ANYONE who thinks estate cars are big, bulky, cumbersome vehicles with little character or finesse should check out the Citroen C5 Tourer because it certainly bucks any trend.

With dynamic styling and bundles of technology to be explored, the C5 Tourer is an absolute delight to drive with outstanding comfort levels and beautiful handling capabilities.

The car looks great from any angle thanks to its sweeping lines, twin exhaust pipes, dark tinted rear windows and tailgate, 18-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, roof bars and numerous chrome trimmings on the bumper, boot sills, fog lamp surrounds, door handles and mirrors.

And you won't be disappointed with the interior quality either with a whole host of creature comforts and techno treats at your disposal.

Features include an MP3 compatible sound system with CD player, Bluetooth connectivity, sat nav, dual zone air conditioning with pollen filter, leather electrically-adjustable seats with heat and memory settings, a reversing camera, interior mood lighting, cruise control and more.

The interior is neatly laid out although there are a lot of buttons and controls to get to grips with. Thankfully many features can be controlled via the multi-function steering wheel.

Comfort levels are excellent for all occupants and any back seat passengers have ample leg room to stretch out in style.

The larger-than-life boot can accommodate 505 litres of luggage which is quickly and easily increased to a capacity of 1,462 litres thanks to split-folding rear seats. The tailgate is opened and closed automatically and the low loading ridge makes it easier to pack heavy or awkwardly-shaped items.

An estate car has to offer the best of both worlds when it comes to performance. Business drivers need to clock up the motorway miles in comfort and at the weekends it must be flexible enough to cater to the needs of an active family. The Citroen C5 ticks all the right boxes.

The car featured a 2.2-litre diesel engine with six-speed automatic transmission. I clocked up almost 500 miles behind the wheel and it has to be said, the car handled beautifully.

On the open road or motorways, it had plenty of power and acceleration through the gears was lovely and smooth with a constant supply of power on tap. The road holding was faultless as the car seemed to stick to the Tarmac like glue with no body roll whatsoever.

The car also featured Citroen's Hydractive 3+ system which offers additional control over the vehicle's suspension with a sport button to increase the all-round driving dynamics.

In addition, it boasts excellent insulation which means even at higher speeds there is very little engine or road surface noise to be heard within the cabin.

The C5 Tourer was just as accomplished driving through busy city centre traffic too. Its length of 4.8 metres does mean large parking spaces are essential but the reversing camera and parking sensors will make you look like an expert when squeezing into tight spaces.

All in all, the C5 Tourer is a beautiful piece of kit. It's versatile enough to cope with all the demands of an active family but oozes the style and driving dynamics a business driver craves for.

Add in a comprehensive range of safety specifications and the C5 is outstanding value with the top-end model priced at £33,375 with a few extras.