Citroen DS5 1.6L e-HDI Turbo Diesel Review: Dicey diesel

What we like:

Lovely french design that extends from the exterior to the interior.

What we dislike:

Frustrating robotic manual gear box that lurches with every gear change

The new DS5 shares the 1.6-litre e-HDi engine with the C5. Characteristic of diesel powerplants, the engine produces dollops of torque at 270Nm from just 1,750rpm. At 115bhp, the DS5 fits comfortably within Cat A.

Acceleration from standstill is sprightly thanks to the robust torque from the engine but suffers from severe jerks due to its robotic manual. With the likes of Audi and BMW dumping their robotic manuals soon as double clutch transmissions became reliable, it leaves us bewildered why Citroen will continue to stick with their robotic manual in a premium model such as the DS5.

Every gear change is met with lurch that rocks the car back and forth and makes for a very uncomfortable ride. The only way to circumvent it is to do the cog swapping yourself while releasing the gas pedal before every gear change.

With such an elegant design and build quality both inside and out, the DS5 is sadly marred by the clatter emitted from its diesel engine which also permeates the interior with its vibrations.

That’s not to say the DS5 is beyond redemption. While body control isn’t quite as tight as a German sedan, it felt comfortable and pliant enough when cruising on the expressways.

If not for the robotic manual, we would expect the DS5 diesel to fair decently. A full manual or auto would’ve faired better in our review but unfortunately Citroen is only offering this half-breed transmission for this variant.

It’s quite a pity because we do love the DS5 for its unique design and luxurious interior quality but will find it hard to live with this transmission on a day to day basis.

Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline