Citroen C2 test drive since 2003 hatchback

Street Fighter

Citroen C2 is more like a qualitatively made toy than a real car, but after a couple of hours of communication with this machine you understand how erroneous the first impression is.
 
Despite the fact that 90% of the car assembly operations are identical to the C3, Citroen C2 is absolutely unlike the older brother. And the point is not in size (the deuce is 188 mm shorter, the rest of the dimensions are approximately the same), but in design. The machine is made in a different, more urban style. At the first moment it is even slightly shocking.
 
Let us comment on some design and design elements.
 
For example, at first it is not very clear why the side glasses are not at the same level. But if a child is sitting behind, what does he see in other cars? In the best case, the upper floors of the buildings passing by. In C2, the right of a small person is not infringed on to receive information.
 
Or take the trunk door. Why was it to make it swinging, and even horizontally? There is also an explanation for this. On the streets there are fewer places where you can freely park the car - we usually squeeze it. Imagine that you need to open the trunk, and someone attached his car close to your rear bumper. Everything, the door is blocked. The owner of C2 will not have problems with this. To open the upper part, you do not need a lot of space. In addition, the lower half in a folded position withstands a weight of 100 kg, and it can be used as a bench, for example, when you need to change shoes after a ski walk. If the lower part is not opened, the loading of the trunk is significantly increased: small things do not pour out, as is the case in ordinary cars. Something can be invested directly at the door.
 
The trunk of the Citroen C2 is modular, and its litting increases from 166 to 879 liters. This is done in several stages. To begin with, slightly forward the rear seats. There are two of them, each has its own adjustment of the back of the back and can, albeit slightly, but still move forward and forth. Then we get the back of one of the seats onto the seat. Few? Fold both backs. Do you need even more space? We press the folded rear seats to the backs of the front. All manipulations do not require strength. At the last stage, for example, it is enough to pull the handle, and a powerful gas spring itself will fold the rear seats at the front backs. Of course, C2 is far from a station wagon or a full -fledged hatchback, but how much do you carry with you on daily trips? Portfolio, sports bag, a package of foods purchased on the way home
 
With its compactness, the car offers all crew members, and there may be four of them, quite comfortable conditions. We looked quite skeptically at the back row, but it was very comfortable to be there. It is difficult only to squeeze the gallery through the front seats. If they went closer to the torpedo, it would be better.
 
Torpedo here from C3, so we will not describe it. But the fact that the small car is equipped with an adult way to say. The car is equipped with an on -board computer, four airbags, an anti -lock brake system, a steering wheel with a progressive characteristic, a central lock, electric windows and many others, including that sometimes on more solid vehicles is installed for a surcharge. True, such a number of basic equipment is only included in the 1.6 VTR SENSO DRIVE. Versions with the 1.4 engine are more modest, although there is everything you need. And what is missing can be ordered - from the rain sensor to parking sensors.
 
We tested the most charged C2. To find out this version, it is not necessary to look for VTR bean boots on the plumage of a car. The car with all its appearance makes it clear that its element is speed, not a trip from a supermarket to a fitness center. Why only ST / 'Oat 16-inch wheels with low-profile tires and low clearance! Of course, there are also elements that indicate that this guy is not a timid dozen: a slightly different form of a bumper, anti -wing, thresholds. However, it is rubber and planting to a greater extent that create an aggressive appearance of the machine. And its running qualities are fully consistent with the image.
 
The car is very dynamic. Exchange a hundred after 10.9 seconds is not a problem for him. The main thing is to learn how to work with steering wheel switches that give the transmission team about the transition to the highest or lower gear. The Citroen C2 has a mechanical five -speed KP, where electronics in a pair with hydraulics are responsible for the clutch and switching. We already had to communicate with this box - installed on C3 with the same 110 -horsepower engine. Then we found her work quite satisfactory, we had to just not forget to discard gas during switching. The same on C2. But if on the triple we rode automatically for some time, then this time they did not care. And they did the right thing.
 
Excellent controllability, good dynamics and the possibility of gaming from the steering wheel did their job: after fifteen minutes we could no longer go, like everyone else. The car infected us with its temperament, and it was completely impossible to drag us in the right series. However, the right series is now a relative concept. It is possible to quickly move around the city with those whose car is endowed with sufficient power, tenacious brakes, sharp steering control and small dimensions. Citroen C2 has all this.
 
The only thing that I did not really like was too hard the suspension: on our roads this is not always good.
 
Otherwise, the impressions of C2 are the most pleasant. I wonder how much it will be in demand in Russia. Yes, he has all the qualities of a real city car, and a powerful engine and excellent controllability make it a true street fighter. But the price confuses. 16000 euros are too expensive for a car of this class, even if very good.
 
Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

A source: Magazine 5 wheel [12/2003]