Citroen C4 Hatchback test drive since 2010 hatchback
Citroen C4: Without Ugroatas
The golf class models market is a kind of stars factory. If you do not know how to stamp hits here you have no place. When Citroen sought to give his products in some way not mass style, they invariably found themselves in the tail of the hit parades. In Russia, C4 of the previous generation was not even part of the top 20 in its class. The novelty, which has recently appeared on sale, was created in a fundamentally different arrangement. To become popular, you need to work for the public, right?
A dozen cherry and dark gray C4 were waiting for us in the suburbs of Sergiev Posad, from which we had to proceed to Uglich and Yaroslavl. There was nothing strange in the fact that to get acquainted with the new Frenchman, the journalists were invited to his homeland, but to ancient Russian cities. After all, now C4 is a Russian model. In our market, exclusively copies of the domestic assembly made at the factory in Kaluga are sold.
For a test drive, Citroen representatives chose the original surroundings: in the background, Zagorskaya hydro-accumulating power station. It is a giant battery. When excess electricity is observed in the networks (for example, at night), the station pumps water from the lower to the upper pool. And with the peaks of consumption, water is discharged down, rotating turbines
In my hands, the key to the Russian C4. Does it make sense to meticulously examine the quality of the assembly of the cabin and the gaps of body panels? No. A fully assembled body arrives at us from Europe. Even the bumpers are painted and screwed in the West. The Kaluga enterprise is limited to the installation of the engine, pouring working fluids, the installation of wheels and several other operations. The production of the full cycle is the issue of future years.
Old power plants, such as Uglich, retained the features of the Stalinist Empire. On equipment, the stigma of the NKVD is often found
Even before I hit the road, I am convinced of an incredible fact: before us is Citroen without quirks. Where is the cosmic helm of the previous C4, which rotated separately from the hub? Where is the speedometer, which is a translucent strip of plastic, made under the lower edge of the windshield, on which large numbers were displayed? Why is there no alternative to a five -door body? But what about an extravagant three -door with a chopped tail?
The size of the body increased slightly: length 4.33 m (+ 5 cm,), width 1.79 m (+ 2 cm), height 1.49 m (+ 3 cm)
The French, apparently, without regret, abandoned controversial decisions. The sales figures spoke for themselves. Last year, C4 found only 4,773 buyers in Russia, even though the Kaluga assembly copies fell relatively purebred French. For comparison: created on the same PEUGEOT 308 platform (also produced in Kaluga), a circulation of 17,290 pieces in our country.
For one type of new product, it is clear: now about C4 they will not say that this car is not for everyone. Perhaps those who like the new Ford Focus or Opel Astra may well put their eyes on this Citroen. Judging only by appearance, the new C4 has become a car of the majority.
But in the cabin you begin to notice individuality. No, unlike the past generation, devices and buttons are now in the usual places, but the aura here is unusual for golf class. Representatives of Citroen emphasize that they sought to bring C4 to C5, that is, to the model of the class above. And they succeeded. The salon not only began to look thoroughly, but also received very high -quality materials. In terms of size, the body grew by only a few centimeters, but in terms of finishes a huge leap. Cute climate control handles with displays windows, asymmetric ventilation ducts, stylish (although, as it later turned out, uncomfortable) instrument panel all looks very expensive. It should be noted that the image model Citroen DS4, which will appear on sale later, is very similar to the design of the cabin to C4, only the decoration materials there are different.
The interior of the former generation was decorated with fiction, the new trumped quality of materials and more familiar ergonomics have other trump cards
C4 is perceived as a fully new model until you go off the place. Under the hood there is a 1.6-liter engine familiar to the same generation (120 hp), and Citroen does not yet offer other engines in the Russian market (a more affordable 110-horsepower version will appear later, and the top 155-horsepower turbo engine, apparently do not wait). Although the engine proposed now was created in cooperation with BMW, it does not differ any special Bavarian abuse. This, we can say, is an average power unit, which is most often preferred by buyers of golf class models. To travel dynamically, it needs to be twisted.
Sitroen fog -tulrios learned to look into corners, as in some competitors
However, this is not forbidden. At 4,250 rpm, it goes to the peak of torque, and at high speeds it does not at all annoy with its sound. It should be noted excellent sound insulation of the motor compartment. By the way, aerodynamic noises are not annoyed at speeds. In almost all traffic modes, tires solve. Insufficient sound insulation of wheeled niches, a large place of almost all machines of this class. Although, in fact, the rough coating of Russian roads is largely to blame.
