Test Drive Citroen C3 since 2002 Hatchback

Well, a girl!

The most popular Superminines of Europe and Russia are ready to meet with new rivals.
Bride Fair
Go! Already ride! - Extremely screams the most tearful pazanenok in the village. For local beauties is a signal to action. It is necessary to hurry the beauty, rumbling cheeks and cover on the table - the matchmaker arrived. Like them - the thing is cunning. One blond braid here is little. A good bride should not be just a beauty, but also the mistress skillful, and in general the girl's appeal. Yes, it would be good and wealthy.
 
Today, the acquisition of a small urban car class B, or, as they are called in Europe, Supermini, is largely reminded by matchmaking. Remember the requirements for such machines? It is good, easy to communicate, reliable and unpretentious - as if converged. Just choose myself a friend of life for the next three years today oh, as difficult. Car dealers are broken from lacquered beauties, the motley advertisements sometimes contradict each other, and a confused bridegroom, he is the buyer, Obaldeva, from such a leap, sometimes takes what came across.
We also categorically agree with this choice: not jeans, tea, take. That is why most of the work we made for you, having experienced four cars at once. This Skoda Fabia and Peugeot-206 are the most popular supermini in Russia, as well as Volkswagen Polo and Citroen-C3 - ambitious debutants, complete determination to press competitors in the bride market.
 
 
For all you - Drain!
Whatever they talked about the beauty of the inner, spiritual, non-obvious, the matchmaker, the match is first watched not in a plate of shames, but in the eyes of a potential bride. And in our mini-festival of beauty the winner decided in advance. You even know what her name is - of course, Peugeot-206. The fifth year the car on the conveyor, but still its beauty does not need facelifting and restyling. Sleepy, graceful, Milovoids - just enough and run! It is not surprising that girlfriends-rival on her background look pale.
Citroen, however, stands out by the courage of the outfit. Non-naturally endowed with natural beauty, C3, however, is distinguished by the excellent taste, and maybe it simply follows the fashion imposed by glossy logs. Anyway, the view of it if it is not stunning, then I have exactly attracting attention. And the corporate dress to her face - well emphasizes the sculptures of the forms and masks the acceleratic for class B dimensions. Meanwhile, the smallest of Citroen is even higher than the C5 solid sedan!
In short, Fabia and Polo clearly in the angroup. Remember, such probably studied at your school. Skirt without folds, a white bow, gray golfiki - you can only invite it in the ice cream cafe only. At the same time, both of the skin is climb to seem adult. Skoda smeared the sponge, you mean the grid of the radiator, chrome. And the front headlights of the polo - like fashionable glasses from Chanel on the nose of first-graders. A little funny, you will agree.
From the face of water do not drink
The problem is about the fact that the first impression is the most faithful, absolutely not suitable for women or cars. Who would marry in such a case on bbw or bought Lada? The chances of our contenders are also changing, it is worth only to look around their Bouara.
It is to the fact that the Peugeot-206 salon deserved only fourth place. An irresistible externally Frenchwoman - in the everyday life of the boss, collecting porcelain elephants and killery tea, outperforming the little girl. And what the cockroaches will be blown in the corners, there is no case. It is worth opening the door, the sea is thrown by the sea sparkling in the sun of budget relief plastic. He spent his finger over his wrinkles - all in dust. Fi! This plastic is in a peugeot everywhere - on the torpedo, the upholstery of the doors, the center console. The situation corrects only a skillful chosen colored plush, giving the interior a little home comfort.
And yet, in the selection of upholstered materials, competitors went to eternity forward. But the cheaper plastic is not the only occasion in the elegant fingers of the Frenchwoman. A short pillow has not allowed to get a short pillow with convenience, although the adjustment range is sufficient even for a high person. Not bad visibility spoil small outer mirrors. The feeling of the space disappeared, it was worth only to sit back - with a completely militant front seat there simply do not extend. The impression of a good assembly overshadowed cricket, waking up in the upholstery of the middle body rack when driving along the tram paths. Little things in life, say? But in Citroen, everything is wrong.
 
