Published:
28 October 2013As imaginatively turned as the exterior is, the stylised body of the DS 5 is barely a warm-up for the design exercise that has occurred within. Conventionally, a car’s interior feels limited not by the creativity of its designer, but by the budget of a manufacturer grimly eyeing the bottom line.
The DS 5 is one of only a handful of mainstream models that we can think of where aesthetic inventiveness has clearly been consciously encouraged, and seemingly without defaulting to the constraints of the purse strings.
This makes the resulting cabin – especially in the top-spec model – a convincing tribute to what Citroën is attempting to achieve with the DS range.
It is awash with thoughtful details, expensive features and clever material juxtapositions, but the most satisfying impression it conveys is the abiding notion that someone actually took the time to conceive, craft and situate each component exclusively for your appreciation. Consequently, everything, from the meaty gearknob to the electric window switches, is a pleasure to look at and use.
It’s hard not to be persuaded by the shrewd interlacing of form and function. So strong is the look and feel of the surroundings that they serve to almost completely paper over the interior’s negligible shortcomings.
Foremost among these is a slight lack of legroom in the back and a serious lack of visibility all round. Despite split A-pillars, the DS 5’s layout impedes quick progress at junctions, and reversing is hindered by the high-set and narrow rear screen.
