A smooth operator

Drive’s Seán Creedon finds the French in a league of their own with the stylish new Citroën DS5, which, he says, glides along the road…

While I’m not mad about taxi drivers, especially the chatty ones who seem to know everything, I must admit that they know their cars, which provide a very smooth and relaxing drive.

I felt like I was in a luxury taxi, or even a limousine, last week, as I test-drove the ever so smooth Citroën DS5. The car seems to glide along the road.

Citroën reintroduced the iconic DS name for their new range of cars—heralded by the DS3—back in 2010, after an absence of 35 years. The DS4 appeared in 2011, and earlier this year, the stylish, smart and beautiful DS5 made its Irish debut.

It’s immediately impressive, with its sculpted chrome lines and distinctive headlights making an instant impact when viewed from the front.

My test-drive model attracted appreciative glances, mainly from males, confirming that the car is fulfilling Citroën’s efforts to entice men over 35, possibly business leaders or “independent thinkers”.

I must admit that I found the cab a little too busy. There are attractive aspects, such as the manner in which the seats almost tuck the driver and front seat passenger away into separate sections. You’ll feel very secure.

But there are so many controls in your line of vision that you may feel almost like a pilot. And your ‘co-pilot’ can also contribute to the driving experience, with an overhead central console of controls for the windows and doors. Passengers can also keep themselves amused by opening and closing the three glass sections in the roof of the car.

The ‘A’ pillars at the side of the windscreen are a bit intrusive, and my complaint is the sensation that you are surrounded by too much metal, as there is also a lot of metal overhead also.

But back to the positive aspects of the car. I really liked the lane departure warning system. If you’re driving on a motorway, tired, and begin meandering from your lane, the driver’s seat will vibrate by way of warning.