Citroen C4 Hatchback test drive since 2010 hatchback
Test drive Citroen C4: Art of Plastic
Appearing in 2005, Citroen C4 set a new tone in the design of the model range of the French company. The stylish hatchback immediately liked his bold appearance, fresh solutions in the interior and a practical salon. With the release of a new generation from a slightly frivolous French adventurer there was no trace. Now C4 exudes pressure and aggression. Whether Sitroen benefited such plastic, we decided to find out, taking it for a test.
The new Citroen C4 replaced the good -natured face to formidable headlights and an aggressive front bumper. The shapeless sides are now shimmering with complicated stamping, the rear optics moved from the racks to the trunk, and the bumper received a developed diffuser. To the appearance of the French romance Citroen C4, designers added a little assertiveness and aggression. As a result, it turned out very well.
Despite the radical shift of the image and slightly increased external sizes, the Citroen C4 skeleton has not changed. The novelty retained the predecessor platform with a half -dependent rear suspension, and even the wheelbase remained the same (2608 mm).
The new Citroen C4 received an aggressive design that should attract new customers to the model. I must say that the external was a success.
With the salon, on the contrary, they worked thoroughly. Revolutionary solutions like a fixed wheel hub and the central location of the devices sunk into oblivion. Now you can attract units with such delights, and push out thousands. And Citroen followed the path of least resistance. The design is good: the steering wheel is cool, beautiful tidy shines with three glamorous wells, and the design of the central console is strictly, but at the same time stylish. The front panel plastic is soft, and the finishing materials are high -quality. However, climate control and audio systems are not enough clarity, and the on-board computer control algorithm is too confused.
Despite the cardinal changes in appearance, Citroen C4 retained the platform of the previous model. The wheelbase also remained the same.
The front seats are excellent: the profile is successful, lateral support at the level, the material is tenacious, and the headrests can be adjusted and longitudinally. However, even some drivers with medium growth are not enough for the adjustments of the seats and the steering column, which is why they have to reach the steering wheel, or to support the steering wheel with knees. The rear sofa is convenient, for two places here is quite enough.
Revolutionary solutions like a motionless hub of the steering wheel and the central location of the instrument panel sunk into oblivion. The salon is made high quality. The plastic of the front panel is soft, the chairs are sheathed with tenacious fabric, and the design did not disappoint.
In terms of Citroen C4 trunk, one of the best in the class. With raised rear seats, it is 380 liters, while under the floor there is a full -size reserve. If the rear row is complicated, then the cargo compartment increases to 1183 liters, though it will not work. But there are a lot of all kinds of fasteners, mesh loops that allow you to fix almost any load, delivering a driver and passenger from the sounds of luggage rolling through the trunk. Another find that has been used in the C4 luggage compartment is a double -sided backlight, one of the ceilings of which is easily pulled out and turns into a practical flashlight.
The instrument panel consisting of three wells is read well, the stylish steering wheel is equipped with comfortable keys. The headrests of the front seats are regulated not only in height, but also longitudinally. The main claims to the Citroen C4 are in a long -flowing shooped lever of the manual transmission.
Of the six engines available for Citroen C4 at the factory in Kaluga, only a version equipped with a 1.6 VTI 4-cylinder engine with a capacity of 120 hp is produced. We will have neither a diesel engine, nor a 1.6-liter turbo engine (150 hp) with a 6-speed automatic transmission, although the brother of the Peugeot 308 concern in a 150-horsepower modification is available to the order.
The choice for Citroen C4 1.6 VTI offers a 5-speed mechanics and a modernized 4-speed automatic transmission, called AT8. In fact, this machine is the same problematic AL4, improved by the ZF hydrotransformer and other controls of the control unit. Since we tested the version with a 1.6 liter engine and a box of the automatic machine with Peugeot 308 in the Crimea, it was decided to choose Citroen with a handle.
In the city of a tandem, a 1.6-liter 120-horsepower engine paired with a manual gearbox is quite enough. In dynamic mode, the main thing is not to drop the tachometer arrow. The bottoms are clearly not the horse of this engine.
The power of the duet of the 120-horsepower engine and mechanics is enough for the city. The main thing is not to throw off the tachometer arrow below 2500 rpm on the bottom of 1.6 the engine sleeps, and wakes up only closer to 4 thousand revolutions, trying to prove its solvency. If in the metropolis there is nowhere to switch further than the 5th, then there is a lack of cruising 6th gear on the highway.
The box disappointed not only the absence of the 6th gear: the lever moves are too large, and the inclusion of the transmission is fuzzy. There are claims to a long -term clutch that provokes a twitch, it is worthwhile to let go of the pedal a little more sharply.
Citroen C4 trunk is one of the most spacious in the classroom. In addition to a volume of 380 liters, it can boast of convenient devices for securing the cargo and even a removable flashlight.
The suspension of Russian Citroenes received an increased clearance and enhanced elements. As a result of such an upgrade, the chassis copes well with small and medium fits, swallowing them almost imperceptibly. In addition, Citroen pleased with decent smoothness and good sound insulation a couple more pluses towards comfort. However, on large potholes, the back suspension fits frighteningly with working chipsters, and adaptation to the Russian market and an increase in the clearance resulted in the buildup on a straight line, although there are no stability at the speed of claims.
The steering wheel liked the steering wheel, increasing in proportion to the speed, as well as an understandable feedback and good informativeness. However, despite stability, the C4 body is decently rolled, and the back suspension with a torsion beam jumps on bumps. The brakes are swollen and effective, but the pedal is too sensitive at the beginning of the move and I could not get used to it.
Adaptation to Russian conditions, during which the C4 clearance increased by 10 mm, was not in vain. The hatchback turning, although stable, but with a noticeable roll.
The price of the new Citroen C4 begins at 574,900 for the base package Dynamique with manual transmission. The additional payment for automatic transmission is 49 thousand rubles. The top hatchback in the version of Executive, equipped with all the benefits, including the changing lighting of the instrument panel, programmable cruise control, a monitoring system of blind zones, an electric drive of the lumbar stern with a massage function, front and rear parks, will cost 747,900 rubles. Among the dopes are a panoramic roof (27,000 rubles), a leather interior (50,000 rubles) and the EMYWAY navigation system (40,500 rubles)
Having visited the Citroen C4 test in the average setting Tendance with a manual transmission costs 618,900 rubles, and the package of additional options increased this figure to 672,900 rubles.
All versions of Citroen C4 for the Russian Federation are produced at the Kaluga Plant of the French PSA group. The choice of versions is not large: one engine, a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-band automaton and 3 configurations. The basic cost is 574 900 rubles.
With the release of the new Citroen C4, the Hatchback audience must certainly change. The internal and external plastic undoubtedly made the Frenchman more attractive to fans of aggressive French design. At the same time, the hatchback retained its practicality, and even added in comfort and smoothness. At the same time, the previous sores in the form of an old 4-speed machine and fuzzy mechanics have been preserved. Well, the Citroenovites have where to strive, but for now the new Citroen C4 is only the art of plastic.
Ruslan Galimov
Photo by Kirill Kalapov
Source: Carclub.ru
