Citroen C6 2.7 HDi V6 Exclusive

Image gallery

WHILE its outlandish avant-garde looks are undoubtedly a huge talking point, there’s something else about Citroën’s new flagship C6 that is just as outstanding – it costs £37,000.

Yes, that’s right, nearly £40,000 for a car from a volume brand.

For all of Citroën’s marketing speak about how the car will be sold in small numbers to retain exclusivity and provide a ‘stand-out’ choice in the executive sector, there’s no getting away from the fact that the C6, especially here in top-spec diesel guise, represents a large wad of cash.

But, argues Citroën, to equip rivals from Audi, BMW et al to the same level as the C6 would cost many thousands of pounds.

Fair point, but at this price level you can choose from top-spec German models that have all the kit drivers really need.

Despite the extra toys in the C6 – such as head-up display, active suspension, separate climate control in the rear, sat-nav and lane departure warning system – you have to wonder if this is enough to outweigh the brand snobbery that is so prevalent in the UK.

Ultimately, it isn’t, and just a few hundred C6s will find their way across La Manche each year. For those drivers who do take the plunge, there is much to recommend in Citroën’s flagship – luxury, eye-catching looks and an extremely refined diesel engine (it’s the same 208bhp 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 unit as found under the bonnet of the Jaguar XJ and S-type).

For the purpose of wafting businesspeople around in utter comfort, it ticks every box.

While the steering is over-assisted and feels vague – much like that in the Audi A6 – the six-speed automatic gearbox and engine make a great combination, giving seamless acceleration, a healthy dose of mid-range torque and low noise intrusion into the cabin.

The ride is supple in comfort mode but becomes bumpier when sport is selected, although this does firm up the dampers to keep the car flatter during cornering.

It makes for effortless driving, allowing drivers to cover huge distances in a relaxed manner – all the while cocooned in a sumptuous cabin featuring swathes of leather, wood and chrome.

With the C6, Citroën set out to offer executives ‘a luxury car that would provide excellent value for money compared to its German rivals’.

I’m not sure if this statement lost something in translation from the French, or if the finance department got a little confised in converting euros to pounds, but the simple fact remains that at this price level the C6 is outclassed in brand appeal.

Lovely car it may be, but it will be a car chosen only by the most extrovert of executives – that’s if fleet managers will consider it in the first place due to its wholelife costs performance (see right).

Fact file

P11D value: £37,592
CO2 emissions (g/km): 230
BIK % of P11D in 2006: 28%
Graduated VED rate: £215
Insurance group: 18
Combined mpg: 32.5
CAP RV (3yr/60k): £12,050/32%
Monthly lease (3yr/60k): £787

We like: