windows and an acoustic windscreen to supplement the absorbent body and roof linings that were developed for the C6.

The interior sets out to mirror the high quality feel of the C6 and although the centre console looks a little overloaded with buttons, the clean lines of the fascia and the chrome detailing create an upmarket effect. Citroen is well known for including high levels of gadgetry in its vehicles and a further cluster of controls on the fixed-hub steering wheel will help the driver access the more important features without diverting attention from the road. Space for rear seat passengers is helped by the flat floor. Go for the Tourer estate and you get 505 litres of space with all the seats in place and nearly 1500 litres with the seats flat folded.

Styling was not a strong suit of the original C5 but today's car appears to have banished the frumpiness that scuppered its predecessor. The huge headlamps joined by the double chevron grille produce a distinctive front end and the highlight at the rear is the concave windscreen as seen on the C6. The deep swage lines that run down the flanks just below the line of the door handles is very BMW while the sculpted wheelarches help produce a dynamic stance. If anything the 'Tourer' estate version is a better looking car than the saloon with its sloping roofline and rear light clusters that curve right round the corners of the vehicle,

Saloon prices start at £15,595 for the petrol models and from £16,595 for the diesels, with a £1,100 premium for the Tourer version. Either way, there's a choice of SX, VTR+ or Exclusive trim levels. 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. Standard equipment includes cruise control and a speed limiter as well as six airbags, ABS and ESP stability control. There's also a collapsible pedal assembly that protects the driver's legs in the event of an accident.

The C5's rivals are many and talented. Ford's Mondeo is the obvious car to beat but Volkswagen's Passat, Vauxhall's Vectra, Renault's Laguna and Honda's Accord are all in there scrapping it out. The C5's job is made doubly difficult by the fact that these accomplished vehicles are fighting for slices of an ever-diminishing pie. The growth in popularity of compact 4x4 vehicles, including Citroen's own C-Crosser, compact MPVs and premium hatchbacks has hit sales of traditional medium range models. That said, there are still rich pickings for whichever of the C5's contemporaries can best strike a chord with the buying public.

The diesel engines that most C5 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 the 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 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.

Taking elements from its immediate predecessor and the C6 executive saloon, the latest C5 looks like it has the credentials to make an impact in the medium range sector. With eye-catching styling, a solid diesel engine range and Citroen's technology heavy approach, it's a car that appears to do the basics while remaining just different enough to stand out.

The C6 was an important car for Citroen and a brave one but not a commercial success. By filtering technology and design features from that executive model down to the C5, there's every chance that all that innovation and hard work could finally pay financial dividends for the French marque. Its medium range sector rivals notwithstanding, who would begrudge Citroen that?

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	Saving £2,706	Price £16,884
	Citroen C5 2.0 HDI 16V VTR+ 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,549	Price £15,941
	Citroen C5 2.0 HDI 16V VTR+ 4dr Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,782	Price £17,308
	Citroen C5 2.0HDi 16V VTR+ 5dr Auto Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,938	Price £18,252
	Citroen C5 1.6 HDI 16V VTR+ 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,417	Price £15,173