Another remark of the transmission. And it's not only about the machine, but also about the mechanics. This manual transmission is not known for the best clarity of inclusions, and even the steps are very stretched. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the speed before overtaking on the highway. Even if you drive 100 km/h, it is better to choose a third gear for a jerk on the oncoming lane, and not the fourth. Citroen is in full swing very slowly (the motor, as we have already noted, must be twisted!)
I am transplanted to the version with a machine gun, and the mood does not improve. The specifics of automatic transmission settings is that it is able to cheerfully pull the car from a place, but with an increase in speed, the craving seems to be in the bowels of the box, and the reactions to gas are becoming slurred. But we are dealing with an updated transmission, trained to switch at higher speeds even in normal Drive mode. According to the owners of the old generation C4, things are even worse with the previous version of the automatic transmission.
... The barely noticeable pit forced the body to shudder greatly, and the pothole is deeper than the usual for our roads caused a breakdown breakdown. After a minute there is still a blow. On Citroen, you quickly learn more strongly in front of each pit. The roads of the Moscow Region is also a testing ground for suspension. With a small comb, the Sitroen suspension copes well, but large irregularities are too often turning on with rigid blows. In Russian C4, the road clearance is increased by 1 cm in comparison with the European version. It seems that the jisk of the suspension has increased, and the adhesive course decreased and became insufficient.
Auto -manufacturers continue to compete, who has a longer list of equipment and configuration richer. We were the first to introduce chairs with a massage function in a golf class, representatives of Citroen emphasized at a press conference. But from the journalists who managed to test the C4 version with such equipment, reproaches were immediately heard. Only one video is built into the chair, and it is not able to stretch his back as much as an electric masseur in premium models.
In terms of space in the C4 cabin, not a leader, but not an outsider of golf class. But the trunk is one of the largest among competitors
But the Citroenovites have something to cover: they say, no other model of this class can adapt to the tastes of the owner. Take, for example, polyphonic signals in the cabin ... Here we must explain: the driver can now choose different ringtones for sound alerts. The dashboard drains in all ways. In fact, it puzzled me. At the first turned on the turn signals, I heard a typical telephone trill. While we turned around the ring, I looked inquiringly at a colleague sitting next to him: will you finally take the phone? Then, rummaging in the settings of the on -board computer, I went through all types of offered melodies and found the best sound the most familiar ticking.
The driver can change the color of the devices on the fly, however, the functionality here is sacrificed to beauty
Also piercing the entire range of shades of the backlighting of instrument scales, which includes different types of lilac, blue and blue, I stopped on the option that distracts the least on white.
And yet, in two days in Citroen C4, I also paid attention to many gadgets that can be written in unconditional pluses. When turning off the climate control engine, you can leave the workers, so that the passengers will not be doused later during the parking. The French also provided for the fact that in summer Auto sometimes zealously fights with heat that a powerful stream of cold air beats in passengers. The risk of colds tried to minimize: automation now has three modes of blowing.
And for cruise control, you can program as many as five typical speed modes. For example, driving through the settlement, you quickly cross the limiter to the number 60, on the highway 120, and stop monitoring the speedometer in general. A useful thing, especially in the light of the fact that the speedometer, despite its large sizes, is poorly read. It combined an analog dial across the ring and a digital display in the center, like the Mercedes. But in the case of Citroen, external digitization and a miniature arrow do not grasp with a cursory look. And with the central LCD display, the problem is different. In expensive configuration, this is a color screen with not the most successful graphics (the speedometer numbers are too small). In fact, only the buyers of the cheaper versions have a normal speedometer: large orange numbers in the center are the only readable option.
The fate of the Citroen brand in the Russian market was difficult. In the pre -crisis years, when most manufacturers experienced a boom of sales, the French company demonstrated extremely low growth rates. And in very successful for all 2007, Citroen even showed negative dynamics. For a new generation of C4, the Russian representative office has very high hopes. According to forecasts this August, monthly sales should reach 3,095 pieces (all models), while only 1,772 cars were sold last August.
When changing generations, Citroen C4 has remained more accessible to many golf-class competitors. The minimum price is from 574 900 rubles. It looks quite attractive taking into account the 120-horsepower engine and good basic configuration (air conditioning, two airbags, ABS, front windows, electric mirrors and heating and speed limiter). True, cast discs are not offered even for surcharge. The machine can only be obtained complete with ESP (surcharge 49,000 rubles).
