Citroen C4 Hatchback test drive since 2004 hatchback

ASTERIX AND OBELIX

More recently, we spoke with contempt: these remnants are all as one. They said, not soapy cheeks in the bathroom, but looking at the compact class cars standing under the window. After all, most of them were nothing more than variations on the theme of the famous hat from the city of Wolfsburg. Today the situation is changing - many brands are looking for their melody. However, Renault and Citroen are perhaps the risk of going beyond all. As the famous carriers of the Gallic spirit, who, thanks to their disabilities and courage from the heroes of comics, turned into characters in real cinema.
So, Down with Casual Smart and other divorce! Welcome to the new world, where concept kars are designed directly for the conveyor, and some serial models look more spectacular than other concepts. Finally, the French recalled that thirty years ago their cars were distinguished by a kind of design and non-trivial design. Then the former courage was trampled by the desire to save and unification. And today the negative, exuded by the consumer, finally got the offices of the management of automobile companies.
The French car is an emotion. Therefore, there is no need to walk around here with your caliper. Mademoiselle Chanate Le Blues. More frivolity! And a stupid smile, like a tall blond who could not leave the parking lot, without sticking with a bumper into cars, standing in front and behind.
Le Futur. The second Megan with his cylindrical rear window seems to be our old acquaintance, but still cannot leave us indifferent: someone likes him, someone does not, but everyone will recognize him. In front, Megane does not look so extravagant, but also remembered. Perhaps this is the most original of all Renault models. Even compared to Vel Satis. Skeptics will say that the marriage with Nissan, a company that has long been sending customers cars that competitors would dare to roll out, except for the catwalk of the auto show.
Citroen C4 clearly claims the title of the brightest new product of this year, and not only in the segment of compact hatchbacks. It is difficult to say which of the two modifications will produce a larger splash - a more popular and therefore balanced five -door or preferred by egoists and therefore frankly pointed in every sense of the word of the three -door? For comparison, we chose the first: simply because they buy such more often.
Not to turn your neck, noticing on C4 Street, is also not easy. The famous double chevron, as in the days of Andre Citroen is not a nameplate, but in the whole face. The rounded trunk seems both futuristic and modern. This is usually called retro-model. Those who remember films about the phantomas should be familiar with these sloping to the stern of the roof.
Renault does not occupy any aura of gold of the 50s. There is pure futurism.
In half a turn. The only thing that spoils the appearance of Megane is suspiciously large gaps between wheels and wings. Well, yes, this is one of the side effects of adaptation to our conditions is a slight increase in the road clearance. As far as this spoils controllability and stability, we could not evaluate: it seems that the difference is not particularly and great. But on comfort it affects more than positively. You stop slowing down in front of the tram tracks for the third time, all the same, they are overcoming almost imperceptibly.
After Renault, his competitor from Citroen is perceived as a real sports compartment: a rigid suspension makes you be more attentive when the detour of holes and hatches. But on the pleasure of management, this affects the most positive way. This is partly a merit of a more traditional design of the steering wheel amplifier: on Renault it is electric, which is economical and promising, however ... somehow it changes its characteristics too sharply. In the parking lot, it seems that the steering wheel will rotate only because they blew too much. And on the go requires an application of noticeable efforts. Citroen is changing more smoothly. And most importantly - the steering wheel of Citroen is faster, about two and a half turning from the stop to the stop, and Renault has three good.
You get used to the famous stupice of the steering wheel of Citroen, made joint efforts of Valeo and ZF. So it is even more convenient to control the buttons on the steering wheel, they remain in the same place even in a bend. But the keys themselves are for nothing that they are great, they have to press on them with a tangible effort.
Orange evolution. In their dynamic characteristics, cars are almost identical. In Renault, a sixteen -valve engine with a VVT system develops by 3 hp. More, but Citroen, that’s why it is younger, starts up to hundreds for three tenths of a snroces. You can hardly feel this difference, except that the C4 transmission is shorter, although Megane has a tangible choice of transmission, despite the almost freight length of the lever. However, another is noticeable.
Renault, although shorter than the wheelbase, the landing behind the wheel is more vertical. There is care for the knees of passengers sitting behind, and a more comfortable feeling in a dense stream. It is more convenient to go reclining in Citroen. The engine from the cabin is completely unable. In second gear, we accelerate to 90 km/h and wait for what will happen next. There is no red zone on the tachometer. Only when the liquid crystal squares on the scale are selected by 6500 rpm, the tachometer flashes with orange light, symbolizing forced strangulation of the motor. The Megane cutter works more tactfully.
The paradox-in Citroen does not leave the feeling of some wrongness, but from this the car likes no less, and maybe more. If you discard the complacency and frivolous mood, it will become clear: the courage of the C4 design does not always correspond to the expectation when all this beauty comes into motion. In a more cloth language, there is no understanding why these details are here and why they are exactly the same. In Renault, such a feeling does not arise - it seems that everything is done in the only possible way. There is no feeling born with C4 that the interior designed for the upper class model is simplified, made of cheaper materials and strung on not always adequate technical filling. Renault is more harmonious in design, and on materials, and in execution. C4 falls in love with his appearance, but this love has to be shown, forgiving flaws performed by the salon.
The issue of unity of form and content is an eternal question. Not all beautiful is useful. On the other hand, the wings on the helmets of Asterix and Obelix do not oblige these characters to fly.

