Item: DS 5
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

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<p>The DS 5 comes quite well equipped, with Elegance very generously specced and Prestige lavishly so. Standard kit includes LED daytime running lights, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control and a 7.0in infotainment system with sat-nav. The jump up to Prestige isn’t cheap, but it adds a leather interior, 18in alloys and a reversing camera, while Performance Line sits in between them and mainly offers cosmetic tweaks, including the options of different colour packs.</p>

<p>DS reliability is still largely unknown, but Citroën has a poor record in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey. Every DS model comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.</p>

<p>For safety, the previous Citroën scored a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating but the latest model’s safety rating is yet to be disclosed. It comes with driver, front passenger, front lateral and curtain airbags.</p>

<p>Although the DS 5’s range of efficient diesel engines should help to keep running costs down, its starting price makes it as expensive as a BMW, Audi or Mercedes which, when you consider how far behind these rivals it is in some vital areas, makes it hard to recommend. It has poor resale values, too, so you’re likely to take quite a heavy hit in depreciation if you buy the car new.</p>

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<p>The diesel engines will be the best sellers in the UK, and our pick of the range is the lesser-powered 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150 variant. It offers plenty of mid-range shove and delivers its power fairly smoothly. The entry-level BlueHDi 120 diesel doesn't feel powerful enough for a car of this size, and the gains in fuel economy and CO2 emissions aren’t enough to make it a better pick. The most powerful diesel, the BlueHDi 180, is the most refined of the three but the BlueHDi 150 offers the most rounded package in terms of performance and economy, and has low CO2 emissions.</p>

<p>Our favourite engine is only available with a manual gearbox, which feels a little vague and notchy. The six-speed automatic gearbox isn’t any better; it’s lethargic with all of its shifts, and doesn’t judge downshifts well in particular. The most powerful diesel is only available with the automatic.</p>

<p>The DS 5 is very far from matching the smooth ride and sharp handling on offer from the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. The steering is vague and lifeless, and rather heavy, which means low-speed manoeuvring is harder work than it should be. This weighty feel is welcome at motorway speeds, however. Body lean is kept in check through the corners, but the DS 5 does run out of front-end grip surprisingly quickly.</p>

<p>The DS 5 suffers from a fairly firm ride that means it’s not the most relaxing executive car to drive or be driven in. It’s an improvement over the previous model, but road imperfections aren’t easily absorbed, and there isn’t even a sporty drive to compensate for this.</p>

<p>Refinement is largely acceptable, although some of the engines are rather boomy at low speeds. They do tend to quieten down at faster motorway speeds, but refinement levels are then brought down again by an increase in wind and road noise.</p>

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<p><span>Our overall rating:</span><span>Rated 2 out of 5</span></p>

<p>The DS 5 is the premium French brand’s flagship model and an executive rival to the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/saloon/review/n105">Audi A4</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a>, and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/review/n70">Mercedes-Benz C-Class.</a></p>

<p>It’s actually a facelift of the Citroën DS5 – which was launched when the two brands worked as one – but <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ds">DS</a> is now a standalone brand, pitching itself into the premium market.</p>

<p>The DS 5 has an eye-catching design but a very steep list price, which means it’s just as expensive as the established German rivals it’s up against. This means that in order for it to be competitive it’s going to have to match its premium executive rivals in every area, particularly in driving dynamics.</p>

<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5pEM8Tsx2Ng"></iframe></p>

<p>The line-up includes three diesel engines – these will be the most relevant to UK buyers – and two petrol units, plus a diesel-electric hybrid with all-wheel drive. It’s available in three trim levels.</p>

<p>Read on to get our in depth impressions of the DS 5, along with our recommendations for which trim levels and engines to choose if you’re interested in a quirky alternative to the German rivals.</p>

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<p>The quirky exterior styling is matched by a striking interior, which is by far the DS 5’s greatest asset. While its German rivals may outdo it for perceived quality, the DS has an interestingly flamboyant design that makes some competitors seem rather functional by comparison.</p>

