Citroën is questioning the relevance of a statement from EurotaxGlass’s which uses a C5 3.0 V6 petrol Exclusive to illustrate used car depreciation in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph.

Citroen said: “Not only has this model not been sold in the UK since 2005, but just two used examples were sold through the Citroën network in 2007.

"The brand new C5 (which was incorrectly used to illustrate the story) was only launched on April 2 and the 3.0 V6 petrol engine does not even feature in the current range.

"Citroën therefore questions the relevance of using the 3.0 V6 petrol. Had they used a more representative mainstream C5 model they would not have been able to generate such a sensationalist headline."

The headline in the Telegraph read: "Used cars to lose a quarter of their value this year as motoring tax proposals take their toll."

Other models which were used as examples of badly depreciating cars included a Volvo S80 2.5T, Vauxhall Signum 3.2 H and a Rover 75 1.8 SAL.