Test Drive Citroen C4 hatchback since 2004 Hatchback

Extravagance against traditions

Citroen C4.
The debut of the Citroen-C4 model took place at the Paris Motor Show in 2004. The public was presented with 5-door hatchback and
3-door coupe.
Motors: gasoline 1.62.0 l (110180 l. P.), Last only for the coupe in VTS version.
Transmission: Mechanical 5-speed, automatic 4-speed.
Configuration: hatchback X, SX, SX Pack; Coupe VTR and VTS.
Price in Russia: Hatchback
$ 18,07027 560,
coupe $ 19,17531 070.

Toyota Corolla
The ninth generation of Toyota Corolla debuted in 2001, and in 2004 was updated. Produced with three types of body: hatchback, sedan and wagon.
Engines: gasoline 1.41.8 l (97192 l.), Last only for the three-door version of T-Sport.
Transmission: Mechanical 5-speed, automatic
4-speed and mechanical 6-speed (T-Sport).
Configuration: Terra, Sol and
T-Sport.
Price in Russia: $ 17,40028 900.

PEUGEOT 307.
The hatchback is first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2001, a year later, a wagon appeared (Peugeot 307SW), and in the 2003th coupe-convertible 307ss.
Engines: gasoline 1,42.0 l (75138 l. P.).
Transmission: Mechanical 5-speed, automatic
4-speed.
The configuration: XR, XS, XT, Xtpack, XSI.
Price in Russia: $ 16,34025 880.