<p>The seats are large and supportive, and there’s plenty of adjustment in both the driver’s seat and the steering wheel to help you find a comfortable driving position. Visibility is largely good but the spoiler cuts across the rear windscreen, which slightly obscures the view.</p>

<p>All models are generously equipped and come with a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system which is fairly easy to use, but it’s set quite deep into the dashboard so requires a bit of a stretch to operate on the move. Other luxuries included as standard are sat-nav, dual-zone climate control and a head-up display.</p>

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Hatchback

<p dir="ltr">DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the PSA Group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.</p>

<p dir="ltr">In 2018, DS stated that it planned to launch a new model every year, with all of these influenced by the French fashion industry and&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.</p>

<p dir="ltr">First to arrive (that same year) was the&nbsp;DS 7 Crossback – a large SUV that competes with the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Then in 2019 this was followed by the smaller DS3 Crossback SUV, which is not only available&nbsp;with petrol and diesel engines, but also in fully electric E-Tense form.</p>

<p dir="ltr">More recently, DS&nbsp;unveiled its answer to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class luxury saloons. And while this DS 9 won't now go on sale until 2021, when it does arrive it will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric power.</p>


<p>The DS 5 has plenty of style but it falls short of its established rivals in every area, and it’s expensive to buy</p>


<p>Up front, the driver and passenger have plenty of head and leg room. However, in the rear, things are rather more cramped, and head room is particularly restricted, due to the DS 5’s sloping roof design. Leg room is not much better, either, and sitting three abreast is a bit of a struggle.</p>

<p>The 465-litre boot is a little smaller than its rivals, too, but the DS 5 has the advantage of a more practical hatchback opening, as opposed to the saloon shape of its competitors. It does have a rather high loading lip, however, which makes it quite tricky to load things into it or to get your shopping out of it.</p>

<p>The rear seats are easy to fold forwards, but they don’t go completely flat. It also has a parcel shelf that’s split into two parts, which makes it a bit fiddly to remove, but slightly easier to store in the boot.</p>

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The DS 5 has plenty of style but it falls short of its established rivals in every area, and it’s expensive to buy

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Effortless long-distance capability</li> <li>Strong standard specification</li> <li>Low running costs</li> <li>Comfortable driving position</li> <li>Comprehensive yet easy-to-use infotainment system</li></ul>

<p>Executive cars are often the choice of company car drivers, so factors such as CO2 emissions (which govern your monthly tax bill) are just as important as cruising refinement for those long motorway journeys, a plush cabin and (whisper it) the image of the badge on the bonnet.</p>

<p>The good news is that there are options for all budgets and tastes. If rear space is crucial and you’re willing to put up with a less-than-premium badge, the Skoda Superb is tough to beat, while if you want a premium badge on the bonnet then the BMW 3 Series is consistently one of our favourites in this class.</p>

<p>And don't think you're limited to just petrol or diesel-powered choices in this class,&nbsp;because at the top end the Tesla Model 3 is well worth considering for its long range and engaging driving style.</p>

Executive

DS 5 review

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Read the definitive DS 5 2022 review from the expert What Car? team. Check specs, prices, performance and compare with similar cars.

Our overall rating:Rated 2 out of 5,The DS 5 is the premium French brand’s flagship model and an executive rival to the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.,It’s actually a facelift of the Citroën DS5 – which was launched when the two brands worked as one – but DS is now a standalone brand, pitching itself into the premium market.The DS 5 has an eye-catching design but a very steep list price, which means it’s just as expensive as the established German rivals it’s up against. This means that in order for it to be competitive it’s going to have to match its premium executive rivals in every area, particularly in driving dynamics.The line-up includes three diesel engines – these will be the most relevant to UK buyers – and two petrol units, plus a diesel-electric hybrid with all-wheel drive. It’s available in three trim levels.Read on to get our in depth impressions of the DS 5, along with our recommendations for which trim levels and engines to choose if you’re interested in a quirky alternative to the German rivals., 

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