DS 5 review - French premium offering doesn't quite hit the mark - DS 5 prices, specs and rivals
Style and character in spades, but DS still has work to do if it's to dethrone the traditional premium brands
DS 5s start at £26,350, for which you get a basic diesel with a six-speed manual in Elegance trim. While its performance is nothing to shout about, DS Automobiles does at least equip its models in a manner suiting its image – Elegance gets 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, auto lights and wipers, cruise control, dual-zone aircon, a 7-inch touchscreen, navigation, DAB radio and more as standard.
Prestige models – which begin at £29,800 with the BlueHDi 150 manual – add LED and Xenon headlights, scrolling LED indicators, a reversing camera, electric seat adjustment, black leather trim and mood lighting, as well as ‘noise reducing front side windows’.
You’ll pay £30,190 for the THP 210 in Prestige trim, £32,280 for the most potent diesel (with its auto ‘box) and from £33,080 for the hybrid. It's worth noting that it's usually possible to chip away at the list price on cars from the Citroen stable, and DS models shouldn't change that much. In terms of further incentives, DS currently offers deals such as three years 0 per cent APR, or leasing from £269 a month.
If you’re the sort of person to consider spending £30,000 or more on a DS 5 then you probably won’t be tempted by some of the more ‘obvious’ rivals for the French car – BMW 320is and 320ds, Audi A4 2.0 TFSI and TDIs, or even more typical off-the-wall options like a Lexus IS 300h or Infiniti Q50.
But all are available around that £30,000 bracket and most will impress keen drivers more, even if they don’t have the same visual intrigue or lengthy equipment lists.
And of course, £30k or so gets all manner of evo favourites in other categories, too. Or an immaculate example of an original Citroen DS…
