The DS5 is an underrated car that can rack up huge mileage in diesel guise. Worth looking at if you are on a budget and want something different as a used car.
I drive a hybrid DS5 which has just ticked over to 252,000 miles and has been incredibly dependable. It has everything you could want. Heated, electric leather seats which massage you, a heads up display, sat nav, xenon headlights, 3 sunroofs, automatic everything, keyless entry and a great sound system. The main issue is that the early ones really do have a shockingly hard ride quality (although the hybrid model is slightly better as they have independent rear suspension), and they eat front springs for breakfast. But thankfully in typical PSA fashion all of the oily bits are shared with other Peugeot' and Citroen models, so parts aren't expensive. It's incredibly quiet on the motorway though with its laminated side windows, and the cockpit interior still feels very special over a decade on.
"Eats front springs for breakfast" 😅 I own a C6, front suspension bits are consumables! The laminated windows you don't fully appreciate until you get into something without them.
@@palandi The gearbox has been fine, it works just as well as it did new! Of course maintenance is key, a gearbox fluid service helps keep it in good working order. It's not quite as smooth as a regular torque converter gearbox, the gear changes are more obvious (given that it's an automated manual) but the hybrid system smooths out the "gaps" in power where effectively the car is dipping the clutch to change gear, so you don't really notice any clunkiness compared to the non hybrid models. If the hybrid battery is depleted though and for a few minutes only the front wheels are being driven, you do notice the difference when the car drops down into 1st gear.
I just bought an used one... I always loved how quicky it is and since it is not very looked after, i got one at the price of a used small city car.. I'm loving it
Well I have owned a white DS5 for 5 years,I bought it second hand,it has the 165hp diesel engine and it is the longest I have owned a car,it drives great, it has never failed a MOT,in fact has had no advisories,I love the shape of it,I have the two toned seats a expensive option at the time,this was a concept car in the 2010 Paris motor show,and Citroen put it into production with minor changes,and it looks so good it is different,they are a rare car to see on the road,which is great,I love the glass roof,you can have the passengers have the sun,or just you the driver,or just the front seat passenger,they are a serious bargain second hand ,the paint is so hard unlike mercedes and other cars,my car has no stone chips,so the DS5 was brought out in 2012,and the design still looks good,bad bits the glove compartment is a joke,no space saver wheel,thats about it,at the moment you can buy these cars for less than 6 grand they are a bargain for what you get.
@@mitchbomcanhao Not so on the Adblue diesel models.The Adblue tank is HUGE,and lives beneath the floor of the boot,so all you get is an inflator and a puncture kit. Upside is,unless you do a big annual mileage,that tank will probably last a twelvemonth! Mine gets a “reload” at my annual service,as part of my MOT/service contract.
I could never understand this kind of marketing. Take an iconic brand - Citroën - and push it aside to promote 'DS' which offers dressed-up PSA models (essentially perfectly decent) cloaked in a cynical association with something totally different from the past. Almost as silly as the current MG. Or Daimler-Benz's attempt to re-introduce Maybach which served to devalue the status of Mercedes. Does anyone buy these artificial, constructed 'brands' because of the reference to past 'glory'?
I think they were going for a “Lexus, Acura, Infiniti” type deal and build an upmarket standalone brand. But failed miserably. It’s not a bad car. But for the money, a bmw, Audi or Benz is just better.
I guess they all want to pull of the same trick as Toyota did with Lexus, Honda with Acura and Nissan with Infinity. Of those three, only Lexus made it outside of the USA though as I think stateside they're much more attuned to car companies having hierarchies of brand - Chevrolet > Pontiac and GMC > Oldsmobile > Buick > Cadillac
My mum had a wonderful blue and white Citroen DS Safari, the state version the French used for ambulances….she used to hit 100mph on the way from London to granny in Scotland…although we were stranded in Dumfries for three days while someone drove up some replacement hydro pneumatic spheres that the morris garage had no idea about as had never seen it before 😅. Most comfortable car ever….these modern DS are a branding exercise….id go for an older C6 personally..❤
@@stephenberry8658I had a C5 and loved the look of the DS5 so had a test drive of one and it just wasn’t as good. Steering felt disconnected and it wasn’t as comfy. The late C5 is a fantastic car.
I think the DS5 is a good car in today's money, they can be picked up quite cheap now and its something different? If you get one with the 2.0hdi engine they are very reliable and can rack up starship mileage without much trouble. Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👍
When regular manufacturers introduce an upmarket brand they seem to not do that well (Lexus excepted), but when they introduce a utilitarian brand they seem to succeed, and those brands often end up being more desirable. There are loads of posh families in the part of London I live in with Skoda Kodiaqs and Dacia Joggers all with the obligatory roof box or bike rack. Can't really imagine most of those people buying anything as flash as an Audi or downmarket as a Renault. They seem to sit quite nicely for them.
But Toyota isn't a regular mainstream brand, they already had a massively strong reputation for reliability and a cult status in the US and Australia, so Lexus wasn't really hurt by it's parent brand. Same for Acura, which still does well in north America, Honda is a beloved brand.
@@alexanderstefanov6474, Toyota are as mainstream as you can get...one of the largest car companies in the world and to this day still one of largest companies in any industry...
The problem I found with the DS range was that the specs were half baked. "Sir would you like leather seats. Yes I said, "I'd like them heated as well" - "No Sir, we can't do that" - "Oh, ok I'll have a full panoramic sunroof then" - No sir, we can't do that either! (This was 2018)
My DS has heated seats it has a sunroof ok not a opening sun roof,but a glass roof and you can open the blinds to allow passengers to have sun or just you the driver its anazing
I was curious about the 3 sunblind system too until I realised that it actually solves a specific problem. If it was just one big panoramic sunroof, rear headroom would be terrible because of the sunblind roller (and swooping roof line). So they moved the sunblind roller(s) to the centre where they can't affect headroom.
I had one of the first DS5’s when they were still badged Citroen. It would not be a match for an A4 or 3 series but then again it was a lot cheaper. It was a lovely place to be but didn’t handle particularly well. I covered 120,000 miles in it and the only fault was a sensor on the driver’s door handle which failed.
Spot on as usual! Remember taking one for a test drive when they came out. After about 2 km turned around, dropped it off and walked straight back to my Alfa 147 (still got it) and never looked in that direction again. Sad since we got a 1965 ID19 and a 1972 DS21 in our family..
I had a 147 2.0 TS manual... I think it's a really unappreciated car! One of the best looking hatchbacks ever designed. Best 4cyl engine note I've ever heard. Mine was reliable for 3yrs and I sold it for more than I bought it for. Wonderful car. Enjoy!
@@garycollard1981 Definitely will. We got it in 2002 and is still in perfect condition. It's black with red interior, 2.0 Selespeed and so far been totally reliable. Even the gearbox!
It’s a totally different type of car though. I had a 147 and loved it. The TS engine is a masterpiece. I wouldn’t compare it to a DS5. I had a C5 and that was better than the DS5. I’ve got a MiTo now and in “dynamic” mode it comes close to the 147, but the electric power steering lets it down.
I am the fleet manager of our company, so I drive a lot of medium class cars for testing. In my opinion it was the biggest mistake of Citroen to drop the hydropneumatic suspension, since it was (in newer days) the only reason to buy one of their cars. Their attempt to go up market with a car, which doesn't have any real specials compared to a Renault or a Hyundai, was dead in the beginning. Trying to compete with BMW, Audi etc. is a joke. And even with another medium class car like VW or Skoda they can't make it. 08:25 Have a look at that. No further discussions necessary.
Yes, I worked for PSA when the 605 was current, another huge mistake. Peugeot bought every car that went to auction in an attempt to maintain a good used value, it must have cost them a fortune. For mainstream manufacturers like PSA group to compete with MB or BMW is always going to fail because they lack the perceived status needed to sell to that sector.
The original DS was completely unique - unlike any other car (So was the 2CV in its own way), but I am not sure it would ever be possible to do that again in this day and age.
One thing I have noticed about Peugeot/Citroen offerings, when they've aged ten or more years, is that they seem to rust a lot less than most other European brands, barring perhaps for aluminium Audis and Jags. A bargain priced used vehicle that isn't falling to bits before your eyes isn't a bad thing for people who just want transport and are prepared to put up with less than stellar dynamics. Good review there Jack.
I like the DS5 - although I’m always at odds with PSA trying to give some historic link from their modern ‘whackily styled’ Peugeots to the iconic Citroens from their heyday.
