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Citroën C5

The C5's European farewell in 2017 ended Citroën's hydropneumatic era.12

Researched November 9, 2026 from 27 sources

Also called

  • X7Common shorthand for the second-generation C5.2
  • Voiture de papyA jibe aimed at the original C5 on arrival: literally, grandpa's car.3
  • face de limandeAnother taunt directed at the original C5: flatfish face.3

At a glance

0150300
89–240 hpPower
07.515
7.9–13.4 s0–100 km/h
0125250
180–243 km/hTop speed
0250500
160–440 N·mTorque
01,2502,500
1,377–2,171 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.2458

Engine
Gasoline: 1.6-3.0 L I4/V6; HDi/BlueHDi diesel: 1.6-3.0 L I4/V62
Layout
Front engine, front-wheel drive2
Gearbox
5/6-speed manuals; 4/6-speed automatics; BlueHDi 180 uses EAT629
Built at
Rennes Plant, France; Dongfeng-PSA Wuhan, China2
Units built
First generation: about 720,0002

The story

The first C5 replaced the Xantia and occupied some XM territory, with Hydractive 3 controlling ride height automatically. Its 2008 successor moved upmarket as a sedan and Tourer wagon.245

2000: Hydractive 3 goes electronic20002003: Carlsson's 235 hp V6 wagon20032004: Longer bodies, swiveling headlights20042008: An upmarket sedan and Tourer20082009: THP 155, HDi 160 and a 240 hp V620092015: Euro 6: BlueHDi 150 and 180 only20152017: China calls its facelift a third generation · Rennes closes the hydraulic chapter2017 Citroën GS/GSA: 1970–1986Citroën GS/GSACitroën CX: 1974–1991Citroën CXCitroën BX: 1982–1994Citroën BXCitroën XM: 1989–2000Citroën XMCitroën Xantia: 1992–2010Citroën XantiaCitroën C5 I (DC/DE): 2000–2007DC/DECitroën C5 II (X7): 2008–2021X7Citroën C5 X: From 2021 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones2451617181920
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1970–1986Citroën GS/GSA
1974–1991Citroën CX
1982–1994Citroën BX
1989–2000Citroën XM
1992–2010Citroën Xantia
2000–2007Citroën C5 I (DC/DE)
2008–2021Citroën C5 II (X7)
From 2021Citroën C5 X
2000Hydractive 3 goes electronic
2003Carlsson's 235 hp V6 wagon
2004Longer bodies, swiveling headlights
2008An upmarket sedan and Tourer
2009THP 155, HDi 160 and a 240 hp V6
2015Euro 6: BlueHDi 150 and 180 only
2017China calls its facelift a third generation
2017Rennes closes the hydraulic chapter
  1. 2000

    Hydractive 3 goes electronic

    Production begins late in 2000. Electronic height sensors replace mechanical correctors; the brakes operate independently of the suspension.26

  2. 2003

    Carlsson's 235 hp V6 wagon

    German dealers get the C5 by Carlsson: a tuned 3.0 V6 wagon with revised suspension, a four-speed automatic and a 235 km/h top speed.7

  3. 2004

    Longer bodies, swiveling headlights

    The facelift stretches the liftback from 4,618 to 4,745 mm and the wagon from 4,755 to 4,840 mm, adding swiveling headlights.2

  4. 2008

    An upmarket sedan and Tourer

    The new sedan and Tourer move upmarket. In Hydractive 3+ versions, nitrogen supplies the springing and fluid flowing through sphere orifices supplies damping.25

  5. 2009

    THP 155, HDi 160 and a 240 hp V6

    The range adds the 1.6 THP 155 and 2.0 HDi 160; the 3.0 HDi V6 Exclusive takes power to 240 hp.8

  6. 2015

    Euro 6: BlueHDi 150 and 180 only

    The European C5 goes diesel-only. The 2.0 BlueHDi 150 has a six-speed manual and takes 9.4 seconds to 100 km/h; the 180 uses EAT6 and takes 8.7.29

  7. 2017

    China calls its facelift a third generation

    Dongfeng-PSA's Chinese C5 gets a new dashboard. Offered with 1.6/1.8 turbo engines, the facelift is marketed as the third generation.210

