Used Citroen C5 X 2022-2025 review

What's the used Citroen C5 X like?

Once upon a time, many years ago, Citroën cars were both distinctive and wonderfully charismatic. Inevitably, in more recent times, they've become more mainstream, 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.

Overview

The Citroën C5 X offers impressive comfort, hard-to-beat refinement and a slightly raised, SUV-like driving position. It's good value used, too.

Pros

• Comfortable ride
• Good value bought used
• Refinement is mostly impressive

Cons

• Soft handling
• Boot not the biggest
• PureTech 130 can be vocal

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Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Sense Plus EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,850

Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Sense Plus EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £27,630

£10,900

Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Sense Plus EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£10,995

Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Sense Plus EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£10,995

Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Shine EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£10,995

Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Sense Plus EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£11,295

Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Sense Plus EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£11,395

Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Sense Plus EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£11,681

Citroen C5 X

1.2 PureTech Shine Plus EAT8 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£11,750

See all available cars

The C5 X went off sale in 2025, its parent company saying it wanted to concentrate on more profitable lines. However, a used C5 X is now an intriguing proposition.

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.

"I ran a C5 X as my company car for several months, and I really liked it. It was spacious, comfortable and a bit different. It was reliable in my hands, too, although on one occasion I was locked out of it for a time." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

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.

Ownership cost

What used Citroen C5 X will I get for my budget?

Prices start at just £13,000 for an early 2022 car. Up the folding stuff to between £15,000 and £17,000 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 £17,000 and £22,000 for a 2023 or 2024 car. Spend upwards of £23,000 on the last 2025 models.

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Our recommendations

Which used Citroen C5 X should I buy?

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. This engine option is also the cheapest and most prevalent on the used car forecourts.

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

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Citroen C5 X?

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.