The main hero of the next test Citroen C4: he focuses on the streets and in our experiments. There would be a lot of raisins in the car, designed to interest tired of the traditional solutions of the consumer. Well, we will try to understand if this very originality is needed. Having consistently, decided to pay a novice to the proven classmates Peugeot 307 and Toyota Corolla. Fighters with experience, which have passed, including copper pipes of market success, will not give C4 overlap.
So, High-tech against established traditions. What is more interesting, rushing, more convenient? Three hatchback of the same energy productivity (1.6 L engines), each is marked by a recognizable style, a kind of internal content. And it's small enough that the newcomer is equipped with a five-speed mechanic, and competitors with automata.
Driver in the flesh
As if obeying the laws of aerodynamics, the look easily slides on the rounded surfaces of the drop-like Citroen. So he grabbed the huge double chevron on the hood, behind the mirrors of an unusual form. It walked along the smoothly drop-down roof, the dynamic line of the side glasses, longly delayed on the rear lights and, as if a stream of air, slipped into the surrounding car of the drift. What is the contrast: on the one hand, in front of you a bright car, with another eye it is not formed to cling to. Won looks out of the feed of three-door C4, you will not pass exactly by.
A sharp cotton with the back door and the colleague with a colleague: the tongues with an iron flavor, so unexpected for a golf class. Oh well
Of course, the first thing you need to twist the steering wheel really, the central part of the hub is fixed. However, the needles, thank God, have been preserved by any delight, as, however, do not have discomfort, you do not feel when the ram is rotated. Of course, the central, the fixed part is saturated with many functions, which are probably more convenient to use.
The interior is spacious, breathes the nobility of the upholstery materials of soft and warm to the touch, although not everywhere. The pillow and the back of a very pretty driver's seat suddenly turn out to be slippery. And the steering wheel is inconvenient, and frankly plastic. Well, the reader will noted, did not have time to sit down, I like it immediately. But without emotions in Citrogen, it is not difficult to dispense with diverse it turned out its internal content.
Dense seats, despite slipping, securely take into their arms, and their three adjustments provide a comfortable fit. Unusual Branca and rises, and pulls out. However, all this is secondary, the main raisin, which the creators did not shake. For a long time, you will not understand four displays for a long time. Is that separate climate control for a rarity simple and convenient, the rest requires close study and addiction. Of course, a large and contrast digital speedometer of the eye remember immediately, even despite its non-standard location. But try to look at the tachometer at the same time, even standing still. Having made several attempts, you exclude an excess device and will be content with one, larger and readable.
Another bright display reflects, so to speak, auxiliary information: stereo settings, a route computer reading, etc. Again, if you use it all great. But with an in-depth meeting with advanced technologies, the glance begins to throw from one screen to another. After all, they are close in size, and arranged on the same line. Probably, we are three incomplete from here and conclusions: it is suitable as a closet, but for life the number of numbers, functions, screens.
Satisfied with High-Tener, I go to the place of the rear passenger. The feet are immediately stuck in the undercover-well, and the knees are crashed into a rigid molded back of the front seat. Yes, it seems just on passengers. They decided to save here: for them, the reservation, where it seems to have everything you need, but live (that is, you don't want to sit). Well, while the impressions of the novelty are contradictory.
The rapidly splashing tape of the highway quickly changes the attitude towards Citroen. I am ready to forget about the flaws of ergonomics, forgive not very vigorous outer mirrors and a long-purpose lever box. And all because the motor has fun and, fortunately, quietly sings in high speed. Tachometer, before that, deprived of attention, suddenly begins to racially winking by the booming screen. So it denotes the operation of the revolt limiter, determining the points of switching.
Si four transformed: He seems to fly over the road, obeying the slightest driving movements, sensitively reacting to the gas pedal or brakes. And neither the grain of artificiality, inexpensively in mutual understanding with the driver. Feel the car is so good that you forget about speed, winter road, unprecedented (seasonal) tires. And already the motor begins to seem insufficiently powerful, and the bell-limiter, activating after 120 km / h, annoying. Soul sings, yes, the colleagues threw the discount-ka pace.
The car is not that boring becomes routine. Here 8090 km / h reminded themselves tough suspension. The ring motor on the average (25003000) revolutions became much calmer, dimension. Even the steering wheel painted the elasticity of reactions they say, nothing. And anyway, in the deposit of movements it is felt true.
Quality and Comfort
A recent cosmetic update did not affect the essence of Toyota. Slightly solid became the front part of the body, expressive back. After Citroen inside a little gloomy because of the dark upholstery, closely in front of the passenger chair closer. No intrigue, mysteriousness, everything is practical and functional. But the driver's seat cushion is still short, and the powerful middle cabin rack interferes with the inlet.
The location of the climate installation togglers issues the basic reference of the machine, but otherwise comfortably and thought out to the smallest detail. The seat hugs chain and tightly, the adjustment range is sufficient. Skin-skinned steering wheel is comfortable enough, and the longitudinal adjustment of the column now allows you to pressent much better.
What else? Oh yes, the combination of devices is now highlighted even during the day. Currently, only on the bright sun, she looks gloomy. The selector of the machine is infertile again, tribute to Japanese traditions. Yes, and the work of the transmission is subordinate to simple and clear algorithms. If in C4 I wanted to argue with something, to prove, then here you just take the ideology chosen by the creators.
In the back seat of Toyota, too, do not get together. The knees rest in the back of the front, the ceiling is close over his head. However, the legs are not stuck, knees gently. In a word, as a passenger, I would prefer the Japanese.
Trokan is accompanied by a rather sharp jerk and slip leading wheels. I did something wrong? I trial again. No, the machine very sensitively monitors the movement of the accelerator, because it is difficult to move to the Corolla in the Corolla. But as the speed increases, the box quickly finds mutual understanding with a trap motor. True, there is a switching of switching and search for the desired transfer. And at high speed, the machine sometimes includes several times that third, then the fourth, without deciding to choose.
If Citroen perfectly tracked the driver's team, then the Japanese is not so sportswear in the settings: its credo is goodness and comfort. However, the latter is also relative. For example, Motor Corolla is definitely noiser. Its suspension is not so aggressive to the saddles at low speeds, energy intensity is felt in them. But it is worth passing for 100 km / h, as the car becomes a shaking, diligently bouncing on each batch. Suspension seems to be locked.
In manageability there is a similar picture. For the time being, the car clearly follow the teams of the driver, although it is clearly not an athlete felt on the cab rolls and delay. However, it is necessary to go to the veneer of the rolls interfere with the management, the lateral squabble appears on the irregularities, and it goes the car with a muzzle. As if it brings the line: this is mine, and faster, I'm sorry, I can not.
General purpose car
It seems that age should take its own, the car is given, bother. But no, the elegant silhouette of the 307th looks fresh, recognizable, modern. Inside the salon is impressive primarily by sizes: on the background of Corolla that your mini-Ven. And although Citroen C4 is just a little inferior to three hundred seventh, it is noticeable that the latter was designed with a bias into practicality.
Peugeot-Citroen's corporate intonations are predicted: similar side windows at the front racks, the same steering wheel switches, gloves. And if you look at the cars below, it is rather analogy, we are interested in differences. Peugeot is much conserved: a strict dark interior, the usual combination of devices and a minimum of leakage is except that the inset of aluminum on the console and metal rims of the dials.
There is, of course, the climatic installation is ordinary, inseparable. There is a smart adaptive automatic and modest display. But all this is perceived quite daily and habitual. As with Toyota, with Peugeot, easily and quickly gaining, on the go, assimilating the nuances of the work of certain switches.
Planting the driver is higher than in the other machines. The seat of the right shape and proportions, in contrast to competitors, does not cause comments. Maybe the side support of the back is sluggly, but they sit down thoroughly, do not slide. Normal plastic steering wheel? It is convenient in cross section and is regulated in the right directions. Changing a pedal node: the foot in winter shoes is stuck on the brake pedal, clinging for the invisible protrusion for the machine is nonsense. The gearbox is much sophisticated than at Corolla: there is a winter mode, a sports toggle switch and even manual control.
Rear passengers Peugeot are perhaps the most comfortable: high roof, a large opening door, a comfortable pillow and back. A fly spoon is the same close niche on the floor and the absence of the desired gap on the knees. However, unlike C4, the backrest of the front seats is soft here, they grind the feeling of cramped.
On the move Peugeot 307 is very sharpness, impulsivity. It is clear, the adaptive machine gets used to your driving manner. At the same time, you feel like in braking it with light jerks will push downward transfers, seeking to use the reserves embedded in it. Unusually, but in general, I like it. And here is the problem: after long-haul in traffic jams, a sharp pressing on the accelerator suddenly made the box to think. After, probably, she found the right gear second, the motor picked up. But the situation has changed, the gas is already reset, and some moments continue to actively accelerate. It seems, does not like electronics of sharp drops in driving style.
Over the city, the nuances are smoothed primarily by a frisky engine, making barely noticeable transmission lags. Healthy helps sports mode pulling each transmission almost before the restrictor restricter becomes collected, impulsive.
As if weighing the dignity and shortcomings of competitors, three hundred seventh chooses the golden middle. His suspension elastic and energy-intensive. Shake, of course, on small irregularities, but they coped well with large. In the settings there is no sharp change of behavior, the car is convenient and comfortable in a wide range. You go quickly allows you to feel the trajectory before the subtleties, it is easy to control slipping. I dropped the pace will not strain rapid reactions, tiring too accurately. Probably, it is most correct, based on the family purpose of the car.