I really miss the glory days of PSA. I had a ZX and it handled like a dream, as did the 306, 405/406. I often drove my sister's 206, and that was pretty good, too. But I really think that was the end. Perhaps the C6 was worthy. Somehow, they gave up their 90s heyday design brief. I used to so look forward to going to France on holiday, around the early 2000s, and hiring a small french hatchback. Went again last October, after an absence of 19 years (been spending all my money on cars😂) and the selection on offer from the hire company was just depressing. Ended up hiring some evil crossover that looked and handled like a brick. It's literally put me off going back to France. "When I was a boy... ".
Totally agree on all that, I had a ZX Volcane which was so fun to drive and did everything well, agree re 405/406/306 etc. Lots of great things about modern life but I did find cars back then more interesting and distinctive.
If you go to France you see a lot of French cars - a few Toyotas and a smattering of VAGs but the French are suspicious of ostentation and you don't see loads of Range Rovers or even BMWs. Mercedes have always had a presence since the days when they were taxis to the world.
@@malcolmlane-ley2044 Not really, it's mostly to do with environmental taxes on big engined cars. Also the Big Three (PSA and Renault) are heavily subsidised by the government and benefit from a massive dealer and aftermarket network, so it makes a lot of financial sense to buy domestic. Premium German brands are popular in France, but mostly in the hatchback, exec saloon/estates and compact SUV segments.
Always thought these were beautiful. The harsh ride and iffy performance prevented me from getting one as a daily runner at the time. Got a DS3 instead which was a blast.
‘It looks like nothing else on the road’ Hmm. Looks like a mildly pumped-up Peugeot 308 to me, but looks are always subjective. Lovely review as always Jack.
The question still remains to be answered...is a Citroen (or a DS for that matter) a REAL Citroen, without the hydroneumatic suspension? Try an C5 (X7) with hydro and one with the "metalic" suspension. I believe it was the ONLY model wich you could choose what kind of suspension to get...and you can come to a definite conclusion. As an owner of a C5 with HYDRO and having tryied the "metalic" setup, I can assure you guys...its a world of difference!!! And even by today standards, it still is one of the most confortable cars in the segment...above! And on a personal note, the ONLY worthy Citroen of the DS brand is the C6...shame that it never came to be...a DS. Cheers and keep it up!
I have a Citroen C4 , the one the DS5 is based on and I appreciated the chasis and the ride quality 2 weeks ago when I got my Cupra Leon e-hybrid 245........
Until you sit in them, they're not comfortable. Obviously comfort is highly subjective but I was very disappointed when I sat in one, the seats are quite hard which is ridiculous in a French car
I owned a Peugeot 607 HDI 2.2 auto and it was kind of similar. The suspension didn't have enough travel and although it was fast enough once moving it was very slow off the line as first gear was just too high. It's a shame because the packaging, interior space and comfort were brilliant and it had a huge boot.
A neighbor is a Citroen factory trained technician. When out walking I make it a point to walk by his place of business to see what all he's working on. Lately, there's an assortment of Citroiens, and they're seldom boring.
It was built in mid 10's where all cheap brands were looking to bring faux luxury to their cheaper models. Just like Ford with the Vignale line, where cheap electronics and a plethora of accessories, they made production runs with full extra features for an "affordable" price. Especially the Ford Vignale line of cars promised free car washes and some extra goodies that never came to fruition, because of the pandemic shortage of electronics and seeing a drop in sales because no one was allowed to move. All these faux brands failed, but it was fun. Don't ask me how I know so much about the Ford Vignale....
I sort of get DS, because they're kept separate from Citroen and the dealers can give DS buyers an enhanced service, but I just never understood the Ford Vignale. How on Earth did Ford think it could treat a customer with a Mondeo Titanium X with a lesser service than someone stood in the queue with a Mondeo Vignale? Utterly nuts. No wonder Ford has quietly pensioned off the Vignale trim level.
@@wainerollins2587 Ford has a history of failed/faux luxury sub brands. My father bought an escort ghia back in 98' when it was eol and it was fully packed. I got my fiesta vignale because i also wanted lots of accessories and it was a value for money and the dealer gave me a lot of extra goodies and even cut the price. The problem is with custom bumpers and trims, but thank poland for being the car warehouse of europe for cheap 2nd hand parts.
Really well presented with interesting comments on the design both external and interior. I’m not sure I would be tempted to take the plunge with the DS brand but I can definitely see the reasons why people would choose to.
I had a couple of C5 Citroens pre the Germanic version.Simply eat up long distances especially the later 2litre 16valve HDI and I liked the dark dash button which kept the dashboard lights off apart from speedo. Contrasts with all the screen junk on new digital dashboards currently on offer guaranteed to keep you distracted from the serious job of paying attention to the road.
An Ace review and I really like that Citroen DS5! The original DS was before my time but just seeing photos of it inspired me to the Citroen brand. I stuck with the brand for many years in spite of horrendous reliability issues. Electronics were just as bad but that didn't stop me from wanting to buy a new DS4 last year...that is until I opened the bonnet and discovered how similar it was to my old C4. Despite of the plush leather cladded interior, most people know that a DS is a just Peugeot/Citroen/Fiat/Vauxhall dressed in bling, so there's nothing special about the DS. This is such a shame.
It is a beautiful and very distinctive car. It was one of my choices for the first car. But eventually I've got an Alfa Romeo 159, which looks sexy and gives you a pleasure from turning the wheel every time.
@@SabotsLibres DS es CITROEN, y por si no lo sabes, a citroen le debe Peugeot su internacionalización , gracias a sus centros de mecánica, tecnología, fabricas, infraestructura y centros de desarrollo. La linea DS, ya Citroën, en el año 2012, antes de pertenecer a Stellantis, separo su centro de ID y desarrollo, y su director, así como su jefe de diseño es el mismo del citroen. y eso de que C1/108 y Toyota Aygo son Daihatsus, infórmate bien antes de decir algo tan absurdo y patético, hay que informarse antes de decir tantas tontearías
Great video as always. I particularly wanted to watch this one as i was pretty sure where you were going with it . I have a DS3 and generally like the car , 1.6 diesel mapped to 130bhp and still returning 60 mpg daily but my god is it a bone shaker !! Fine on a motorway or nice bit of tarmac but unfortunately with the state of uk roads these days i have to be constantly scanning the road surface ahead and avoiding pot holes . Strange decision making the ds ride so firm i agree.
I have 2013 DS4 HDI. It is absolutely brick hard and very uncomfortable on British 3rd world roads the steering is very dull and lacks feel. But saying that I like it all the same. Actually fancy a DS5 next for more punishment. 🤷🏼♂️
I had that very model it was brilliant the only thing missing for me was a 3.0ltr turbcharged petrol engine that would have made it unbelievable any other shortcomings would have been tolerated no problem, the only reason I moved on was a fetching Bentley Arnage that I couldn't afford without sacrificing the DS5.
Thank you for the review of this car which I didnt know much about. Citroen (PSA/Stelantis) seem to be only playing with 'DS' name to try and make a halo brand which does not really work. In the 1970s about when Citroen ran out of money they tried to capitalise on the D-Saloon by making a high performance version (the SM) because the D was always criticised for its 'poor' engine but by the end of production it had fuel injection and was a near credible alternative to newer executive offerings. What PSA did here with DS5 was to try and push existing old technology upmarket rather than developing something entirely new and making a brand from that. To make a distinctive decent strong-selling product that then create two or maybe three sub products including a halo car could be what Citroen really wanted to do but appear to have lost their way. A few other brands are also utilising hydropneumatics but whay has Citroen given up - the DS5 here doesn't seem to utilise anything that sets it apart from any other well made modern car but the older models do D, CX, GS, XM, Xantia (particularly the Activa), C5 (hydro) and C6. Today I learned that President Macron prefers the C6 over the 'DS' brand and the government fleet still run C6 vehicles.
I feel Citroën has a valid design team, but maybe not a very savvy engineering team. We don't get Citroën brand in the states, so they do seem very unusual, but hearing the dynamics, engine choices, and suspension setup, I don't think they'd have had much success over here. Thanks Jack, another interesting and cool review. I'm I'm a big fan of your channel. 👍✌️
My daily driver is a light blue 2012 2.0 HDI model and i think it's a really good looking car just a shame about the ride quality, i remember seeing a comment about the DS5 once saying "It looks like a big Citroen should it just doesn't ride like one" and i agree with that comment but apart from the ride it's been a great car
relaunched 2015 model and onwards when they removed Citroen from the badge name, they improved the suspension which people complained about most in the previous years, and they added better sound proofing glass so it was much quieter. I'm looking for one of these with the watch strap seats. I've test drove one and it's great...very comfortable.