    
Without focus, the French cannot - in Peugeot (photo on the left below) digitization of the speedometer goes through an odd number of dozens. And how do you like Tahometer Citroen - the Red Arrow on the Red Scale? In Skoda (right below) and Volkswagen dashboards much more familiar
 

 
This apartment is furnished quite stylish - under the appearance. Cute door handles, original - so I want to turn - deflectors, a funny digital speedometer-aquarium, except that without a guppy. Enough! It feels your special, density style - young people are singing this song! And most importantly, the designed design, I immediately forgot that the apartment was small. Here, of course, a reasonable than in Peugeot, in many respects, thanks to the carpent roof and the vertical landing in front, but still closed - the knees are with difficulty.
Although it is unlikely to demand from Supermini Comfort C5 or C8. But Citroen designers did not swam the style of convenience, but they combined them. A cool audio control panel is convenient for use, a cylindrical ashtray will delight the antichotine campaign chambers - it can be easily removed from the salon without harm to the appearance. Stylish lever PPC - poured joystick computer game console - Surprised with clear moves, for the machines of the PSA concern is almost a revelation. And would be a Vasilkoy baby with a worthy rival of the German, if there were not true French ram. The panel to the left of the steering wheel, covering the fuse block, is made disgusting - the plastic will turn the dry leaf. Hands would be for such a break ... However, perhaps, is it just a lack of a pre-seventive model? I hope ... while third place.
But the championship for the salon I would not have ate anyone. Perhaps the interior of Fabia and Polo someone seems to be the riding perfection. On me, black and boring design gave melancholy. But in practical terms, all type-top. Fabia reminds a business girl. Moderately welcoming, as it should be an office manager, sometimes cold-derogatory, practically impeccable in the work. Even in the basic package, the Skoda includes metal door handles (about such in the 206th and do not dream!), Steering wheel with adjustment in height and tilt and very high-quality upholstery plastic. Box lever - sample imitation. Driver's seat - no complaints. Without the delights, the decorated tidy pleases with excellent readability.
In general, a list of pleasures can be continued for a long time, the main thing is not to forget about the rear sofa. Pluging at him, immediately and did not believe - yes, there is perhaps the most spacious than even the oldest sister Oktavia! Not to mention Peugeot and Citroen.
 
    
The photo it seems that the rear seats of all four cars are quite spacious, but it is not. Polo and Fabia (above) more places. The closest on the sofa in Peugeot (left below). But the French cars, unlike competitors, can boast three head restraints even in the basic configuration
   

What on another scales? I did not like the toy-frozen mirror on the right, cheap trunk closing strap, but a slightly strange pedal node - the clutch is almost in the center. Agree, a little.
But to the newest polo claims and less. The solidity and foundation of the charges of panels, the clarity and impeccability of the switches, the thoughtfulness and convenience of each part - all this simply admires. The most visual example, do not believe the cup holder. The little thing seemingly, but appreciate the highest pilot of execution. The changeable adjustment of the holder allows you to secure any container - and a bottle, and a can, and a cup. What?! Salon Even in a three-door version (five days only 433 euros more expensive) at least not inferior to Fabia and definitely ahead of French models.
The weaknesses of the chief are similar to Czech whims - a small mirror on the right, eccentric pedals ... a clear case - chassis, in fact, the same thing. And the main surprise from the discharge of unpleasant prepared the fuel residue sensor. If there is less than ten liters of gasoline in the pot, the polo salon, with each acceleration and braking, the warning of the B-I-I-I-P is the sensor on Volkswagen in the same way, as well as on the front-wheel drive vases! Oh no no no...
But the polo has another talent. Driving this Volkswagen is the impression that you go on the car class above. And this is a merit of not only high-quality salon, but also magnificent sound insulation. The hum of the motor and risks of tires, unlike rivals, almost not penetrate into the cabin. Even the sound with which the doors are slammed, noble and roads. Maybe not in vain on this Volkswagen round, a la e-class, headlights?
Citroen has its own pride. C3 trunk is the most spacious in the quartet - minimum of 305 liters, and with a folded seats all 1310! In addition, in the luggage compartment C3 there is a convenient folding shelf-organizer - every thing its place. And cute, and comfortable. There is a highlight and Fabia is a mandatory winter package - mudguards, enlarged clearance, shrinkles. That's right - in Siberia without boots, do not fall.
    
Euro is coming
Perhaps soon the cost of European cars will increase. The point is slow, but the right drop in the dollar in relation to the euro. In short, do not be surprised if the car to order is more expensive than that which is already banging in the showroom at the dealer.
 
