Business class

Road Test

The DS 5 spearheaded the 2015 arrival of the standalone DS brand, and offers a different take on the executive car. GreenFleet also finds low emissions and touches of sumptuous aviation style.

Say ‘DS’ when talking about cars and most will still recall the swooping, outer‑worldly and ground-breaking Citroën DS of 1955. It was a car of firsts: the first European car to feature disc – and powered – brakes, power steering and power suspension, and for many, it still embodies the avantgarde pioneering spirit which was inherent in Citroën’s products throughout the decades from the 1950s to the 1980s.

A range of cars to build on that heritage was launched in 2010. The supermini-sized DS 3 blazed the trail, followed by the mid-sized DS 4, while the large DS 5 arrived a year later. In a drive to push the brand upmarket, the ‘DS’ name was relaunched as a standalone marque at the 2015 Geneva motor show, but this time, it was the turn of the DS 5 to have its place in the limelight and carry the weight of the new brand on its wide shoulders. It was the first of the new DS marque models and wore its new enlarged logo with pride.

Imposing presence
Although the basic shape of the DS 5 first appeared five years ago, the big, MPV‑cum‑coupé silhouette still has an imposing presence, especially in the Ink Blue of our test car. Prestige models sit at the top of the two‑rung DS 5 tree, and also feature LED Vision’ – xenon directional headlights – as well as scrolling LED indicators, which lend even more of a prestigious look.

All DS 5s boast a panoramic ‘cockpit roof’ which blends seamlessly into the rear window, as well as chrome grille wings, bonnet 'sabres' and chrome side trim. The car is certainly distinctive, and like the refreshed DS 3 launched earlier this year (GreenFleet, issue 92), the revised DS 5 looks like a premium product.

CEO of the DS brand, Yves Bonnefont, states that the DS 5 is ‘a clear statement of our ambition: to revive the tradition of French premium vehicles’, and you can’t argue with the premium impression that greets you when you sink into the interior. Admittedly, the blue and black leather on our test car costs £1,390 extra, but even ignoring that, the DS 5’s cabin is stylish and sumptuous. The ‘cockpit roof’ is named that for a reason – a central spar divides the roof and carries beautifully‑machined, metallic‑edged buttons which are reflected in the central tunnel in‑between the two front seats. Black headlining and a substantial dashboard add to the cocooning feel. The final aircraft touch is the pair of front quarterlights either side of the windscreen which bring to mind a fighter aeroplane’s cockpit. It all works very well and lifts the DS 5 above its more mainstream MPV, estate, and executive car rivals.

‘Clean’ diesel engines
As with the pre-refreshed DS 5 (there are no Citroën badges anywhere), a range of petrol and diesel engines power the large French car. With emissions ranging from 103g/km to 144g/km, there are plenty of options to choose from. Tested here is the 113g/km BlueHDi 150 S&S manual, the mid-range version of DS’ new generation of ‘clean’ diesel engines. With 147bhp and 273lb ft (370Nm) of torque, it moves the 1,700kg DS 5 with quite some vigour. Euro 6 compatible, the 1,997cc unit is refined on the move, too, although there’s no mistaking its diesel origins when idling.

The latest-generation BlueHDi engines combine ‘advanced performance with low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions’ and DS states that this is achieved by improvements in internal efficiency as well as a diamond-like coating on the efficient exhaust system. The Selective Catalytic Reduction module is also positioned ahead of the particulate filter and DS claims that this is the only after-treatment system able to reduce NOx emissions by up to 90 per cent as well as reducing CO2 emissions by up to four per cent.

For a car so large, the claimed fuel economy of 68.9mpg is impressive, but sadly our real‑world figure of 48.7 fell short of the French maker’s benchmark. The stop‑start system on the DS 5 only appears to function when the electronic handbrake is not applied, which seems a wasted opportunity. It’s not especially practical, either, as the car ends up rolling forward or backwards. On the plus side, an ‘Eco’ meter shows how long the stop‑start system has been working while the ignition has been turned on.

As before, there is a Hybrid 4x4 version of the DS 5, which reduces CO2 emissions to 103g/km and is the cleanest of all the big DS models. Only available with a semi‑automatic gearbox, the Hybrid 4x4 200 model pairs a diesel engine with an electric motor for zero‑emission running, and also adds an extra boost of acceleration as well as additional traction in slippery or wet conditions.

Even with two-wheel drive, the big DS handles well for one so large, and even on 18‑inch wheels, the ride is well‑damped. Road noise is only present on scarred surfaces and there is barely any wind noise at all, which all adds to the premium feeling. The DS 5 is a consummate mile muncher and is a very relaxing and comfortable companion. The largest DS is practical, too, with 465 litres of boot space when the rear seats are in place.

High level of equipment
As befitted our £33,340 (including options) test car, a high level of equipment is standard on the DS 5. Keyless entry, auto lights and mirrors, dual zone air conditioning, DAB radio, and DS Connect navigation are all fitted to entry-level Elegance models. Our car’s Prestige specification added front parking sensors, a reversing camera, leather trim, a blind spot monitoring system, mood lighting, as well as electric adjustment for the driver’s seat.

All models receive a seven-inch colour touchscreen, and although the display is crisp and clear, at times it isn’t the most intuitive to navigate or very fast. The navigation system does work well, though, and the £300 optional head-up display ahead of the driver relays important speed information clearly and soon becomes very useful. The optional £550 Denon sound system sounds fantastic, too.

The DS 5 genuinely offers something different in the executive car sector, and enjoys a real feeling of quality to go with its premium image. While it may not be as ground‑breaking as that original DS of 1955, it hints that the pioneering spirit of that original car hasn't quite been lost yet.

Further information
www.dsautomobiles.co.uk