I still remember how stoked I was when I first read "Citroen announces a new DS". I definitely expected something in the true spirit of the original DS. Then came the first pictures and I went "this is utter shit! Merde! Who in their right mind would buy this overpriced $hitbox?" It felt like an absolute betrayal. It's no surprise this thing failed.
I love the looks and the interior. I could even overlook the iffy chassis dynamics. But what put me off buying one of these is the chronic unreliability. I had a Peugeot 308 GT 175, which is fundamentally the same car. I loved it but it was never out of the garage and when the warranty ended I chickened out and sold it.
Morning Jack. Sad to see the brand like this. It basically lack passion which the french are known for. It looks like the account department took on this project and as such (to me) it just looks like a nissan or renault SUV of sorts. My neighbour has a DS ehich they bought new in London. Drove it around the world before settling in Australia. Its beautiful.
For the steering weighting point, is the lane departure nanny state setting turned off? I remember driving a KIA ceed.with that and steering would randomly.feel.weighted
@@dennislane100 The DS 5 has a boring nose that spoils the whole car, compared to the Citroen DS5 nose. One doesn't call a Lexus a Toyota, or an Inviniti a Datsun. Stellantis wants Citroen and DS to be distinct brands. Citroen is imported in South Africa (where I live), DS is not.
@@PhilbyFavourites Had the car (2007 2.7 Lignage) for 2 years and did circa 30000 miles in it. Great car loved it felt like a real occasion to drive it. Fit and finish were also surprisingly good. It used to get plenty of looks. It though was chronically unreliable. Not helped by the the Jag/Land Rover sourced engine always going into limp mode, and the fabled but over complicated suspension always seeming to break in one way or another. Wonderful car just not one you would want to own. In my experience.
Had one of these a couple of years back, 2.0 manual. Same spec as on the video, but certainly not reliable enough for long term ownership. As with all PSA products, electrical gremlins crept in and reliability was questionable at best. It was a fine looking machine and had a great driving position, but the frequent PSA dashboard bongs encouraged me to trade it on once the extended dealer warranty was near expiry.
Hi Jack, if I may, I have a possibly intriguing car suggestion! As an owner myself, I’d recommend(if you’re interested in it) a Citroen Xsara VTS (the 2.0L 167hp petrol), it’s comfortable and somewhat practical, but really fun to drive! I would offer my car, but it’s not in amazing condition right now, and I also live in Australia so as you can imagine, it wouldn’t really work. I definitely suggest you try one out, though! I personally have a phase 2, but I think the phase 1 handles and drives basically the same, since the phase 2 is just a facelift.
I had the top of the range Citroen DS5, it was a gorgeous car inside and out, people would stare as I drove past. It was very reliable but eventually I sold it as the quality of the ride was terrible. It was jarring and would feel like there was no dampers most of the time. Was especially worse for the driver as you could feel the jarring and bumps through the steering wheel. It was better for the passengers. It is however still one of my favourite cars of all time due to its absolute uniqueness and undeniable style. If I had space to park it, I would have kept it as a 2nd car.
Of the 15 cars i've owned only 3 have turned heads and had women actually stop me to ask for a ride or just coo about how good the car looks - my jet-black ST-185 Celica GT4, my Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo, and my pearlescent white 1st gen DS5. The DS5 was a very luxurious feeling car and a pleasure to look out of my window at in the driveway. To drive it wasn't anything special, and being the hybrid version, even with a combined 200bhp on tap in sport mode, the fact the far was over 2 tons with a tank of fuel and myself on board meant it wasn't exactly lightning quick. It did feel very Buck Rogers on the inside, and I always felt cosseted and cared for while I was inside.
I'm pretty sure that there was a hybrid version that had an electric motor assisting through the rear wheels and that model had independent rear suspension.
It’s a DS, not a Citroen DS. DS with Alfa Romeo & Lancia are Stellantis’ premium brands. I’m Area Manager for the DS / Peugeot / Citroen / Opel importer here in Greece,yes they’re cousins with Peugeot but they are radically different inside and I think very stylish
Hello Sir, naming brands like Alfa and Lancia with Ds in the same sentence should be a punishable offence.😂 Stellantis is merrily leading a number of iconic names to certain death. Just look at the 'pastiche' that the new electric/hybrid 208-bodied Lancia Y is!
Oh boy. I'm having a hard time adjusting to Stellantis being one group, instead of PSA and FCA! If Stellantis is one group now, why no new Alfa Romeo Giulietta on the Peugeot 308 platform (not that this would be a good thing necessary),if Stellantis can afford to do a new Vauxhall Astra on the Peugeot 308 platform?
I had a brand new 2.0 hdi for 2 months in 2014 and covered 2,000 miles in it. I wanted to love it, but in the end, it was style over substance. The centre console had one compartment that was too small for my phone and the one underneath, I could fit my whole arm in. There were no cup holders, which waa annoying when doing 6 hour drives. The sat nav was useless and couldn't keep up with a sequence of roundabouts so I had to pull over and get out my Garmin. That being said, it rode perfectly fine (except for a few knocks at low speed) and not as hard as all the critics made out. Softer than my bmw 1 series on runflats. The hdi engine was really eager (but couldn't even manage 40mpg). The plastic on the dash was cheap and nasty, but i loved the retro instrument panel, which looked like it had been designed by a child in the 1980s and the glass roof with the 3 windows was pretty cool. The worst though was the start button. Mine didn't come with stop start and I stalled coming onto a busy roundabout. In a conventional car, you'd just turn the key off and on again to quickly restart the engine. Here, I pressed the start button, which instead of restarting the engine, turned the whole car off. Not very helpful! 😄
I drove BX and some XMs. So I appreciatie the brand. But... Competing with the Germans with a sub par chassis, steering and choice of powertrains is just a way to degrade your business. Unmentioned logic behind this was their target market China, with different expectations.
It was also assembled in China for the local market due to Chinese import restrictions. I also read somewhere that the auto box post facelift had been sourced from a Chinese manufacturer:-)
I think a V6 and hydropneumatic suspension could have framed the entire car in a different way. It could be seen as a baby R class and more of a spiritual successor to the SM and CX. THey could have done a souped up GTI version just like with the CX. I once drove an early Hybrid diesel 200hp that had been chiptuned to 240hp. Was quite gutless, did not feel like more than 140. Transmission was slow and shocky. Steering was very vague, it felt like the wheels were not attached to it, but radio controlled by it. The car I drove also had a hidden gun space under the centre console. Which I think you'll need if you plan on running away from the cops in this.
There was a Citroen with the German looks and the engine and suspension, it was the C5 X7 This they just needed a better 4 pot and some suspension tweaks. Thinking about it, they should have just nicked the bits from it other family member the RCZ Type R
If you think these are bad, you need to drive a DS3. Absolutely awful. Cheaply made using a cast off PSA floorpan (Pug 207 - which was bad enough), it is a car with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The last proper Citroen was the CX - everything after that was a compromise with Peugeot bits. Not bad cars like the DS3, but not really in the mould of cars like the CX, GS etc. The C6 is probably the exception - now that was a Citroen. As mad as a hatter, very pretty (this DS5 heap isn't - it's hideous) and really very good.
My sister had a 207 I hated it. I have a 206 1.4 estate and it handles pretty great. I have surprised bigger and fancier cars with it. Best 400 pounds I have spent on my 05 banger. I fitted a new axel and fresh shocks just such a fun car. The 207 I hated with a passion. All my cars have been 205s and 206. My dad got a 206 estate cheep from my bro. 8:39 He did not like the seat and I got it for free. I'm going to do it up 67k miles my estate has 125k plus. I find the 206 estate a great handling chuckable car. Progressive lean narrow tyres break away gradually fun fun fun. I served most of my apprenticeship on PSA so no fears reliability wise. Stelantis oh boy I'm not too keen on the new newer stuff. Too chintzy and trying to be German arrrrrrgggh. German brands have the snob appeal but skin deep are crap.
