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The Daily Insight

What is hydractive suspension?

Author

Andrew Mclaughlin

Updated on May 04, 2026

Hydractive. Hydractive Suspension is an automotive technology introduced by Citroën in 1990. The prototype debuted in 1988 on the Citroën Activa concept. It describes a development of the 1954 hydropneumatic suspension design using additional electronic sensors and driver control of suspension performance.

What Citroën models have hydropneumatic suspension?

The system was the key to the famed soft ride of the Citroen DS launched in 1955 and the firm has used some variation of the system since then on its flagship models. The C5 midsize sedan and station wagon use a computer-controlled version of the system that Citroen calls Hydractive III.

Does Citroën still use hydropneumatic suspension?

Sadly, Citroën effectively killed the hydropneumatic suspension last year, announcing that it wouldn’t continue development of the sixty-year old tech. Now, though, Citroën is developing a new hydraulic suspension system that it’s previewing in the Advanced Comfort Concept.

How much does hydraulic suspension cost?

The simplest systems cost around $400 U.S., while a more sophisticated set up can cost more that $1,000 — just for the parts. The amount and cost of the labor involved depend on the system’s complexity. The most coveted type of suspension is a hydraulic suspension.

What is a hydropneumatic suspension unit?

Abstract. Hydropneumatic suspensions systems combine the excellent properties of gas springs with the favourable damping properties of hydraulic fluids. The advantages of these systems are particularly appropriate for automotive applications, such as passenger cars, trucks and agricultural equipment.

What suspension does Rolls Royce use?

Planar Suspension System
On the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost, the company is employing something called the Planar Suspension System, a nebulous designation for the collection of systems and parts employed.

Why did Citroën use hydropneumatic suspension in France?

France was noted for the poor quality of its roads after World War II, but the hydropneumatic suspension as fitted to the Citroën ID/DS and later cars reportedly ensured a smooth and stable ride there. Hydropneumatic suspension offers no natural roll stiffness.

What are the modes of the 3+ Hydractive hydraulic suspension?

The 3+ hydractive hydraulic suspension has 3 automatic modes: Motorway position (lowering by 15 mm of the vehicle height above 110 km/h) Poor road surface position (raising by 13 mm of the vehicle height below 70 km/h) Comfort or dynamic suspension (variation of suspension firmness)

What type of hydraulic fluid does a Citroën C5 use?

The C5 also uses orange synthetic hydraulic fluid named LDS fluid in place of the green LHM mineral oil used in millions of hydropneumatic vehicles. A further improved Hydractive 3+ variation was for cars with top engines on the Citroën C5 and in 2005 was standard on the Citroën C6.

How does the Citroën hydraulic leveling system work?

By adjusting the filled fluid volume within the cylinder, a leveling functionality is implemented. The nitrogen gas within the suspension sphere is separated from the hydraulic oil through a rubber membrane. Citroën first introduced this system in 1954 on the rear suspension of the Traction Avant.