There is something strange about the new Citroën C5, and it takes a while to realise what. When you do, you realise it’s quite obvious: the car looks far more German than it does French.

From behind, you’ll need to get pretty close to tell that it isn’t an Audi A4 or BMW 3-series, and in profile the arching greenhouse and strong shoulders are definitely Audi-esque. The nose, though, is pure Citroën with its chevron grille and fussy headlamp detailing. And at the back is the trademark concave rear window that we’ve already seen on the bigger C6 model.

Inside, the flush-folding air-conditioning vents could have come from a Volkswagen-Audi group car, and, boy, have they tried hard to give the cabin a feel of quality. Soft-touch plastics abound wherever your hands might fall, the door handles feel like solid chunks of forged aluminium, and the brushed-alloy strips along either side of the console look and feel very classy.

It’s not ergonomically perfect, though, as the centre console is rather overloaded with annoyingly small buttons. The steering wheel has a fixed centre boss around which the wheel rotates, and the boss holds yet more buttons for cruise control, hands-free phone, stereo and trip computer. I particularly liked the instruments, with their needles that sweep around the periphery, leaving the dial centres free for info displays.

The C5 is a large car, about Mondeo-sized, albeit a little narrower. The Ford, along with the Vauxhall Vectra, Honda Accord and VW Passat will be its key rival, so whatever aspirations the Citroën has, it is definitely pitched at the mainstream heartland, which is sensible.

The cabin is of generous proportions, with plenty of sprawling space for four 6ft-plus adults, while the rear seats can be folded down to extend the 533-litre boot and accommodate long loads.

The C5 will be offered with conventional steel springing or with self-levelling Hydractive hydropneumatic suspension. The former gives a good ride, with just enough firmness to keep the car well tied down when the road turns twisty. The Hydractive suspension provides an eerily smooth ride, although it sometimes makes the car feel a bit too detached from the action. Even when set to “sport” mode, which firms things up, the C5 errs on the side of floaty comfort. And while the Citroën’s steering is accurate, it lacks the feel and feedback of the best in the class.

The 2 litre turbodiesel engine develops 138bhp and a useful 236 lb ft of torque (which can on occasion rise to 251 lb ft thanks to the “overboost” function). With this power plant, the C5 feels adequately rapid: Citroën claims it can do 0-62mph in 10.9sec. The six-speed manual gearbox of my test car was good, with a pleasingly direct gearchange.

Most impressive of all, though, is the C5’s mechanical refinement. At 100mph, you don’t need to raise voices to be understood, and as it’s so remarkably unstressed it makes a top-notch motorway cruiser. High marks can also be awarded for its fuel economy: 46.3mpg on the combined cycle.

Other markets will get a petrol V6 engine, but in the UK the top motor will be the excellent V6 turbodiesel. This 208bhp 2.7 litre powerhouse, with its uninterrupted streams of muscular acceleration and superbly relaxed cruising ability, really suits the C5. It gives the newcomer a 0-62mph capability of a not thrilling but perfectly respectable 9.1sec.

The C5 saloon goes on sale in April, and will be joined by an estate in July. It will be priced from £15,595 for the entry-level petrol 1.8SX, to £24,395 for the diesel V6 Exclusive. Even basic models will be equipped with standard alloy wheels, cruise control, air-conditioning and electric windows. Citroën’s eccentric but useful lane-departure warning system will be available as an option.

While the C5 has some German affectations, deep down it is still resolutely French. And it’s all the better for it.

Vital statistics

Model Citroën C5 2.0 HDi SX

Engine type 1997cc, four cylinders, turbodiesel

Power/Torque138bhp @ 4000rpm / 236-251 lb ft @ 2000rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel/CO2 46.3mpg / 157g/km

Performance 0-62mph: 10.9sec / Top speed: 120mph

Price £17,495

Verdict A refined, great-looking, well-built Citroën

Rating

Date of release April 2008

The opposition

Model Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Edge, £17,595

For Comfortable, refined and good looking

Against A little bit on the large side

Model VW Passat 2.0 S TDI, £17,840

For Spacious, refined, well built, quite prestigious

Against It really is as dull as ditchwater