Citroen C5 price slashed

By Tim Beissmann
May 02nd, 2012

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The price of the entry-level Citroen C5 has been slashed to $32,990 driveaway, saving customers more than $6000 on the stylish but unloved mid-sized French sedan.

The Citroen C5 Attraction petrol is normally priced from $35,990 before statutory charges, delivery and dealer costs, which when added take the C5’s on-the-road price to close to $40,000.

The Citroen C5 Attraction is powered by a 115kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Standard features include a six-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, climate control and a six-speaker audio system with Bluetooth connectivity.

Citroen Australia’s website says the driveaway pricing offer will remain until the end of the month or while stock lasts.

The heavy discounting is the latest attempt from Citroen’s Australian distributor, Ateco Automotive, to increase sales of the prestige medium car.

In October, Citroen introduced the petrol-engined Attraction base model, which saw the C5 range’s entry price plummet $11,000 from its previous starting level of $46,990.

So far the restructuring appears to be paying off with C5 sales increasing 57.5 per cent in the first three months of this year, up from 40 to 63.

Despite the increase, the C5 remains one of the least popular vehicles in the medium segment. It has just a 0.4 per cent share of the sub-$60,000 medium segment and has outsold only a few models, including the discontinued Alfa Romeo 159 (47), the Renault Latitude (32) and the Volvo S40 (41). The Toyota Camry (5193), Honda Accord Euro (2179) and the Mazda6 (1770) are the segment leaders.

When it announced the price restructuring last year, Citroen predicted it would sell 425 C5s in 2012. At the current rate it is on track to sell approximately 250 C5s for the year, around 60 per cent of its target.

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Martin

Increase sales of the prestige medium car? Forgive me but I don’t think a Citroen is a prestige manufacturer nor do I think the general Australian public percieve the French manufacturer as prestige brand. I would consider buying a French car because I quite like the thoughtful quirky styling however I will not be led to believe that it is more than it really is. Especially after being to Europe where, like Volkswagen, the manufacturer is seen as common as Toyota and priced accordingly.

Ateco Automotive need to get real about the brands they distribute if they want to increase sales (and marketshare) and overall profit, or divest to another distributor who will take the brand more seriously.
- Blair Waldord
  
  This is so typical of ATECO, they marketed Fiat as ‘prestige’ when it clearly isn’t, and it’s the same with Citroen. They’re trying to ride off the whole Volkswagen being perceived as prestige thing – when none of these brands are considered prestige in their home markets. ATECOs constant discounting also ruins resale values.
- mazy
  
  Hey Skoda is sold in Australia as a premium brand ….. how ridiculous is that
  - Jerrycan
    
    I don’t think Skoda is marketed that way at all.
    When I bought my diesel Octavia Wagon in 2007 it was because there was no equivalent available at the time at the price.
    Ride and reported reliability was better than VW Golf. The carrying volume is huge for external size and payload is extraordinary for any size. Internal trim not quite so fancy but functional.
    Full size spare wheel essential for Australia.
    The electric steering is fabulously accurate and is not affected by cross winds, road cambers, or tramlining. I guess this is the lack of ‘feedback’ that some complain of.
    Recent 4000 klm fully loaded holiday trip averaged 5.4 ltr/100 overall at posted speed limits and a stint through central Sydney and aircon on the whole time.
    I did look at the Hyundai I30 wagon, which was cheaper had slightly better passenger accomodation and cheaper but was far less enjoyable to drive especially re the steering and ride.
    No regrets yet.
    
    Oh yeah one complaint from my son that back seats did not have own speakers. This worked to our advantage though as he listened to his crap music on his Ipod.
    - Subaru Awd Aus
      
      BTW the current Octavia 90TSI has SUPERB (no pun intended) audio all round – including the back!
      
      The Octavia is not prestige, but why does it need to be, when it is such an understated brilliant car? I was so close putting my money down for a 90TSI wagon recently until my job change put paid to that (making do with a mint 2009 Sonata I picked up for $14k – another understated car that snobs just wouldn’t understand!). The focus on “prestige” is so often targeted at the mechanically and technically uninformed … get a car you want to drive and want to enjoy and bugger what badge is on it; if you’re concerned about resale values, well get it slightly used!
  - Able
    
    I fail to see how Skoda is marketed as a premium brand in Australia… Yes they’re more expensive than other markets (but I don’t see why they have to be so much cheaper than VW, their range of cleverness and practicality to me is far superior than the equivalent Volkswagens) but still, they’re aimed at Jap brands, not BMWs!
Doctor

I’m not surprised that it’s not popular – after all it’s only a Peugeot with an Audi-esque body. As for prestige……. like a GM-K really.
Pax

