The Citroen C5. The car I didn't know I wanted. (Test Drive)

It really makes me sad we judge every car on price and presence rather that things that actually matter like driving dynamics and driving experience. We compare every new car on the market with cars like the Toyota Fortuner. All these cars stand for are image and presence.

But again, the C5 is not a mass market vehicle. It's not a conventional SUV like the Fortuner or the XUV700 for that matter. This isn't a car that sells on features like a MG Hector or a Kia Seltos. Being a CKD, it's not VFM for sure. With a dealership network of around 10 across India, Citroen isn't after vulgar numbers with the C5. They've got the C3 and C4 coming for that. These will be made in India with almost 95% localization and will be value for money. Citroen is a brand with a beautiful, unique and quirky design language that can stand out by miles and miles in comparison to the global automotive design industry. This itself is an achievement 90% of the industry cannot boast of. The french automotive companies are known for their innovation and wacky standing in the industry. Yes, the Indian consumer wouldn't care for it, and in the same way, judging it with the conventional Indian road presence meter wouldn't make sense.

For me, the C5 is here to remind us what a vehicle is all about. What it's meant to do. First and foremost, comfort. Bad roads have been a part of India since it's independence and will be a part of India for years to come. That's trump card No.1 for the C5.

The ride comfort and suspension is incomparable to any car I've driven so far in the sub 60 lakh segment. You've actually gotta go drive it to experience it. Second, driving. You've got only one engine and transmission option, a diesel with an automatic transmission. For an enthusiast like me, I thought I would be disappointed. A front wheel drive automatic diesel crossover SUV? Sounds drab? Yep. Atleast that's what I thought as I took the keys for the test drive vehicle. But boy, was I surprised. It reminded me that anything that is well built, well designed and well engineered, can be exciting. (At the cost of sounding like James May)

The C5 is the first car I've driven in the last 5 years that actually got me excited and impressed me in a way I wanted this for myself more than my next breath. The power delivery is so immediate and perfect that you wouldn't feel the car is underpowered anywhere, even though it's an automatic. The driving dynamics is like of a car that is much lighter but yet, beautifully planted. Never felt like I was driving an SUV.

The C5 is actually good as a car, as it should be, capable of keeping every one in the family happy for years to come, instead of trying to be a family smartphone which we replace every few years.

But of course, having said so, if Citroen had banked only on the C5 to be successful in India, I would see the Frenchie brand packing it's French leather bags already. Thankfully, they are bringing the C3 to fight in the mass market segment. Here, we can judge for factors like road presence, value for money and so on. No car that is just good to drive, ever sold well in India. Ford being the prime example for the same. Maruti Suzuki wouldn't have such a dominant hold on the top selling cars charts for decades if that wasn't the case. True, people like me who look for good drivability in cars only count for less than 5% of the Indian consumer. But cars like these remind me why I fell in love with cars in the first place and I'm glad Citroen chose to debut with such a car.

Beautiful, minimal, composed interiors with extremely well thought out ergonomics, driving dynamics and ride comfort. The car glides across bad roads with immense aplomb.

The dynamics of the car are not at all SUV like. Felt like I was driving a planted sedan or hatch! Wishing for more such cars for the Indian driver.