1985 Citroen CX25 Pallas IE test-drive

1985 Citroen CX25 Pallas IE series 1 test-drive. Owner: Michael Cannon. Named after its aerodynamic rating, this Citroen CX25 Pallas IE is a gray-market car that was specially ordered and shipped over to the U.S., when new, via Belgium. All necessary updates for legal use were made upon its arrival. CX production began in 1975 as the successor to the revered DS line, but unlike the car it replaced, the CX had harder-edged conservative styling. It is powered by a 150hp, 2,500cc, double-overhead-cam inline-four with Bosch electronic fuel injection, though a smaller 2-liter was available.

This CX25 Pallas IE has a five-speed manual gearbox and, like all Citroens, its complexity and sophistication lies with its suspension. Four-wheel independent with hydro-pneumatics that replace conventional springs give superior ride and handling. When Michael first got the car it was used briefly as a daily driver, but was shortly thereafter relegated to pleasure-vehicle status.

David Towle

It has very sleek styling, with an aerodynamic body that’s unusual for a sedan, and its stainless-steel door handles and bumpers add to its elegance. The engine pulls well from 1,000 rpm and revs smoothly beyond. It is fun to play with the self-centering steering that returns the wheel to the center even when the car is parked. The interior has great room and is very comfortable. Its ride quality is incredibly good and does everything right. It has smooth steering, and around turns it’s very responsive and demonstrates little roll. The dashboard is incredibly wacky, yet all controls fall readily to hand. Visibly it’s a Citroen, but it looks too much like other cars. Still, I find it very desirable and would love to own one.

John Lobre

As a swoopy update to the DS, I miss some of the typical Citroen touches such as removable fenders. However, I love this car. It has all the quirky Citroen goodies plus the benefit of a high-output engine. Its handling is excellent, and it is comfortable — as good as it gets. It had a solid, competent ride, and I felt very safe driving it. It felt quite luxurious, too. At speed, it felt much lighter than its size. It was very responsive to driver input, and had a slightly different self-centering steering effect than what I’m used to. I found the band-like gauges rather strange. Seating position was excellent, so too was the gearshift and clutch action. Dynamically, it all comes together, and it’s a worthy successor to the line. A true Citroen that’s a real sleeper.

Eric Holveg

The CX is a modern iteration of trade-mark Citroen philosophy. It reminds me of an executive’s personal aircraft, with its sleek, luxurious and urban-chic character. The engine pulls strong, but the early fuel injection is not as smooth in transition as carburetors. The ride has a very conventional feeling, but excellent compliance over bumps. Body roll was minimal, and the brakes feel very secure and controllable. Overall, it felt more sedan-like than sporting GT, but if you hold on and let it do its thing it never loses control. Its interior design is very confusing at first, but soon it makes all the sense in the world. Due to its build quality, it’s not as desirable as other Citroens.

Chris Ottman

Nice car but a little too modern for my tastes. I prefer the rounded contours of the DS and 2CV versus the boxy look of the CX. Plenty of power is on tap, and the transmission shifts smoothly. It felt good knowing that you have enough power to pass and go uphill without downshifting. Road noise with the sunroof open was minimal. The ride is very soft, though it handles very well without roll. The hydraulic suspension corrects and adjusts for any road variation. Visibility is excellent, the seats are very comfortable and the speedometer reminded me of Model A Ford revolving speedo. I wouldn’t trade my 2CV for one, although I’d probably get places a lot quicker.

Citroen CX owners and fan Club