DS 5 Test drive review…..a different spirit of driving

September 18, 2018

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We have not test driven a product of Citroen for some years now. The last Citroen we tested was the hot hatch DS 2 which saw very little response from buyers due mostly from the competitive pricing from Germany rivals. Now we get the key to the latest DS 5, which is in some ways a less technologically complex vehicle but very complex in design…..inside and outside.

The DS Name

Let’s start with its name. Yes, this is a product from Citroen but it does not carry the Citroen name in front and its infamous logo anywhere. It is a DS and this is a sub-brand from Citroen and has its own model range, logo and reservations. Yes, you will find its relatives (Peugeot) engineering underneath but the rest is very unique.

The DS 5 Design

From the outside, its wide with a coupe roofline that gives it the look of a sports SUV crossover. This DS 5 is a big car and the twin rear exhaust pipes, prominent cooling vents, light clusters, and intimidating front grille give it a powerful image. On the inside there is real design flair and the craftsmanship is well up to its executive car status.

The DS 5 Cabin

The front passengers sit in aircraft-style twin cockpits with overhead controls and switches and twin skylight-type glass panels on the roof. The avant-garde futuristic controls blend very nicely with old-school design touches like the rectangular analogue clock at the top center of the sweeping dash. Material quality is very good and the final fit and finish executed with real effort to challenge the Germans.

Rear comfort is good with plenty of width for three people and very decent legroom. The lower rear section roofline, giving the coupe styling might limit headroom for tall passengers but we had no issue.

There is a sunroof for rear seat passengers with their own control and a/c vents are present.

The DS 5 Equipment

This DS 5 is very well equipped with individual climate control that extends cooling to a low 16 degrees (great for our humid and hot weather), electronic stability control, central locking, power steering, power door mirrors and front windows, cruise control, electronic parking brake with hill start, split-folding rear seats, full audio connectivity with Apple Car Play with MirrorLink capability, navigation system, heads up display in colour, full function alarm, immobiliser, 18-inch alloy wheels and 6-airbags as standard.

The DS 5 Drive

With its turbocharged 1.6L engine it pulls effortlessly from low speeds and will overtake slower traffic without having to change down a gear or two just a prod on the accelerator is all that you need to do. With hard acceleration the engine ‘growls like its got more capacity inside its belly and its 240Nm of torque answers your needs when overtaking slow moving traffic, however please note that this is large hatch and not some nimble little DS 2.

Its width means you better cruise along and enjoy the comfort against treating it harshly. Passerby’s will admire its lines and some might even comment on its scarcity as not many Malaysians have jumped at its reasonable selling price from RM168k. This is why after this review is read, you need to get behind the wheel yourself to decide.

The ride is admirably flat during high speed cornering with plenty of confidence-inducing grip so the drive is just as sporty as the looks promise. This DS 5 is a distinctive alternative to the current crop of rather conventional family/executive sedans and comes well equipped with a fuel-efficient and strong engine and sporty coupe looks. It will tempt you at first glance and the temptation will continue as you end your test drive. A DS 5 does offers nonconformist motorists an opportunity to walk away from mundane cars and add some zest to their mundane routines. The question is, will you dare to be different?