I drove the Citroen C5 X – it’s super comfy, sensibly priced and different but you’ll still buy something else

HUMAN beings are creatures of habit. Once we know we like something we stick to it.

We’ll order the same pint of beer, stick to the brand of jeans that fit us, and end up pressing repeat order on Just Eat or Deliveroo on a Friday night.

It’s the same with cars.

My mate’s dad bought a brown Ford Cortina every year just to get the latest registration plate. Same car. Same colour. Year after year.

Citroen is trying to break that habit. It has deliberately priced this C5 X from £27,790 to compete against Qashqai and Sportage – two big-selling family cars that are so good at what they do, people just sign up for a new one at the end of their lease deal.

It will be hard to tempt people away from these much-loved SUVs.
But if you really do fancy something different, C5 X is worth a look.

It’s not a crossover. Or a saloon. Or an estate. It’s a blend of all three.
Avant-garde, as the French would say.

And it hasn’t got those goofy Airbumps (stick-on plastic door protectors) like some Citroens.

It is actually rather classy. And spacious. And relaxing to drive.
You’ll want for nothing.

There are seats to warm, cool and rub your back.

The super-wide Head-up Display projects speed and satnav on to the windscreen. Trumping a Peugeot 508.

The slick 12in touchscreen mirrors your phone. Plus, there’s acres of room for gangly teens in the back.

Citroen says the 545-litre boot is big enough to swallow a washing machine, should you A) Be strong enough to lift one, and B) Turn down free delivery from Currys.

We tried the 131hp 1.2-litre turbo petrol and the 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Both are paired with eight-speed autos.

Both have pillow-soft suspension. Both have nice driving positions and are quiet and stress-free.

We actually preferred the 1.2. You won’t win a traffic light drag race in one but it has enough power for most people. Unless you tow things. There’s also a 181hp 1.6-litre petrol.

The PHEV is quicker at 225hp and will do up to 37 miles in EV mode.

But it costs £9k more than the 130hp petrol and has a smaller boot. And a smaller petrol tank.

Unless you can really use the electric range or are a company car driver (BiK is 12 per cent), avoid it and go for the cheaper, simpler 1.2.

To conclude, then. Citroen’s new flagship is super comfy, sensibly-priced and different.

But you’ll still get a Qashqai or a Sportage.