As an alternative to basic configuration, two more equipment levels are offered. For 618 900 rubles. You get the version of Tendance with the manual transmission (with automatic transmission 667 900 rubles). This equipment additionally includes six pillows, heating seats, rear windows, foggy windows, tinting the rear glasses and a leather steering wheel, an audio system and an on -board computer. But the discs are also only stamping.
The top version of Exclusive is distinguished by electronic little things: ESP, USB, double-zone climate, programmable cruise control, adjusting the color of the dashcams, polyphonic sounds of turn signals, a system of control of blind areas, seats with a massage function and front/rear parking sensors. This equipment also includes cast discs and combined upholstery of the seats. Exclusive only comes with automatic transmission and costs 747,900 rubles.
Hardly anyone will reproach the creators of the new C4 that this golf class model is created according to more traditional standards than the past generation. Unless the one who liked the dashing three -door with a tiny rear window and a steering wheel rotating separately from the hub. But there are few of us ...
Alternative
Ford Focus
Orders for the new Ford Focus are already accepted, and the first cars will arrive at customers in August. After the change of generations, Focus became more expensive than Citroen (if you take similar modifications and configurations). In terms of equipment and power to the basic Frenchman, the Focus 1.6 MT hatchback (125 hp) in the Trend configuration, for which they ask for 605,500 rubles. (The main difference from Citroen C4 is the presence of a musical system). Version with a robot of 32,000 rubles. expensive. Ford also has modifications and more powerful: 2-liter gasoline version (150 hp), costing from 701,000 rubles, and a 2-liter turbodiesel (140 hp) from 819 500 rubles. The advantage over the Frenchman is that a sedan is offered as an alternative to the hatchback. .
PEUGEOT 308
The base Peugeot is equipped with the same engine as Citroen C4, and the equipment differs only in the presence of an audio system. Price from 599,000 rubles. The most affordable version with a automatic machine costs 636,000 rubles. Unlike Citroen, there is a choice of motors, however, they are expensive. Economical, but low -power diesel 1.6 (110 hp) from 692 500 rubles. PEUGEOT 308 with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine (140 hp) is sold only in the most sophisticated configuration from 826,000 rubles.
Opel Astra
German hatchbacks and station wagons changed the generation last year and were no longer as available as before. Close in power to Citroen, the Opel Astra 1.6 MT version (115 hp) costs from 629 900 rubles, and another 15,000 rubles will have to be paid for the air conditioner. The most affordable version with automatic transmission from 669 900 rubles. If desired, you can take a much more powerful Astra with a 180-horsepower 1.6 Turbo engine, for which they ask for 789,000 rubles. However, this modification is equipped only with automatically, and you can’t call it a hot hatchback. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 9 s. Both the most powerful Astra and a 140-horsepower modification, which can be called optimal, visited our long test.
Renault Megane
In the range of modifications of this Frenchman there is no motor that could be called a complete analogue of the Sitroen 120-horsepower unit. The younger MEGANE 1.6 is weaker (105 hp), and the eldest 2.0 is more powerful (143 forces). Prices start from 569,000 rubles. For the version with mechanics and from 663,000 rubles. For modification with automatic transmission. The 2-liter motor is only with a variator (from 751,000 rubles).
Mazda3
Japanese is more expensive than all of the above competitors. Hatchback with a 1.6 engine costs from 662,000 rubles. True, the Mazda3 has music and six airbags, but it loses in power (the younger Mazdovsky engine develops 105 hp). Another 30,000 rubles will have to pay for the machine. Well, the 2-liter modification of Mazda3, developing 150 hp, is one of the most expensive cars in the class from 886,000 rubles.
Volkswagen Golf
This German is much more expensive than Citroen, if we take comparable modifications. Golf 1.4 TSI MT (122 hp) - from 671 000 rub. True, it is worth noting that this version is noticeably more dynamic than the Frenchman: it spends 9.5 C of 10.7 C of Citroen to accelerate up to 100 km/h. The same motor with a DSG robot will cost from 735,000 rubles. By the way, even if you take a less powerful Golf 1.2 TSI (105 hp), it will still be a little faster C4: 10.6 s to hundreds. It is this version that can be called optimal: they ask for it from 647,000 rubles.
Pavel Elshin
Photo by the author and Citroen
Source: Auto.mail.ru
