What’s not?

• Such distinct looks cause issues in everyday use. For example the thick front roof pillars compromise visibility. Plus, the curvy roof eats into rear headroom meaning tall passengers   will be uncomfortable.
• The ride is a big improvement in the DS5, but it’s not shown at its best in the 150 Prestige. Why? Well, the bigger 18 inch alloys seem to be upset at lower speeds and around town. The 120 Prestige we’ve also driven felt noticeably more composed on 17’s.
• The DS5’s steering is pleasingly responsive, but you’ll have trouble finding out as the steering wheel is huge and cumbersome.

Verdict for the DS Automobiles DS5 2.0 HDi 150 Blue Prestige

The DS5 in 2.0 HDi 150 Blue Prestige form is an interesting and luxurious alternative to mainstream models, such as the Ford Mondeo or Volkswagen Passat. But, we think you’ll have to be a real fan of Citroen and DS history to buy into this new French challenger.

Get past the avant-garde looks and the DS5 makes a good business car in HDi 150 form, as on top of strong performance, the 2.0-litre diesel is almost capable of 70mpg, while CO2 is just 105g/km. These figures mean company car tax figures are going to be affordable and leasing costs competitive.