Citroen C4
 
Gasoline-in-line 4-cylinder engine
Working volume (cubic meter) 1587
Power (L.S. at rpm) 110 at 5750
Moment (nm at rpm) 147 at 4000
Front drive
Gearbox 5-speed mechanical
Length/width/height (mm) 4273/1769/1458
Wheel base (mm) 2608
Equipped mass (kg) 1200
Maximum speed (km/h) 194
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 10.6
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 9.5/5.7
Price in Moscow (cost of the tested car) 13 990 (15 015/$ 19 970)
Renault Megane
 
Gasoline-in-line 4-cylinder engine
Working volume (cubic cub) 1598
Power (L.S. at rpm) 113 at 6000
Moment (nm at rpm) 152 at 4200
Front drive
Gearbox 5-speed mechanical
Length/width/height (mm) 4209/1777/1457
Wheel base (mm) 2625
Equipped mass (kg) 1175
Maximum speed (km/h) 192
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 10.9
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 8.8/5.7
Price in Moscow (cost of the tested car) $ 20 399 ($ \u200b\u200b21 989)

Go, touch. The appearance of the Renault Megane is adequately reflected in the interior design - the same intricacies of angles and roundness, a qualitatively made modern interpretation of traditional ideas, it seems like usual as usual. For example, a speedometer and a tachometer, as in the German bestseller, behind the steering wheel, except that chrome rims add elegance. Very ergonomic pen handle, vertically sticking out of the central tunnel. However, in places ... Say, the steering wheel adjustment handle is not on the column, but next to it. Or a parking brake lever that looks more like a handle of a shovel of a sailor. Not tragic, but it hurts unusual. However, this detail can no longer be discussed - on the successor, Megane will definitely be an electromechanical brake controlled by a key, and not a lever. The pedals here are clearly sharpened under the female leg - not like in felt boots, in large shoes you will simultaneously press on gas and for the brake. But the door handle is in place, in contrast to Citroen, where in order to close the door, you must almost stick out the street on the street. Special thanks for the time spent by the developers on the so-called Touch Design concept-all the materials that surround you in the cabin are not only beautiful, but also pleasant to the touch: torpedo, as someone wittyly reminds the surface of the basketball, And the upholstery of the lower part of the doors can be safely trampled by your feet, without afraid to stain.
  
Who can see. Citroen C4 seemed to us more consistent in terms of design: the interior of the car looks even more catchy than its appearance. The first thing that draws attention to when you look into the salon is the longitudinal folds on the seats pillows, apparently reminding us of which place they sit here. This kind of erotic allegories are generally characteristic of the PSA concern - to recall at least a shameless red flashlight in the rear bumper Peugeot 206.
Behind Citroen’s steering wheel is emptiness. The speedometer is flickering with large numbers under the plastic frame on the dashboard. Here, if you squint, you can see secondary information, for example, about the amount of fuel and the stock. It is curious that the liquid crystal panel is transparent and you can see the mirror display of its readings even from the street, from the side of the windshield. Microscopic bulbs that signal the turning on the turns and turned on the headlights stuck in the upper part of the steering column. Behind - the same tachometer that changes its color depending on the revolutions, as in Americans half a century ago. And what do you want-a retro modder!

Text Valery Chusov, Dmitry Gronsky, photo Andrey Danilov
 
Both Renault and Citroen, despite the aspiration of the future, the tribute of French practicality is still given: the seat pillow and its back are formed from behind. Moreover, the seat is divided in proportions 60:40. However, in general, Citroen seemed to us more modest in equipment, despite the presence of a complete set of pillows and even cruise control in standard configuration. The latter, most likely, is associated with a new steering wheel with a fixed hub: keys for controlling the functions of cruise control-its integral part, so it is easier and cheaper to save additional systems in the base list than to break the production chain, making them options. But for the audio system, whose buttons are also present on the steering wheel, the exception is made: it refers to options, like air conditioning.
 
 
 
 

Source: "Autopilot"