  8. 2017

    Rennes closes the hydraulic chapter

    European production ends at Rennes; Tourer orders had outlasted the sedan's. High production costs and low demand bring Hydractive's run to an end.2

Every generation

  • Citroën DS
    Citroën DSUntil 1974
  • Citroën GS/GSA
    Citroën GS/GSA1970–1986
  • Citroën CX
    Citroën CX1974–1991
  • Citroën BX
    Citroën BX1982–1994
  • Citroën XM
    Citroën XM1989–2000
  • Citroën Xantia
    Citroën Xantia1992–2010
  • Citroën C5 I
    DC/DE2000–2007
  • Citroën C5 II
    X72008–2021
  • Citroën C5 X
    Citroën C5 XFrom 2021

Power over the years

From 235 hp to 240 hp in 6 years.

0100200300 200220042006200820102012201420162018 hp 2003 · 235 hp · C5 by Carlsson V62008 · 201 hp · Second-gen 2.7 HDi V62009 · 155 hp · 1.6 THP 155, 6-speed manual2009 · 160 hp · 2.0 HDi 1602009 · 240 hp · 3.0 HDi V6 Exclusive2015 · 178 hp · BlueHDi 180 EAT62017 · 204 hp · China 1.8 turbo 240 hp 3.0 HDi V6 Exclusive 235 hp C5 by Carlsson V6
278910
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
2003235C5 by Carlsson V6
2008201Second-gen 2.7 HDi V6
20091551.6 THP 155, 6-speed manual
20091602.0 HDi 160
20092403.0 HDi V6 Exclusive
2015178BlueHDi 180 EAT6
2017204China 1.8 turbo

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • LX (first generation, UK)

    Standard

    LX (first generation, UK)

  • Standard

    SX (first generation, UK)

  • Exclusive / Exclusive SE (first generation, UK)

    Standard

    Exclusive / Exclusive SE (first generation, UK)

  • Standard

    VTR, formerly SX (second generation)

  • Standard

    THP 155 VTR+ NAV (second generation)

    155 hp

  • Standard

    Confort / Millenium (2015 range)

    2015

  • Standard

    Millenium Business Tourer (2015 range)

    2015

  • Standard

    Hydractive Exclusive (2015 range)

    2015

  • Performance

    2.2 HDi twin-turbo (first generation)

    2006–2007

    168 hp
  • CrossTourer

    Special

    CrossTourer

  • Limited

    V6 Break by Carlsson (2003 specification)

    235 hp

How to spot one

Look for

  • First generation: 5-door liftback or wagon bodywork.2
  • First-generation Break: long, slim taillights curve around the tailgate sides.4
  • Early second generation: angular headlights, a narrow grille and bold double chevrons.15
  • Second-generation sedan: concave rear glass above a short trunk lid.5
  • Second-generation Tourer: a long roof ending in a near-vertical tail.12

Year by year

  1. 2004 (first generation)

    Chevrons join twin chrome grille bars; the liftback gains new taillights, while the Break keeps its slim units.4

  2. 2008 (second generation)

    A conventional sedan replaces the liftback; the wagon becomes the Tourer, with a long roof and vertical tail.212

  3. Late 2010

    LED daytime running lights arrive on the second-generation C5.1

  4. July 2012

    Softer-edged chevrons, a revised C5 badge and Exclusive badges ahead of the front doors mark the update.2

  5. 2015 range update

    A standard 7-inch touchscreen reduces the center-console button count; Brun Moka replaces Mativoire paint.9

  6. 2017 (China)

    A redesigned nose, Quad Eight taillights with 8 red blocks, and a new dash with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel.210

Don’t confuse it with

  • Citroën C5 X

    C5 X is a crossover; the earlier C5 uses liftback, sedan and conventional wagon bodies.2

