Used Citroen C5 X for sale: everything you need to know

It’s probably unfair and it’s certainly lazy to call every new Citroen that’s a little bit out of the ordinary ‘quirky’, but the French manufacturer does like to do things differently from most brands, and the C5 X is a good example - at a glance, it’s difficult to say what kind of car it is.

In very broad terms though it’s simply a big hatchback, and a bit of an antidote to SUVs - despite some SUV-like styling touches of its own. It’s practical, willfully un-sporty, and a comfortable place to while away the miles - while buying one used can take the sting out of the relatively high prices of some new models.

Being difficult to pigeonhole makes finding like-for-like alternatives tricky too, but suffice to say nearly any other large hatchback or family SUV probably fits the bill, from the Skoda Superb to the Volkswagen Tiguan - as well as distinctive estates like the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake.

Should you buy a Citroen C5 X?

Buying a Citroen C5 X is a deliberate choice not to buy something more… well, boring. SUVs are ten-a-penny but big, wafty hatchbacks are much rarer, particularly ones that look and feel as novel as the C5 X.

The best thing is that different doesn’t, in this instance, mean worse. Buy a C5 X and you’ll still be getting something very practical, with enough space to seat adults in the rear and a pretty big boot too, aided by a low load lip thanks to this being a (somewhat) conventional car.

Citroen’s interior quality has improved significantly over the years so it may surprise you if you’ve been away from the brand for a while, and all C5 Xs are well equipped. It’s not quite as novel as the exterior either - wisely, Citroen has chosen not to be different for the sake of it in here. Even the infotainment screen is easy to live with.

To drive, Citroen has played to its strengths and majored on comfort. So it’s not as sporty as some alternatives, but it rides better than most, and being a lower car to start with, doesn’t need to be as firm as some SUVs in order to get around corners without leaning all over the place. It’s particularly at home on the motorway, in part thanks to low noise levels - regardless of whether you go for the petrol or plug-in hybrid.

The closest conventional cars to the C5 X are probably big saloons, hatchbacks, and estates, such as the Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb, Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake, and Volvo V60. But if the C5 X is an SUV alternative, then you might consider something from that class too - including Citroen’s own C5 Aircross.

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What’s the best used Citroen C5 X model to buy?

The Plug-in Hybrid looks to have the edge on paper, with better performance than the PureTech petrol and much higher fuel economy, largely thanks to its ability to run around in pure electric mode for nearly 40 miles. Making the most of it does mean plugging it in as often as possible, and for those who either can’t do that, or can’t be bothered, may be better served by the PureTech - which will also set you back less money up front.

Mid-level Shine trim is probably the sweet spot in the range too. It doesn’t offer anything essential over the entry level Sense Plus, but we suspect most owners would appreciate extras like the head-up display, heated steering wheel, and larger 12-inch (rather than 10-inch) touchscreen.

Used Citroen C5 X fuel economy and performance

• Citroen C5 X PureTech 130: Fitted with a standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, the PureTech 130 uses a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine developing 129PS. Citroen says it’ll get from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds, while combined economy is up to 48.6mpg.
• Citroen C5 X Plug-in Hybrid 225: Plug-in models use a larger 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine and electric motor combination, for 225PS combined through an eight-speed auto gearbox. 0-62mph takes 7.9 seconds, and up to 38.5 miles of EV range help it to achieve a claimed 236.2mpg combined.

What used Citroen C5 X trim levels are available?

Citroen has offered three trim levels on the C5 X so far, with a generous level of standard equipment across the board. The entry-level car gets useful features like front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, while stepping up the range adds a head-up display, wireless phone charging, and heated seats, depending on the model.

• The Citroen C5 X Sense Plus comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and fog lights, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, fabric and artificial leather trim, dual-zone air conditioning, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-inch touchscreen, and eight-speaker audio.
• The Citroen C5 X Shine gets a different 19-inch wheel design, leather seats, a head-up display, heated steering wheel, a 12-inch touchscreen, and wireless smartphone charging.
• The Citroen C5 X Shine Plus adds electric front seat adjustment with seat heating, aluminium-effect pedals, acoustic insulated front side windows, and a power hands-free tailgate.

Used Citroen C5 X dimensions and boot size

The Citroen C5 X’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4805mm
• Width: 1865mm (without mirrors), 2062mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1485mm

The Citroen C5 X’s boot size is:

• 545 litres
• 485 litres Plug-in Hybrid
• 1640 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof)
• 1580 litres with the rear seats folded, Plug-in Hybrid (to roof)

Used Citroen C5 X road tax

The very highest specification C5 Xs just cross the £40,000 threshold that commands a VED surcharge, but most are thankfully below this rate, meaning you’ll pay either £170 per year (at the time of writing) for a Plug-in Hybrid variant, or £180 a year for the PureTech petrol.

How much is it to insure a Citroen C5 X?

Regular petrol models are the cheapest to insure, with both Sense Plus and Shine variants with the 1.2 PureTech starting the ball rolling in group 20. Plug-in Hybrid versions span groups 26 to 31. For comparison, the Skoda Superb goes from group 14 to 31, while the Citroen C5 Aircross goes from group 16 to group 28.

Read our full Citroen C5 X review