Used Citroen C5 X 2022-present review

Once upon a time, many years ago, Citroën cars were both distinctive and wonderfully charismatic. Inevitably, in more recent times, they've become a bit humdrum, but this uniquely-styled Citroën C5 X is certainly trying to bring back a little of that old-school individuality.

It's an estate car with a hint of the SUV about it. There are large 19in alloy wheels, a slightly raised ride height and some eye-catching cladding around the nether regions. What you’ve got is something akin to those mildly off-road estate cars like the Mercedes E-Class All Terrain and Volvo V90 Cross Country. And, after a few years on the new car market, the C5 X makes for an intriguing used buy.

Engines & Performance: The C5 X comes with a choice of either 1.2 or 1.6-litre petrol engines (badged PureTech 130 and PureTech 180), or a plug-in hybrid version (badged PHEV 225). The 1.6-litre engine was dropped from the range at the end of 2023.

Even the base 1.2 has respectable acceleration, with enough oomph from low in the rev range. The 178bhp 1.6-litre PureTech 180 petrol is much keener to build speed, though. It cuts the 0-62mph sprint time to 8.8sec and gives you more than enough pull for any situation.

However, for truly punchy performance, the plug-in hybrid has a 0-62mph time of 7.9sec and is the quickest model in the range.

In regards to refinement, the C5 X’s Puretech 130 engine can be quite vocal – even if you don't push it hard – while the Puretech 180 is quite the opposite, and you’ll rarely hear it as you drive along. Naturally, the PHEV is the quietest and most relaxing option.

Ride & Handling: On its standard-fit 19in wheels, the C5 X glides over minor road imperfections and does a good job of cushioning you from ruts and potholes. You can still pick up the odd thump when you drive over something with a sharp edge, though.

The C5 X exhibits plenty of body lean if you turn into a bend at speed. However, it’s quite pleasant to steer, exhibiting just enough weight to reassure you. If you’re after a sporty estate, you’d be better off going for a Ford Focus Estate or the more expensive BMW 3 Series Touring.

Interior & Practicality: You sit lower down in the Citroën C5 X than in most large SUVs but higher than you would in an estate car. The car's Advanced Comfort Seats are lined with memory foam to make them soft but still supportive.

The C5 X's entry-level Sense Plus trim comes with a 10.0in landscape-oriented infotainment touchscreen, while all other versions get a 12.0in one. The graphics are pleasingly crisp, but the menu layout isn’t the most intuitive and the screen is occasionally slow to respond to inputs.

The interior quality in the C5X is impressive. There's a pleasing palette of materials on show, and it's a pleasant place in which to spend time.

Space up front is excellent, and there's a lot of leg room in the rear – certainly enough to compete with the limo-like Skoda Superb Estate.

At 545 litres – or 485 litres for the PHEV version – the boot in the C5 X is big enough to cater for most families' needs. It may not be as big as the Superb's, but that’s more than enough space for a large weekly shop or a couple of buggies.

Trims & Equipment: Even the entry-level Sense Plus trim is well equipped. Along with infotainment gadgets and visibility aids, it comes with dual-zone climate control, 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry, tinted rear windows, cruise control and automatic LED lights and wipers.

Mid-range Shine adds plenty of useful extras, including a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, wireless phone-charging, a larger 12in infotainment screen and a head-up display.

The range-topping Shine Plus versions add heated and electrically adjustable ‘Paloma’ leather seats, acoustically insulated front and rear windows, an electric tailgate, blind-spot detection and an upgraded 360-degree reversing camera.

If you're interested in finding a used Citroën C5 X, or any of the other estate cars or SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices start at just £18,500 for a 2022 1.2 Pure Tech Sense Plus with a moderate mileage. Up the folding stuff to between £20,000 and £24,000 for a good model from late-2022 or 2023 with a moderate mileage, or an early example of the PHEV models. You'll need between £25,000 and £30,000 for a 2023 or 2024 car.

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MPG: The 1.2 130 returns a WLTP figure of 48.1mpg, while the more powerful 1.6 180 achieves 44.5mpg. The PHEV has an official figure of 269.5mpg, and can run on electric-only power for up to 39 miles from a full charge.

Road Tax: All C5 X's have been registered after the tax changes of April 2017, so will pay an annual road tax currently £180 per year for petrols and £170 per year for hybrid cars. Be aware of the luxury car tax supplement for cars costing more than £40,000 new, which is currently set at £390 a year between years two and six.

Servicing: The C5 X should be serviced annually or every 10,000 miles. A Citroën service plan starts from just £15.99 per month on examples that are less than 12 months old. Alternatively, you can pay on the day, with the first service being £199 and the second year being £249.

Once your C5 X is more than three years old, you can opt for a fixed price of £179 for a minor service, and £299 for a major visit.

Reliability

The C5 X has a mixed reliability record according to real-world owner reviews from our annual What Car? Reliability Survey. Key issues revolve around electrical systems and infotainment glitches, though many were resolved under warranty. Owners' opinions on dealer services vary significantly; some commend their local dealerships for their helpfulness, while others face responsiveness and appointment scheduling challenges. These positive and negative experiences balance the car's overall reliability.

Discover more about the reliability of the Citroen C5 X on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine: You might imagine that the Citroën C5 X's entry-level 128bhp 1.2-litre PureTech 130 engine would struggle to pull such a big car along, but its acceleration is perfectly respectable, with enough oomph from low in the rev range. In fact, the official 0-62mph sprint time of 10.4sec makes it slightly quicker than the Skoda Octavia Estate 1.0 TSI, despite that being a smaller car.

Trim: Entry-level Sense Plus trim is our pick for the C5 X because it presents the best value for money while still offering plenty of toys. Along with infotainment gadgets and visibility aids, it comes with dual-zone climate control, 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry, tinted rear windows, cruise control and automatic LED lights and wipers.

Our favourite Citroen C5 X: 1.2 130 PureTech Sense Plus

The latest BMW 3 Series Touring arrived a few years earlier than this C5 X, so it's no surprise it's cheaper to buy used. What won't be surprising is that its interior is better built and more luxurious. The 3 Series Touring is also more fun to drive.

The Audi A4 Avant has a similar mission statement in providing a classy estate car experience. It's also very comfortable and refined over a long journeys – more so than the already-competent Touring.

The Ford Focus Estate is great to drive and cheaper to buy, with a smooth and quiet Ecoboost engine in some versions and low running costs.

The previous-generation Volkswagen Golf Estate is worth considering, although it has been replaced by the latest Mk8 Volkswagen Golf, which shares its underpinnings with the current Octavia Estate. VW's model is brilliant to drive, well-equipped, refined and comparatively cheap to run. On the other hand, the interior is a little dreary.

The Cupra Formentor is an SUV that offers a great driving experience, a smart interior and a good kit list. With used prices of around £20,000, it's reasonably priced, too. Watch out for reliability, though: it ranked 33rd out of 34 cars in the family car category of our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. Its reliability score of 81.5% is poor.

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If you're interested in finding a used Citroën C5 X, or any of the other estate cars or SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.