DS 5 review - French premium offering doesn't quite hit the mark - DS 5 design
Style and character in spades, but DS still has work to do if it's to dethrone the traditional premium brands
Despite being launched in 2011, the DS 5 (previously Citroen-badged) still looks fresh. The two-box silhouette isn’t the most traditional for a car aimed at the premium end of the market but it stands out both in concept and execution.
We’re not yet convinced by DS Automobiles’ grille treatment, which doesn’t seem quite as elegant as the large chrome chevrons of the Citroen version, but the chrome ‘sabres’ that rise from the bonnet onto the A-pillar still look unique and models with LED and Xenon lighting have a distinctive appearance at the front.
The use of glass across the roof also looks good and in general, there’s a ‘floating’ appearance to the glassy cabin. One thing we would add is that the DS 5 definitely looks its best on larger alloy wheel options, while some of DS’s exterior finish options work particularly well – Whisper Purple, Ink Blue and Platinum Grey have the desired expensive look.