I had a 65 plate with the 2.0 litre 161bhp engine. I really liked the car but even with all the glass it felt bit claustrophobic . I always wished it was a few ihches bigger in every direction. Mst annoying thing though were the very shallow, difficult to reach cup/bottle holders at the front of the door pockets
I have owned four assorted Citroens over the years. An AX GT,a BX GTi, a C3 Picasso diesel, and now,a DS5. Mine is the”base” model,120 HDi((1.6 turbo diesel,Adblue, six speed manual box).Brilliant on fuel,euro 6 compliant,and only£20 road tax. Downside,as Jack said ,is the suspension. Mine would probably have been better,but the original buyer spent an extra three grand on “extras”,MOST of which,I really appreciate,BUT,the 19 inch wheels and low profile tyres,I most definitely could do without. They look superb,but every pot hole is a bloody nightmare, as they have ,effectively , undone any improvements to the suspension made in 2015 , and having once owned the glorious floaty suspension in my BX GTi, I really wish they had made the effort to put this in the DS5. It would transform the whole driving experience beyond measure. One small point;-another comment mentioned the pathetic glove box(couple of C.D..s and a first aid kit in mine),but completely overlooked,as did Jack, the enormous air conditioned storage space under the central armrest! Perfect for chilling your sarnies and cold drinks on a long haul.
My next door but 1 had a beautiful nearly identical 18 plate hybrid DS5 which he loved and as im a bit of a Fan as i have a 15plate DS3 which i consider the best looking supermini. My neighbour has just got rid for a 24plate lovely spec 4x4 Dacia duster.
Ive got a 2012 2.0 DS5,, had it for 5 months after looking around for almost a year. I love the styling,, granted mines had a few issues, but ive done a stage 1 remap and love it. Ive got to say though, i much prefer the pre-face lift versions of the DS5. I personally think the front end looks MUCH better with the Citroen logo then it does the DS. Just how its styled looks better. My next upgrade is to find a decent android car play unit for it 😅
As French motors go and I've run a Peugeot Partner van during the week for 7 years and although poorly built it's uttely reliable, I'd consider a DS because it's cheap quirky and none of those hydraulic suspention issues.
I've had Peugeot 405 1.6GR 93K, 405 1.9TD GLX 95N, 406 2.1TD 97P &2.0HDI 04 all were great drivers car's. I've experienced the ride&handling of a Citroën BX but never bought any Citroën as the complex suspension put me off.
The DS5 was beautiful and well equipped car doomed by a negative press who can’t cope with unique. They have to pigeon hole everything , put it in a box with competing models and if they can’t they’re convinced it doesn’t fit in and they don’t like it. A friend has a low mileage one that’s years old but he’s kept it in new condition and it’s unusual and lovely. VW is in a parlous condition and the three Porsches, one new, I’ve have been absolutely appallingly unreliable but the VW empire is king with the press
Agree, the 'modern' VW-AUDI and BMW vehicles are equipped with very poor quality under bonnet plastics and rubbers. However, Mercedes is not far behind the aforesaid German brands.
One can never blame Citroën for being different, apart from some questionable compromises. I do love the design and I think it would've been a truly unique and epic car if it was based on the C6.
I had an early DS5 from 2012 to 2016. Great car, but the rear axle was not up to the task, and the suspension should indeed have been more comfortable. The 4th gen. Prius I had after that, was way more comfortable and handled better.
Well obviously it would never succeed in the UK, "french crap init" Here in France you still see a fair few DS5's and you now see absolutely loads of the big SUV DS7. The DS brand is a success in France and mainland europe. The Brits are stuck in a mindset of the only good european cars are German, 20 or 30 plus years ago they really were top of the game and I love that era of them. However now they are just trading on a no longer deserved reputation and being bought by the gullible.
I wonder why French cars are most popular in France but British cars are not most popular in Britain?! You'd think more British buyers would prefer to have a Jaguar than a BMW or Mercedes... But the sales don't reflect this out.
I still occasionally miss my original DS DS5 2 litre diesel. Awesome styling, in deep purple. Softer suspension than the first Citroen DSs. Loved it. After they disappeared of the leasemarket, they have all but entirely disappeared from the streets. Anybody know where they went?
I had a 2012 'Citroen' DS5 and bought used in lockdown. Loved the interior, styling and space. But the ride was just horrid. I also went through 3 alloy wheels as the 18" alloys with low profile tyres would crack at the idea of a pothole. I also never got more than mid 30's MPG from the 2.0 Diesel. The steering loved to flow with camber and the suspension though killed a car that everything else was great or good enough. So nearly a good car, but a shocking ride. I had the tan watch-strap leather which was the nicest interior of any car I ever owned. I had a 2012 C class before this and 2014 E class after for comparison.
There's no hydropneumatic suspension on this car IIRC, which is really a shame. I think the C5 & C6 are the last Citroens with that IIRC. I don't like the trend for Citroens becoming somewhat just Peugeots with different styling, rather than a unique brand.
The DS5 is an underrated car that can rack up huge mileage in diesel guise. Worth looking at if you are on a budget and want something different as a used car.
I drive a hybrid DS5 which has just ticked over to 252,000 miles and has been incredibly dependable.
It has everything you could want. Heated, electric leather seats which massage you, a heads up display, sat nav, xenon headlights, 3 sunroofs, automatic everything, keyless entry and a great sound system.
The main issue is that the early ones really do have a shockingly hard ride quality (although the hybrid model is slightly better as they have independent rear suspension), and they eat front springs for breakfast. But thankfully in typical PSA fashion all of the oily bits are shared with other Peugeot' and Citroen models, so parts aren't expensive.
It's incredibly quiet on the motorway though with its laminated side windows, and the cockpit interior still feels very special over a decade on.
thanks for your input, Sir. what about the automated gearbox? is it as clunky and unreliable as some pointed back then?
I drive the same. over 260K km. perfect car.
"Eats front springs for breakfast" 😅 I own a C6, front suspension bits are consumables!
The laminated windows you don't fully appreciate until you get into something without them.
@@palandi The gearbox has been fine, it works just as well as it did new! Of course maintenance is key, a gearbox fluid service helps keep it in good working order.
It's not quite as smooth as a regular torque converter gearbox, the gear changes are more obvious (given that it's an automated manual) but the hybrid system smooths out the "gaps" in power where effectively the car is dipping the clutch to change gear, so you don't really notice any clunkiness compared to the non hybrid models.
If the hybrid battery is depleted though and for a few minutes only the front wheels are being driven, you do notice the difference when the car drops down into 1st gear.
@@palandi Better choose the aisin transmission. Its perfect and better thant the robot.
I just bought an used one... I always loved how quicky it is and since it is not very looked after, i got one at the price of a used small city car.. I'm loving it
Not very looked after? As a past owner, I'd say you're extremely brave 😂
Ur syntax is lovely ❤
Well I have owned a white DS5 for 5 years,I bought it second hand,it has the 165hp diesel engine and it is the longest I have owned a car,it drives great, it has never failed a MOT,in fact has had no advisories,I love the shape of it,I have the two toned seats a expensive option at the time,this was a concept car in the 2010 Paris motor show,and Citroen put it into production with minor changes,and it looks so good it is different,they are a rare car to see on the road,which is great,I love the glass roof,you can have the passengers have the sun,or just you the driver,or just the front seat passenger,they are a serious bargain second hand ,the paint is so hard unlike mercedes and other cars,my car has no stone chips,so the DS5 was brought out in 2012,and the design still looks good,bad bits the glove compartment is a joke,no space saver wheel,thats about it,at the moment you can buy these cars for less than 6 grand they are a bargain for what you get.
On the early models you could have a full size spare wheel, there's a space for it under the boot.
@@mitchbomcanhao Not so on the Adblue diesel models.The Adblue
tank is HUGE,and lives beneath the floor of the boot,so all you get is an inflator and a puncture kit. Upside is,unless you do a big annual mileage,that tank will probably last a twelvemonth! Mine gets a “reload” at my annual service,as part of my MOT/service contract.
I could never understand this kind of marketing. Take an iconic brand - Citroën - and push it aside to promote 'DS' which offers dressed-up PSA models (essentially perfectly decent) cloaked in a cynical association with something totally different from the past. Almost as silly as the current MG. Or Daimler-Benz's attempt to re-introduce Maybach which served to devalue the status of Mercedes. Does anyone buy these artificial, constructed 'brands' because of the reference to past 'glory'?
Completely agree
I think they were going for a “Lexus, Acura, Infiniti” type deal and build an upmarket standalone brand. But failed miserably. It’s not a bad car. But for the money, a bmw, Audi or Benz is just better.
