2006 Citroen C6 HDI Exclusive review from UK and Ireland

The passenger side auto-folding mirror mechanism went on the fritz about a month back, but has since fixed itself.

The boot lid had not been aligned properly when the car was delivered. Fixed promptly by the dealer as the misalignment let in water.

Citroen is now lurking just outside the top ten most reliable car manufacturers in the UK. If the rest of the range is built like my C6, it's no surprise why.

There are no rattles nor any annoying squeaks. It's very solidly built with that same square-shouldered feel to the steering as you expect in any BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Most manufacturers have cottoned on to the fact that buyers find this preferable to an over-assisted wheel, so it's no surprise.

The 2.7-litre twin-turbo diesel that's also in the Jaguar XJ is quick, but it's not a miracle oil-burner like BMW's equivalent, it doesn't have the refinement or power of the Benz, and it isn't particularly economical. The 2.2-litre twin-turbo alternative is a truly great engine, but not in this big car -- leave that to the C5.

The leather interior has the one grade and isn't as supple as some options offered by the Germans, but it's ultra hard wearing and the TGV-style seats are the most long-distance comfortable I've sat in. My previous car used to give me pains down my right side on long journeys, and the C6 simply doesn't.

The seats in the rear are even more cushy than those in the front, with the optional Lounge Pack adding heating and electric reclining. Space for rear passengers is more than ample, being matched only by the LWB versions of the S-Class and 7-Series. It's really not a small car on the inside.

Comfort is unmatched at speed, although as is the case with all Hydractive cars, the ride can be a little crashy around town when travelling at lower speeds over poor surfaces. The C6 doesn't have the supreme body control of the S-Class, nor does it reign in the annoying head toss you get down bumpy lanes, but it's exceptionally quiet and incredibly smooth overall. And unlike the S-Class, there is no audible turbulence around the external mirrors on the motorway.

I know the design is love-it-or-hate-it, but it's very Gallic, very distinctive (particularly at night because of a multitude of amber running lights), and in the UK there are next to none on the road, meaning that unlike the equivalent 5-Series or E-Class, you're never likely to be trying your key in the wrong car in a busy car park.

The one downside to a price tag that is, but a fraction of the competition is a liberal dose of borrowed components, most notably the plasticky indicator stalks and horribly dated satnav system seen in the current C5 (though due to be replaced by the HDD-based one from the 2008 C5 some time next year).

All in all though, if you value comfort over perceived status, and have an open mind about cars that aren't predictably German, then I can almost guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was.

Top cap it all, my local Citroen dealer have been friendlier and more helpful than any previous Mercedes or BMW outfit.