This car would appeal to people who like to give up and surrender. You can tell by looking at it that the designers just gave up.
Smart US

its not a bad car – but its NOT PRESTIGE at all – in EU you buy french car only when you “Must” or you are poor french citizen… the quality and reliability is just bad… they do nice diesels and Renault 5y/warranty is peace of mind… ATECO is crazy stupid love whatever – they dont know what they doing
- Bingolee
  
  Yes, reliability is a problem. Leased two citroens while holidaying in Europe – both C4s, and both turned out to be problematic. One had a faulty indicator and the other, a faulty air conditioning. They were virtually brand new cars and Citroen was VERY UNHELPFUL – as the air cond is crucial for driving in winter, I had a massive fight with them over the phone to get it fixed or replaced. Wasted one week in Paris holed up in the hotel room “waiting” for their calls.
  - Reckless1
    
    Ha – more fool you on two fronts – you went to France and hired a French car.
    - Subaru Awd Aus
      
      Worth the romance and adventure and all the ins and outs that come with it I think … Bingolee surely didn’t go to France to experience Japan …
Laurie

Its not the car fault its ATECO. I spoke to owners in car parks about the C5 as I was interested in getting one they told me the C5 has some electrical problems together with suspension problems and their dealers had a hard time getting the go ahead from ATECO under warranty word spreads quickly these days due to social media outlets…forums!
Sebastian, Style Messiah

This is a nice car but things that put me off are:

1. ATECOs warranty policy.
2. Spare parts availability
3. Resale
4. Reliability of the product
5. Dumb PSA RHD engineering such as the fuesbox located in the glovebox

At the price this car deserves to do better and is a more appealing choice than a Camry.
- Subaru Awd Aus
  
  The fact the French sell so few cars in RHD markets shows in its complete disregard for re-engineering even the fusebox from LHD to RHD, or wiper direction and indicator stalks for that matter …. I do note Hyundai being LHD in its home market does not have any issues re-engineering its cars for RHD …
Jerrycan

You have got to pity the poor idiot that bought one at the high price point and sees his already poor resale being totally wiped out by the people he gave his money to.
- Sebastian, Style Messiah
  
  ATECO are bad news… The best thing is for Citroen to go direct. I believe that FIAT and ALFA going through Chrysler will greatly help these brands, ATECO was doing a bad job.
save it for the track

VW have a decent market share in RHD markets, but they stil have the bonnet release on a vehicle like a Tiguan on the passenger side of the car. I don;t know about Golf’s or others. Anyone else comment on that?
- Pogo
  
  My 2008 Polo Gti has the bonnet release on the drivers side
- Legnab
  
  My last 3 golfs , right side , germans are not stupid .
save it for the track

Just lazy with the Tiguan then??
JCAS

Discontinued 159???
PeterW

I have the current C5 Tourer diesel since Sept 2011. Prior to that I had a C5 Sedan V6 Exclusive for just over 4 years. Both fantastic cars to drive, reliable, never had a problem. I agree that resale has been poor although with the recent price drops I think they will be in line with most other brands from now on.

I don’t get the criticism of Citroen… I’ve owned Fords, Mazdas and VWs in the past and liked them all but have found Citroen even more in terms of styling, drivability and reliability.
Ecipoe opinion fromEurope

The reliability of the french cars have improved a lot lately. Unfortunately their reputation as unreliable cars created by the older models still remain in place.
Dario

Purchased a C5 Exec wagon in Feb 2012. Absolute luxury after having had top of the ranges Calais and Falcon G6E previously. Cost far less than the top of the range Calais after the price drops at the start of the year. Yes it has some quirky French flavours, but I’d rather French cooking to US, UK or Aussie! The Calais with FE2 suspension was a great driver’s car but for cruising you can’t beat the C5 especiallly for the price. Travelled from Albury to Yarrawonga after a kidney removal and did not feel any of the bumps.
richard lim

I am thinking of getting a C5 Exclusive – anyone has any idea about the resale value of Citroen cars as a whole?
- PeterW
  
  Resale on Citroens has been similar in the past to brands like BMW – i.e. a big drop over the first 2 – 4 years because the starting price is high. And there are fewer Citroens on the road here in Australia which probably doesn’t help resale either.
  
  However Citroen pricing has come down in the past 2 years so I think that will improve resale (i.e. you won’t see a big decline over the first 2 – 4 years). I keep trading my Citroens in for another Citroen so I never have a problem! We’re just about to trade my wife’s C4 Picasso in on a C4 Aircross.
  
  My C5 is a year old now and has done 27,000km and it’s been absolutely bullet-proof. The diesel is great – my daily commute is 40km each way and I’ve almost halved my fuel bill from the previous V6 petrol C5. Such a great car.
  - http://twitter.com/AylaAylaboerman ayla
    
    Hi,
    
    I drive the C5 for years and years (2002)and drove now 200.000km on the first type!
    
    I planned to drive this same car for a few years to come,I looking forward to the next 100.000km!