I guess they all want to pull of the same trick as Toyota did with Lexus, Honda with Acura and Nissan with Infinity. Of those three, only Lexus made it outside of the USA though as I think stateside they're much more attuned to car companies having hierarchies of brand - Chevrolet > Pontiac and GMC > Oldsmobile > Buick > Cadillac
@jonathancarson1974Cupra is actually doing well with the born and formentor. It's seat that is in trouble
Fiat 500 ring a bell? Mini?
My mum had a wonderful blue and white Citroen DS Safari, the state version the French used for ambulances….she used to hit 100mph on the way from London to granny in Scotland…although we were stranded in Dumfries for three days while someone drove up some replacement hydro pneumatic spheres that the morris garage had no idea about as had never seen it before 😅. Most comfortable car ever….these modern DS are a branding exercise….id go for an older C6 personally..❤
The C6 is a lot of car.
Agree - C6 is much more appealing than DS5
Citroën C 6 ✌️👍🎉
C6 or a late C5
@@stephenberry8658I had a C5 and loved the look of the DS5 so had a test drive of one and it just wasn’t as good. Steering felt disconnected and it wasn’t as comfy. The late C5 is a fantastic car.
I think the DS5 is a good car in today's money, they can be picked up quite cheap now and its something different? If you get one with the 2.0hdi engine they are very reliable and can rack up starship mileage without much trouble.
Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👍
When regular manufacturers introduce an upmarket brand they seem to not do that well (Lexus excepted), but when they introduce a utilitarian brand they seem to succeed, and those brands often end up being more desirable. There are loads of posh families in the part of London I live in with Skoda Kodiaqs and Dacia Joggers all with the obligatory roof box or bike rack. Can't really imagine most of those people buying anything as flash as an Audi or downmarket as a Renault. They seem to sit quite nicely for them.
But Toyota isn't a regular mainstream brand, they already had a massively strong reputation for reliability and a cult status in the US and Australia, so Lexus wasn't really hurt by it's parent brand. Same for Acura, which still does well in north America, Honda is a beloved brand.
I only actually mentioned Lexus to pre-empt people who said 'what about Toyota'.
ah, yes, those kind of posh people. the ones who arent really into cars and dont want to be flashy.
@@alexanderstefanov6474, Toyota are as mainstream as you can get...one of the largest car companies in the world and to this day still one of largest companies in any industry...
The problem I found with the DS range was that the specs were half baked.
"Sir would you like leather seats. Yes I said, "I'd like them heated as well" - "No Sir, we can't do that"
- "Oh, ok I'll have a full panoramic sunroof then"
- No sir, we can't do that either!
(This was 2018)
and no V6
My DS has heated seats it has a sunroof ok not a opening sun roof,but a glass roof and you can open the blinds to allow passengers to have sun or just you the driver its anazing
I was curious about the 3 sunblind system too until I realised that it actually solves a specific problem. If it was just one big panoramic sunroof, rear headroom would be terrible because of the sunblind roller (and swooping roof line). So they moved the sunblind roller(s) to the centre where they can't affect headroom.
One of the best reviews of these I’ve seen. Most of the UA-cam reviews just list facts and figures. I like that fact that in your
I had one of the first DS5’s when they were still badged Citroen. It would not be a match for an A4 or 3 series but then again it was a lot cheaper. It was a lovely place to be but didn’t handle particularly well. I covered 120,000 miles in it and the only fault was a sensor on the driver’s door handle which failed.
Spot on as usual! Remember taking one for a test drive when they came out. After about 2 km turned around, dropped it off and walked straight back to my Alfa 147 (still got it) and never looked in that direction again. Sad since we got a 1965 ID19 and a 1972 DS21 in our family..
I had a similar experience back then. 😉
I had a 147 2.0 TS manual... I think it's a really unappreciated car! One of the best looking hatchbacks ever designed. Best 4cyl engine note I've ever heard. Mine was reliable for 3yrs and I sold it for more than I bought it for. Wonderful car. Enjoy!
Keep that 147 going :) I had 1.6 TS which was my 1st Alfa. Bloody loved it! Looked great on Teledials :)
@@garycollard1981 Definitely will. We got it in 2002 and is still in perfect condition. It's black with red interior, 2.0 Selespeed and so far been totally reliable. Even the gearbox!
It’s a totally different type of car though. I had a 147 and loved it. The TS engine is a masterpiece. I wouldn’t compare it to a DS5. I had a C5 and that was better than the DS5. I’ve got a MiTo now and in “dynamic” mode it comes close to the 147, but the electric power steering lets it down.
I am the fleet manager of our company, so I drive a lot of medium class cars for testing. In my opinion it was the biggest mistake of Citroen to drop the hydropneumatic suspension, since it was (in newer days) the only reason to buy one of their cars. Their attempt to go up market with a car, which doesn't have any real specials compared to a Renault or a Hyundai, was dead in the beginning. Trying to compete with BMW, Audi etc. is a joke. And even with another medium class car like VW or Skoda they can't make it. 08:25 Have a look at that. No further discussions necessary.
Yes, I worked for PSA when the 605 was current, another huge mistake. Peugeot bought every car that went to auction in an attempt to maintain a good used value, it must have cost them a fortune. For mainstream manufacturers like PSA group to compete with MB or BMW is always going to fail because they lack the perceived status needed to sell to that sector.
Ahh yes the ill fitting door trim
The C6 was the last real Citroën.
@@kevinmoffattwow, that is pretty desperate. Did they then put them back in the dealerships second hand?
Renault is as generalist as Skoda and VW
DS = Depreciates Shockingly
At a moment the car can become a good deal...
Pity it is all black. I prefer lighter outside and inside colours.
@@MrSparklespringit is ‘ink blue’:-)
The cost of not having to be German 👍
😂😂😂
The original DS was completely unique - unlike any other car (So was the 2CV in its own way), but I am not sure it would ever be possible to do that again in this day and age.
Unless someone can finally do a hover car
One thing I have noticed about Peugeot/Citroen offerings, when they've aged ten or more years, is that they seem to rust a lot less than most other European brands, barring perhaps for aluminium Audis and Jags. A bargain priced used vehicle that isn't falling to bits before your eyes isn't a bad thing for people who just want transport and are prepared to put up with less than stellar dynamics. Good review there Jack.
Even my 10 year old van Peugeot partner van is galvanised PSA products can give the "premium " car makers a run for their money.
@@darrenmartin4014 Yes Darren, my own Peugeot 306 is still very tidy after 27 years.
I like the DS5 - although I’m always at odds with PSA trying to give some historic link from their modern ‘whackily styled’ Peugeots to the iconic Citroens from their heyday.
I really miss the glory days of PSA. I had a ZX and it handled like a dream, as did the 306, 405/406. I often drove my sister's 206, and that was pretty good, too. But I really think that was the end. Perhaps the C6 was worthy. Somehow, they gave up their 90s heyday design brief. I used to so look forward to going to France on holiday, around the early 2000s, and hiring a small french hatchback. Went again last October, after an absence of 19 years (been spending all my money on cars😂) and the selection on offer from the hire company was just depressing. Ended up hiring some evil crossover that looked and handled like a brick. It's literally put me off going back to France. "When I was a boy... ".
Totally agree on all that, I had a ZX Volcane which was so fun to drive and did everything well, agree re 405/406/306 etc. Lots of great things about modern life but I did find cars back then more interesting and distinctive.
If you go to France you see a lot of French cars - a few Toyotas and a smattering of VAGs but the French are suspicious of ostentation and you don't see loads of Range Rovers or even BMWs. Mercedes have always had a presence since the days when they were taxis to the world.
French are suspicious of everything. Including themselves
It's French 😢buy an alfa romeo looks passion and puts a smile on your face enough said
The reason the French don't buy large luxury cars is they are considered bourgeoisie symbols.
“The French are suspicious of ostentation…They buy Mercedes.” ;-)
@@malcolmlane-ley2044 Not really, it's mostly to do with environmental taxes on big engined cars. Also the Big Three (PSA and Renault) are heavily subsidised by the government and benefit from a massive dealer and aftermarket network, so it makes a lot of financial sense to buy domestic. Premium German brands are popular in France, but mostly in the hatchback, exec saloon/estates and compact SUV segments.
Always thought these were beautiful. The harsh ride and iffy performance prevented me from getting one as a daily runner at the time. Got a DS3 instead which was a blast.
‘It looks like nothing else on the road’
Hmm. Looks like a mildly pumped-up Peugeot 308 to me, but looks are always subjective.
Lovely review as always Jack.
Agree it looks like any other car. If you are going to put a DS tag on it, rule number one should be that it should really stand out from other cars.
I love how the DS5 looks, inside and out.
You need an optician & mental help.