The most intriguing
It is difficult to stay indifferent to this car: at first you are literally burning from curiosity, intimidated in the abundance of the functions of functions. Then suddenly discover a convenient and practical interior, a lot of useful accessories. And in the end, either reject, or it is hotly accepted offered.
Of course, you can immediately clap the door: they say, do not like it. But it is better not to rush with conclusions. After all, it is worth clicking on the accelerator, I will feel the second and many drawbacks will seem small. If emotions prevail over a sober calculation, consider the acquaintance.

The most practical
At first glance, Toyota Corolla is not the cheapest from the Trinity. However, if you compare the configuration, it turns out that for this money none of the competitors offer more. Therefore, if you attract an impressive package of fixed options, look at the Japanese even in a cheaper configuration. The reliability and unpretentiousness of these cars are famous for a long time. And it is possible to adapt to individual disadvantages, because they are rather the design features.

THE MOST CORRECT
Spacious, functional, ideologically verified peugeot 307 in our test has proven itself to this. He knows how to ride almost like Citroen, but not so emotional. His chassis is better adapted to surprises of domestic roads. In addition, it is spacious and more convenient for rear passengers. Of course, you can complain about a non-ideal machine or a pedal node. But when you summarize the dignity, I do not want to sacrifice the nerve cells for the sake of the outer catch.

SUMMARY
Citroen C4 is very emotional; It stands out non-standard, sometimes a controversial approach to traditional, well-established solutions.
+ Dynamic appearance, rich equipment, including accessories, good driving abilities.
- information is overloaded, cracked for rear passengers, too sports suspension.

SUMMARY
Toyota Corolla The idea of \u200b\u200bpracticality in everything is embodied almost flawlessly. However, there are some negligence in the settings, especially in the look of an active ride.
+ Functional interior, availability and simplicity of technical innovations, balanced driving opportunities.
- impulsive with a troggy, close for rear passengers, noisy and uncomfortable at high speeds.

SUMMARY
Peugeot 307 is sympathetic, spacious, uyugen. He would be a little more care for the rear passengers. Otherwise, the successful combination of practicality and brought conjugation.
+ Spacious interior, comfortable interior, good driving abilities.
- The operation of the automaton is not always logical, limited space for the feet of the rear passengers.
 
 

 
 

 

Sergey Voskresensky
 

A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"