Against its rivals

  • Mazda6 diesel

    C5 vs Mazda6 diesel

    Power

    C5134 hp
    Mazda6 diesel182 hp
    5

Prices

Value today $1.1K–$4.3K3

Price when newAuction saleValue todayPrices on a log scale
$100$1K$10K$100K 20052010201520202025 Value today: $1,080–$4,320 2003 · $45,200 · Germany Carlsson; €1≈$1.132009 · $28,566 · UK VTR sedan OTR; £1≈$1.572009 · $31,078 · UK THP VTR+ Nav OTR; £1≈$1.572009 · $34,689 · UK 2.0 HDi Exclusive OTR; £1≈$1.572009 · $42,853 · UK V6 HDi sedan OTR; £1≈$1.572009 · $44,580 · UK V6 HDi Tourer OTR; £1≈$1.57 2019 · $8,187 · 2004 C5 V6 Break, Aguttes2021 · $6,817 · 2005 C5 3.0 V6 Exclusive, Artcurial2022 · $28,306 · 2001 C5 Carlsson, Aguttes2023 · $5,054 · 2009 C5, Anglia Car Auctions2026 · $878 · 2007 C5 VTR HDi, Mathewsons $28.3K Aguttes, 2022
81427
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2003Price when new$45,200Germany Carlsson; €1≈$1.13
2009Price when new$28,566UK VTR sedan OTR; £1≈$1.57
2009Price when new$31,078UK THP VTR+ Nav OTR; £1≈$1.57
2009Price when new$34,689UK 2.0 HDi Exclusive OTR; £1≈$1.57
2009Price when new$42,853UK V6 HDi sedan OTR; £1≈$1.57
2009Price when new$44,580UK V6 HDi Tourer OTR; £1≈$1.57
2019Auction sale$8,1872004 C5 V6 Break, Aguttes
2021Auction sale$6,8172005 C5 3.0 V6 Exclusive, Artcurial
2022Auction sale$28,3062001 C5 Carlsson, Aguttes
2023Auction sale$5,0542009 C5, Anglia Car Auctions
2026Auction sale$8782007 C5 VTR HDi, Mathewsons
2026Value today$1,080–$4,320

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 11 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “A 1,300 kg C5 for TRV6”
    • “Jumper's taxi was a first-generation C5”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 9 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 27 sources
  1. Citroën C5 Tourer: Gebrauchtwagen-Test - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  2. Citroën C5 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. Ces occasions oubliées qu'on achète à prix "normal" : la Citroën C5 (2001) caradisiac.com
  4. Citroën C5 I — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
  5. Citroen C5 2008 Review - carsales.com.au carsales.com.au
  6. Citro�n C5 technical citroenet.org.uk
  7. Citro�n C5 Carlsson Break at Frankfurt 2003 citroenet.org.uk
  8. New Citro�n C5 new engines and range update 2009 citroenet.org.uk
  9. Citroën C5 BlueHdi 150 et 180 (2015) : prix et fiche technique - L'argus largus.fr
  10. Facelifted Citroen C5 Launched On The Shanghai Auto Show carnewschina.com
  11. Citro�n C5 UK specification models citroenet.org.uk
  12. Citroen C5 Tourer (2008-2016) review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  13. En direct de Genève 2014 - Citroën C5 Cross Tourer, la bonne affaire caradisiac.com
  14. Citroën C5 Break Carlsson : la drôle d'alliance carjager.com
  15. Cultural Appropriation – Driven to Write driventowrite.com
  16. CX – Citroen Car Club citroencarclub.org.uk
  17. Citroën BX - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  18. GS & GSA – Citroen Car Club citroencarclub.org.uk
  19. Citroën XM - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. Citroën Xantia - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  21. Citroen C5 vs Skoda Superb | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  22. 2009 CITROEN C5 EXCLUSIVE HDI AUTO | Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd April | Anglia Car Auctions angliacarauctions.co.uk
  23. Citroën C5 caradisiac.com
  24. Bien acheter une Citroën C5 (2008-..) autoplus.fr
  25. Citroen C5 2001 Price & Specs | CarsGuide carsguide.com.au
  26. Citroen C5 2016 Price & Specs | CarsGuide carsguide.com.au
  27. Citroen C5 For Sale & Price Guide | The Classic Valuer theclassicvaluer.com
  • autobild.de
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • caradisiac.com
  • fr.wikipedia.org
  • carsales.com.au
  • citroenet.org.uk
  • largus.fr
  • carnewschina.com
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • carjager.com
  • driventowrite.com
  • citroencarclub.org.uk
  • angliacarauctions.co.uk
  • autoplus.fr

Photo credits

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