@@Zarathrustrasite Alright that is a reach the car looks decent enough. The car is not real they cant hurt you so calm your tids
You should try the Citroën C5X. They have a special suspension with cushions, and are supremely comfortable.
The question still remains to be answered...is a Citroen (or a DS for that matter) a REAL Citroen, without the hydroneumatic suspension?
Try an C5 (X7) with hydro and one with the "metalic" suspension. I believe it was the ONLY model wich you could choose what kind of suspension to get...and you can come to a definite conclusion.
As an owner of a C5 with HYDRO and having tryied the "metalic" setup, I can assure you guys...its a world of difference!!! And even by today standards, it still is one of the most confortable cars in the segment...above!
And on a personal note, the ONLY worthy Citroen of the DS brand is the C6...shame that it never came to be...a DS.
Cheers and keep it up!
Thank you for this video! Looks ok to me although I would have thought it was a Seat from a distance.
I have a Citroen C4 , the one the DS5 is based on and I appreciated the chasis and the ride quality 2 weeks ago when I got my Cupra Leon e-hybrid 245........
Love the turtle shell pattern seats
Until you sit in them, they're not comfortable.
Obviously comfort is highly subjective but I was very disappointed when I sat in one, the seats are quite hard which is ridiculous in a French car
I owned a Peugeot 607 HDI 2.2 auto and it was kind of similar. The suspension didn't have enough travel and although it was fast enough once moving it was very slow off the line as first gear was just too high. It's a shame because the packaging, interior space and comfort were brilliant and it had a huge boot.
close mate had one of these from new. he absolutely loved it until his wife loved it even more
A neighbor is a Citroen factory trained technician. When out walking I make it a point to walk by his place of business to see what all he's working on. Lately, there's an assortment of Citroiens, and they're seldom boring.
It was built in mid 10's where all cheap brands were looking to bring faux luxury to their cheaper models. Just like Ford with the Vignale line, where cheap electronics and a plethora of accessories, they made production runs with full extra features for an "affordable" price. Especially the Ford Vignale line of cars promised free car washes and some extra goodies that never came to fruition, because of the pandemic shortage of electronics and seeing a drop in sales because no one was allowed to move.
All these faux brands failed, but it was fun. Don't ask me how I know so much about the Ford Vignale....
Vignale was basically dead on arrival.
I sort of get DS, because they're kept separate from Citroen and the dealers can give DS buyers an enhanced service, but I just never understood the Ford Vignale.
How on Earth did Ford think it could treat a customer with a Mondeo Titanium X with a lesser service than someone stood in the queue with a Mondeo Vignale?
Utterly nuts.
No wonder Ford has quietly pensioned off the Vignale trim level.
@@wainerollins2587 at least the Mondeo Vignale was the only saloon for a while, which looked so much better than the hatch.
@@wainerollins2587 Ford has a history of failed/faux luxury sub brands.
My father bought an escort ghia back in 98' when it was eol and it was fully packed. I got my fiesta vignale because i also wanted lots of accessories and it was a value for money and the dealer gave me a lot of extra goodies and even cut the price. The problem is with custom bumpers and trims, but thank poland for being the car warehouse of europe for cheap 2nd hand parts.
Really well presented with interesting comments on the design both external and interior. I’m not sure I would be tempted to take the plunge with the DS brand but I can definitely see the reasons why people would choose to.
I had a couple of C5 Citroens pre the Germanic version.Simply eat up long distances especially the later 2litre 16valve HDI and I liked the dark dash button which kept the dashboard lights off apart from speedo.
Contrasts with all the screen junk on new digital dashboards currently on offer guaranteed to keep you distracted from the serious job of paying attention to the road.
An Ace review and I really like that Citroen DS5!
The original DS was before my time but just seeing photos of it inspired me to the Citroen brand. I stuck with the brand for many years in spite of horrendous reliability issues. Electronics were just as bad but that didn't stop me from wanting to buy a new DS4 last year...that is until I opened the bonnet and discovered how similar it was to my old C4.
Despite of the plush leather cladded interior, most people know that a DS is a just Peugeot/Citroen/Fiat/Vauxhall dressed in bling, so there's nothing special about the DS. This is such a shame.
It is a beautiful and very distinctive car. It was one of my choices for the first car. But eventually I've got an Alfa Romeo 159, which looks sexy and gives you a pleasure from turning the wheel every time.
No, it's a DS DS5 - pre-facelift were marketed as Citroën but all DS models with the new, chevron-less nose were badged and marketed as DS.
It’s a posh Citroen ds dont exist it’s ds is just a model of Citroen
@@bmwman1981 ??? would you like to rephrase that in English with some punctuation...
@@SabotsLibres sorry a ds is just a Citroen that is massively overpriced and has zero improvements on the standard French poor build quality
@@bmwman1981 actually, a DS is a Peugeot, as are most Citroën’s (excepting the C1/108 which are principally Daihatsus - as is the Toyota Aygo)
@@SabotsLibres DS es CITROEN, y por si no lo sabes, a citroen le debe Peugeot su internacionalización , gracias a sus centros de mecánica, tecnología, fabricas, infraestructura y centros de desarrollo. La linea DS, ya Citroën, en el año 2012, antes de pertenecer a Stellantis, separo su centro de ID y desarrollo, y su director, así como su jefe de diseño es el mismo del citroen. y eso de que C1/108 y Toyota Aygo son Daihatsus, infórmate bien antes de decir algo tan absurdo y patético, hay que informarse antes de decir tantas tontearías
The hybrid version is the one you want. Suits the car perfectly.
Great video as always. I particularly wanted to watch this one as i was pretty sure where you were going with it . I have a DS3 and generally like the car , 1.6 diesel mapped to 130bhp and still returning 60 mpg daily but my god is it a bone shaker !! Fine on a motorway or nice bit of tarmac but unfortunately with the state of uk roads these days i have to be constantly scanning the road surface ahead and avoiding pot holes .
Strange decision making the ds ride so firm i agree.
Isnt there some aftermarket solution for springs and dampers?
@@KarelSmout I'm sure there is , maybe when I need new shocks I'll look into it.
I had a C6 and a DS5. I liked them both.
Those are two VERY different cars.
@@Bob.martens True. But likeable
@@richardsheil5289both cars are lovely, still have a DS5 and enjoy it every time I drive it.
The car is a future classic.
Only because it didn't sell.
@@Bob.martens Nobody will remeber BMW 320 GT or Audi A5 in 2030. This car will have its fan clubs all over the world.
100%. It's not perfect but has got a lot of quirky styling.
I have 2013 DS4 HDI. It is absolutely brick hard and very uncomfortable on British 3rd world roads the steering is very dull and lacks feel. But saying that I like it all the same. Actually fancy a DS5 next for more punishment. 🤷🏼♂️
These were cool in period, still are. A left field choice and a good deal used.
I had that very model it was brilliant the only thing missing for me was a 3.0ltr turbcharged petrol engine that would have made it unbelievable any other shortcomings would have been tolerated no problem, the only reason I moved on was a fetching Bentley Arnage that I couldn't afford without sacrificing the DS5.
A good honest review Jack 👍
Citroen are deluded if they believe this is a worthy DS successor.
Thank you for the review of this car which I didnt know much about.
Citroen (PSA/Stelantis) seem to be only playing with 'DS' name to try and make a halo brand which does not really work. In the 1970s about when Citroen ran out of money they tried to capitalise on the D-Saloon by making a high performance version (the SM) because the D was always criticised for its 'poor' engine but by the end of production it had fuel injection and was a near credible alternative to newer executive offerings. What PSA did here with DS5 was to try and push existing old technology upmarket rather than developing something entirely new and making a brand from that. To make a distinctive decent strong-selling product that then create two or maybe three sub products including a halo car could be what Citroen really wanted to do but appear to have lost their way.
A few other brands are also utilising hydropneumatics but whay has Citroen given up - the DS5 here doesn't seem to utilise anything that sets it apart from any other well made modern car but the older models do D, CX, GS, XM, Xantia (particularly the Activa), C5 (hydro) and C6. Today I learned that President Macron prefers the C6 over the 'DS' brand and the government fleet still run C6 vehicles.
