Frustration at unachievable official fuel figures for our respective long-term test cars caused me to hatch a plan with BusinessCar colleague Tristan Young to swap vehicles.
Our hypothesis was the Citroen DS5 hybrid should do better in my mainly urban driving and the long-geared diesel i30 should improve on Mr Young’s mixed use journeys.
Tristan managed 62.2mpg from a tank in the Hyundai i30 1.6 CRDi 110 Blue Drive – only 81.5% of Hyundai’s claimed 76.3mpg – but way better than my 48.1mpg best. How would I fare in the DS5? I was impressed with the auto’s low-speed progress, so much easier than the long-geared diesel (see report, above right). In the city the DS5 offered pleasing stints of zero-emission travel and its regenerative braking was a real boon in controlling the car coasting up to traffic lights and then, with a gentle throttle press, moving off without engaging the engine at all. Trouble is, over my short test, I only managed 37.5mpg – half its official 74.1mpg. Despite this and other flaws – such as no postcode satnav or anywhere sensible to put a phone or cup – I still prefer the DS5’s feel-good combination of beautiful exterior, quality-fit interior and smooth, if fleeting, EV moments.
