NEW Citroen C5 X review: so relaxing!

Nicola Hume finds out just how relaxing Citroen's new flagship is.

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It might be SUVs that sell in big numbers today, but Citroen hasn't completely turned its back on its heritage when it comes to trend-bucking cars, shown by the new C5 X.

Think of this as a kind of catch-all rival that covers ground occupied by the Skoda Superb and other large family hatchbacks (as well as those that don't want a family SUV) that will also appeal to company car drivers – no surprise, then, that Citroen offers the C5 X with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

It's this model we're testing here, which combines a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 12.4kWh battery that feeds an electric motor. While the powertrain is similar to that in the brand's recently updated C5 Aircross SUV, the battery is actually smaller, yet the C5 X claims a similar 38 miles of zero-emissions electric range thanks to its more slippery shape.

The two power sources produce 222bhp and 250Nm of torque, so the PHEV will accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, and it feels swift enough on the move. But the C5 X plug-in isn't about out-right performance or handling and the powertrain is much more at home if you opt for a relaxed style. As Nicola Hume finds out, there's a lot to be said for the Citroen's laid-back approach.

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