I feel Citroën has a valid design team, but maybe not a very savvy engineering team. We don't get Citroën brand in the states, so they do seem very unusual, but hearing the dynamics, engine choices, and suspension setup, I don't think they'd have had much success over here. Thanks Jack, another interesting and cool review. I'm I'm a big fan of your channel. 👍✌️
My daily driver is a light blue 2012 2.0 HDI model and i think it's a really good looking car just a shame about the ride quality, i remember seeing a comment about the DS5 once saying "It looks like a big Citroen should it just doesn't ride like one" and i agree with that comment but apart from the ride it's been a great car
relaunched 2015 model and onwards when they removed Citroen from the badge name, they improved the suspension which people complained about most in the previous years, and they added better sound proofing glass so it was much quieter. I'm looking for one of these with the watch strap seats. I've test drove one and it's great...very comfortable.
I still remember how stoked I was when I first read "Citroen announces a new DS". I definitely expected something in the true spirit of the original DS.
Then came the first pictures and I went "this is utter shit! Merde! Who in their right mind would buy this overpriced $hitbox?" It felt like an absolute betrayal.
It's no surprise this thing failed.
Agree I was expecting a radical car as you say and was disappointed. What does ‘stoked’ mean?
I love the looks and the interior. I could even overlook the iffy chassis dynamics. But what put me off buying one of these is the chronic unreliability. I had a Peugeot 308 GT 175, which is fundamentally the same car. I loved it but it was never out of the garage and when the warranty ended I chickened out and sold it.
Morning Jack. Sad to see the brand like this. It basically lack passion which the french are known for. It looks like the account department took on this project and as such (to me) it just looks like a nissan or renault SUV of sorts. My neighbour has a DS ehich they bought new in London. Drove it around the world before settling in Australia. Its beautiful.
A friend of mine has it. He says that was the most economical car he found in which he could fit, he's almost 200cm and strongly built
I had that exact DS5 and loved it I had the top of the range 2liter HDI
For the steering weighting point, is the lane departure nanny state setting turned off? I remember driving a KIA ceed.with that and steering would randomly.feel.weighted
As Jack drove my car, I can assure you that it had been switched off:-)
They have a variable steering rack which explains Jack’s findings.
Yep, definitely a different video but a welcome one too.
I have a Citroën DS5, and love it.
You have a DS 5 there, not a Citroën.
🤨
Citroen built it,so it’s a Citroen, DS badge or not,as the case may be.Mine even has the Citroen double V badge in the centre of the “hub caps”!
@@dennislane100 The DS 5 has a boring nose that spoils the whole car, compared to the Citroen DS5 nose.
One doesn't call a Lexus a Toyota, or an Inviniti a Datsun. Stellantis wants Citroen and DS to be distinct brands. Citroen is imported in South Africa (where I live), DS is not.
I see the DS5 as a C4 Picasso coupé. Not as a real D-segment car. Still it looks beautiful.
As an ex Citroen C6 owner I salute them for trying to make things a bit different. Would I buy another Citroen/DS though, no way.
Intrigued to know why.
Was it faults, or generally lacking some areas?
@@PhilbyFavourites Had the car (2007 2.7 Lignage) for 2 years and did circa 30000 miles in it. Great car loved it felt like a real occasion to drive it. Fit and finish were also surprisingly good. It used to get plenty of looks. It though was chronically unreliable. Not helped by the the Jag/Land Rover sourced engine always going into limp mode, and the fabled but over complicated suspension always seeming to break in one way or another. Wonderful car just not one you would want to own. In my experience.
Had one of these a couple of years back, 2.0 manual. Same spec as on the video, but certainly not reliable enough for long term ownership. As with all PSA products, electrical gremlins crept in and reliability was questionable at best. It was a fine looking machine and had a great driving position, but the frequent PSA dashboard bongs encouraged me to trade it on once the extended dealer warranty was near expiry.
Hi Jack, if I may, I have a possibly intriguing car suggestion! As an owner myself, I’d recommend(if you’re interested in it) a Citroen Xsara VTS (the 2.0L 167hp petrol), it’s comfortable and somewhat practical, but really fun to drive! I would offer my car, but it’s not in amazing condition right now, and I also live in Australia so as you can imagine, it wouldn’t really work. I definitely suggest you try one out, though! I personally have a phase 2, but I think the phase 1 handles and drives basically the same, since the phase 2 is just a facelift.
I had the top of the range Citroen DS5, it was a gorgeous car inside and out, people would stare as I drove past. It was very reliable but eventually I sold it as the quality of the ride was terrible. It was jarring and would feel like there was no dampers most of the time. Was especially worse for the driver as you could feel the jarring and bumps through the steering wheel. It was better for the passengers. It is however still one of my favourite cars of all time due to its absolute uniqueness and undeniable style. If I had space to park it, I would have kept it as a 2nd car.
The suspension is far superior on the later Ds5. than was fitted to the Citroen Ds5.
The king of variety is in the house 😊
had one as rental when they were new and it was nice felt fancy in 2016
Not bad for a modernish. A workmate swears by his Citroens. Real comfy as well.
Well Jack, you've made a modern car interesting! A well researched video.
I like the Tag Hauer bracelet upholstery. A class of it’s own, the original DS.
Should have had hydropneumatic suspension. Yeah, it's expensive, but do you want to play in the big league, yes or not?
Of the 15 cars i've owned only 3 have turned heads and had women actually stop me to ask for a ride or just coo about how good the car looks - my jet-black ST-185 Celica GT4, my Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo, and my pearlescent white 1st gen DS5. The DS5 was a very luxurious feeling car and a pleasure to look out of my window at in the driveway. To drive it wasn't anything special, and being the hybrid version, even with a combined 200bhp on tap in sport mode, the fact the far was over 2 tons with a tank of fuel and myself on board meant it wasn't exactly lightning quick. It did feel very Buck Rogers on the inside, and I always felt cosseted and cared for while I was inside.
I'm pretty sure that there was a hybrid version that had an electric motor assisting through the rear wheels and that model had independent rear suspension.
It’s a DS, not a Citroen DS. DS with Alfa Romeo & Lancia are Stellantis’ premium brands.
I’m Area Manager for the DS / Peugeot / Citroen / Opel importer here in Greece,yes they’re cousins with Peugeot but they are radically different inside and I think very stylish
Was Citroen Ds for a while. Then a sub brand.
Hello Sir, naming brands like Alfa and Lancia with Ds in the same sentence should be a punishable offence.😂
Stellantis is merrily leading a number of iconic names to certain death.
Just look at the 'pastiche' that the new electric/hybrid 208-bodied Lancia Y is!
Oh boy. I'm having a hard time adjusting to Stellantis being one group, instead of PSA and FCA! If Stellantis is one group now, why no new Alfa Romeo Giulietta on the Peugeot 308 platform (not that this would be a good thing necessary),if Stellantis can afford to do a new Vauxhall Astra on the Peugeot 308 platform?
It’s still a shitreon as it’s a built in a Citroen factory using Citroen parts with the standard Citroen build quality
@@bmwman1981 Is that why the Germans are today asking themselves why their cars are so bad? BMW to name one? ua-cam.com/video/H7LDhCfbW00/v-deo.html
I had a brand new 2.0 hdi for 2 months in 2014 and covered 2,000 miles in it. I wanted to love it, but in the end, it was style over substance. The centre console had one compartment that was too small for my phone and the one underneath, I could fit my whole arm in. There were no cup holders, which waa annoying when doing 6 hour drives. The sat nav was useless and couldn't keep up with a sequence of roundabouts so I had to pull over and get out my Garmin. That being said, it rode perfectly fine (except for a few knocks at low speed) and not as hard as all the critics made out. Softer than my bmw 1 series on runflats. The hdi engine was really eager (but couldn't even manage 40mpg). The plastic on the dash was cheap and nasty, but i loved the retro instrument panel, which looked like it had been designed by a child in the 1980s and the glass roof with the 3 windows was pretty cool. The worst though was the start button. Mine didn't come with stop start and I stalled coming onto a busy roundabout. In a conventional car, you'd just turn the key off and on again to quickly restart the engine. Here, I pressed the start button, which instead of restarting the engine, turned the whole car off. Not very helpful! 😄
Cup holders in the doors of course and in the back, although they could have been more user friendly.
@@wouterkolkman they were tiny. Could barely hold an espresso and definitely not a latte. 😄
ds3 also had the no cup holders thing, utterly baffling. Good car apart from that.
The French quality control is nowhere near the Asians.
This review is excellent; informative, well-edited, cruel but factual. Subsrcibed.
Hi Jack. Hope your doing good.
That was a good video. I loved it. I love the seats in that Citroen. I love the trims too.
Stay safe and take care.
The one Jack was testing is a Ds5 not a Citroen Ds5.
@@ALACARGIN I forgot about that, sorry.
I drove BX and some XMs. So I appreciatie the brand.
But... Competing with the Germans with a sub par chassis, steering and choice of powertrains is just a way to degrade your business.
Unmentioned logic behind this was their target market China, with different expectations.
It was also assembled in China for the local market due to Chinese import restrictions. I also read somewhere that the auto box post facelift had been sourced from a Chinese manufacturer:-)
I think a V6 and hydropneumatic suspension could have framed the entire car in a different way. It could be seen as a baby R class and more of a spiritual successor to the SM and CX. THey could have done a souped up GTI version just like with the CX.
I once drove an early Hybrid diesel 200hp that had been chiptuned to 240hp. Was quite gutless, did not feel like more than 140. Transmission was slow and shocky. Steering was very vague, it felt like the wheels were not attached to it, but radio controlled by it. The car I drove also had a hidden gun space under the centre console. Which I think you'll need if you plan on running away from the cops in this.
There was a Citroen with the German looks and the engine and suspension, it was the C5 X7
This they just needed a better 4 pot and some suspension tweaks.
Thinking about it, they should have just nicked the bits from it other family member the RCZ Type R
I like your reviews of slightly interesting everyday cars 👍
Would have bought one, but the suspension was rock solid! Looks lovely, but the banging and crashing is the opposite of what Citroën stood for.
If you think these are bad, you need to drive a DS3. Absolutely awful. Cheaply made using a cast off PSA floorpan (Pug 207 - which was bad enough), it is a car with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The last proper Citroen was the CX - everything after that was a compromise with Peugeot bits. Not bad cars like the DS3, but not really in the mould of cars like the CX, GS etc.
The C6 is probably the exception - now that was a Citroen. As mad as a hatter, very pretty (this DS5 heap isn't - it's hideous) and really very good.
My sister had a 207 I hated it. I have a 206 1.4 estate and it handles pretty great. I have surprised bigger and fancier cars with it. Best 400 pounds I have spent on my 05 banger. I fitted a new axel and fresh shocks just such a fun car. The 207 I hated with a passion. All my cars have been 205s and 206. My dad got a 206 estate cheep from my bro. 8:39 He did not like the seat and I got it for free. I'm going to do it up 67k miles my estate has 125k plus.
I find the 206 estate a great handling chuckable car. Progressive lean narrow tyres break away gradually fun fun fun.
I served most of my apprenticeship on PSA so no fears reliability wise.
Stelantis oh boy I'm not too keen on the new newer stuff. Too chintzy and trying to be German arrrrrrgggh. German brands have the snob appeal but skin deep are crap.
@@edgarbeat2851 The 206 was alright.
I had a 65 plate with the 2.0 litre 161bhp engine. I really liked the car but even with all the glass it felt bit claustrophobic . I always wished it was a few ihches bigger in every direction. Mst annoying thing though were the very shallow, difficult to reach cup/bottle holders at the front of the door pockets
I have owned four assorted Citroens over the years. An AX GT,a BX GTi, a C3 Picasso diesel, and now,a DS5. Mine is the”base” model,120 HDi((1.6 turbo diesel,Adblue, six speed manual box).Brilliant on fuel,euro 6 compliant,and only£20 road tax. Downside,as Jack said ,is the suspension. Mine would probably have been better,but the original buyer spent an extra three grand on “extras”,MOST of which,I really appreciate,BUT,the 19 inch wheels and low profile tyres,I most definitely could do without. They look superb,but every pot hole is a bloody nightmare, as they have ,effectively , undone any improvements to the suspension made in 2015 , and having once owned the glorious floaty suspension in my BX GTi, I really wish they had made the effort to put this in the DS5. It would transform the whole driving experience beyond measure.
One small point;-another comment mentioned the pathetic glove box(couple of C.D..s and a first aid kit in mine),but completely overlooked,as did Jack, the enormous air conditioned storage space under the central armrest! Perfect for chilling your sarnies and cold drinks on a long haul.
Had 2L - 4x500ml - stored in the chilled area, great on my journey to the south of France:-)
I love this car, thanks for doing a film about it.
My next door but 1 had a beautiful nearly identical 18 plate hybrid DS5 which he loved and as im a bit of a Fan as i have a 15plate DS3 which i consider the best looking supermini. My neighbour has just got rid for a 24plate lovely spec 4x4 Dacia duster.
Ive got a 2012 2.0 DS5,, had it for 5 months after looking around for almost a year.
I love the styling,, granted mines had a few issues, but ive done a stage 1 remap and love it.
Ive got to say though, i much prefer the pre-face lift versions of the DS5. I personally think the front end looks MUCH better with the Citroen logo then it does the DS. Just how its styled looks better.
My next upgrade is to find a decent android car play unit for it 😅
Hi Jack, it's sliver not slither FYI 🙂
I love these cars. Very hard to get in Australia so they're very expensive.
Thanks!
Thank you Frankie!!
@@Number27 Your welcome Jack.
As French motors go and I've run a Peugeot Partner van during the week for 7 years and although poorly built it's uttely reliable, I'd consider a DS because it's cheap quirky and none of those hydraulic suspention issues.
I've had Peugeot 405 1.6GR 93K, 405 1.9TD GLX 95N, 406 2.1TD 97P &2.0HDI 04 all were great drivers car's. I've experienced the ride&handling of a Citroën BX but never bought any Citroën as the complex suspension put me off.
The DS5 was beautiful and well equipped car doomed by a negative press who can’t cope with unique.
They have to pigeon hole everything , put it in a box with competing models and if they can’t they’re convinced it doesn’t fit in and they don’t like it.
A friend has a low mileage one that’s years old but he’s kept it in new condition and it’s unusual and lovely.
VW is in a parlous condition and the three Porsches, one new, I’ve have been absolutely appallingly unreliable but the VW empire is king with the press
Agree, the 'modern' VW-AUDI and BMW vehicles are equipped with very poor quality under bonnet plastics and rubbers. However, Mercedes is not far behind the aforesaid German brands.
The press was not negative without reason, being unique sounds good but you have to be uniquely good, not uniquely bad like this car is.
Same with Toyota Venza
One can never blame Citroën for being different, apart from some questionable compromises.
I do love the design and I think it would've been a truly unique and epic car if it was based on the C6.
Citroen should be the prestige brand in PSA, and now stellantis, it's always had fantastic brand cache
Long ago, sadly.. Peugeot has been depreciating that brand since the 90s
Where is the road you start your videos on;is it just off your usual test route i.e the B road between the A361 & Charlbury?
I had an early DS5 from 2012 to 2016. Great car, but the rear axle was not up to the task, and the suspension should indeed have been more comfortable. The 4th gen. Prius I had after that, was way more comfortable and handled better.
8:32 ....So that's every single road in Essex then 😆 🤣 😂
Those chrome strips look like they didn't know what to do with them past the A pillar. Bizarre.
This car has the substance and style of a Gucci colostomy bag
Well obviously it would never succeed in the UK, "french crap init" Here in France you still see a fair few DS5's and you now see absolutely loads of the big SUV DS7. The DS brand is a success in France and mainland europe. The Brits are stuck in a mindset of the only good european cars are German, 20 or 30 plus years ago they really were top of the game and I love that era of them. However now they are just trading on a no longer deserved reputation and being bought by the gullible.
So true.
I wonder why French cars are most popular in France but British cars are not most popular in Britain?! You'd think more British buyers would prefer to have a Jaguar than a BMW or Mercedes... But the sales don't reflect this out.
I still occasionally miss my original DS DS5 2 litre diesel. Awesome styling, in deep purple. Softer suspension than the first Citroen DSs. Loved it. After they disappeared of the leasemarket, they have all but entirely disappeared from the streets. Anybody know where they went?
I had a 2012 'Citroen' DS5 and bought used in lockdown. Loved the interior, styling and space. But the ride was just horrid. I also went through 3 alloy wheels as the 18" alloys with low profile tyres would crack at the idea of a pothole. I also never got more than mid 30's MPG from the 2.0 Diesel. The steering loved to flow with camber and the suspension though killed a car that everything else was great or good enough.
So nearly a good car, but a shocking ride. I had the tan watch-strap leather which was the nicest interior of any car I ever owned. I had a 2012 C class before this and 2014 E class after for comparison.
There's no hydropneumatic suspension on this car IIRC, which is really a shame. I think the C5 & C6 are the last Citroens with that IIRC. I don't like the trend for Citroens becoming somewhat just Peugeots with different styling, rather than a unique brand.