 
The city is not aunt
Widow, having seen on the contenders, it's time to go on a promenade to the city. To walk through the streets, too, science: not to slouch, to surrounding the hassle, not to minimize their feet, but not to be placed like a turtle. With the latter, as if planned difficulties. After all, under the hoods of all four supermines, modest 1.4-liter engines. But for urban driving on traffic jams, it is usually no longer necessary. What is the difference how many horses under the hood when the traffic light is still cut on one comb? If you adhere to the same opinion, even the Motor Fabia is quite suitable, the least powerful of four.
Smooth, calm, power and slightly dull overclocking in all modes, even if the gas pedal is drowning in the floor - such is 68-strong Czech. True, the transfer numbers are chosen so that I almost didn't feel the lack of moment on Nizakh - for the city. Up to hundreds of Skoda gets with dignity, but not in a hurry - 15 with the lust of seconds, of course, is not a record. What does it ask, demand from a 1,4-liter motor? But the urchor value here is to the place - because German and Frenchwoman are much faster!
And the most hijacked polo. Despite the exact same power of three motors - 75 liters. s., The German engine seems more swing. And this is a logical explanation: the 16-valve head allows you to shoot a slightly greater torque - 126 N.M. Correspondent 111 in the French unit. In addition, the polo is shorter than the gearbox. Let's say, the second, the most accelerated, in Volkswagen has a gear ratio of 2.1, and Peugeot and Citroen - 1.81. Just thanks to these indicators, the tenderness from a low start wins the halfposs from the fawn and one and a half of a slightly heavier Citroen. In general, three cars showed a very good dynamics: from 1,4-liter engines, confess, expected less.
     
 

Washers for these eyes can only be obtained in a winter package worth 331 euros

Drawers inside the seat in Volkswagen the most kind
 
 
Polo Cutton - Sample Practicality and Style

Clearness of the lever PPC for five plus
 
  

High-tech ashtray

Multifunctional trunk C3 - the largest and most convenient
in quartet
 
 
PPP lever and ventilation system deflectors are conceived and performed great
 
      
 

206 - I am pleased with the buyers of mirrors in both sun visors

Design and ease of control of this blupuncture maximum three points
 
 
The display of the on-board computer is perfectly read
     
 

Trunk closing strap - cheap

Capota lock no need to look at the touch
 
 
Metal door handles give Fabia solidity

Cooling glove box in summer indispensable
 
 
Adult demand
Talking about the fact that good supermina handling as it were, as it were, at all, we seem not just unreasonable, but even harmful. Let most of the owners of the most extreme maneuver - parking by reverse. Anyway can happen on the road, and the car should be ready for this to no less than the driver. And if so, the demand from supermini is completely native. Immediately reassure: not one of our four is to blush for controllability. The difference, as always, in the nuances.
Sorry, Fabia, but actively spend time with you the boring all. Notable rolls in turns, cotton, not an informative steering wheel, dull reactions - such a Skoda will not allow you even with 101-strong one and four, not to mention less than a powerful option. But after all, the medal always has two sides. And it is worth looking at Czech supermini from another side, as the picture changes. Indeed, in fact, Fabia is distinguished by incredibly reliable and safe handling. Not in vain, it is clear that it is precisely the most popular female car in Russia.
 
What do women do if suddenly came in turn at too high speed? Grilled and remove the leg from the gas. Neither first nor the second is not recommended. But even to such a provocation Fabia reacts with a very smooth slip to the outside of four wheels - just a trusting steering wheel and return to the trajectory. I will not come up with safer. What are we unhappy?
And you cut in Volkswagen! Such a safe and reliable character is supplemented in polo with a sharper steering wheel, which, unlike Skoda, does not eat even with sharp rebuilding. And immediately the nature of the car has become alive and movable. In turns, he comes with a youthful excitement and easily allows you to command my gas. On such a car, it is possible to fill in such a car - to trust in the bridge by the handbrake, go into a turn with a drift, pass the snake on the verge of the clutch of the wheels and at the same time avoid the hospital bed and a stable tinsmith.
The controllability of Citroen is close to Volkswagen, but, as it seemed to us, she a little more perky. Sometimes it seems that this is a blue shipyushko just beetting from turns and turns. I dropped gas in turn - the machine all four wheels went outside, trust the steering wheel, added to gas, and with a slight drift of the rear axle, the baby obediently wrapped inside. The most important thing is that the car's reaction is transparent and understood even a novice driver. Not at all like Peugeot.
 
The 206th is considered the most well-managed car class B. I agree, but provided that under good you imply almost sports handling. The Peugeot is the most sensitive steering wheel and most competently tuned hydraulicer - complain to the lack of feedback, it means to shove the soul. On the winding tracks 206th - just a song: Yurkaya, chain holding the road, with a tough, energy-intensive suspension. But beware, if you suddenly consider that Peugeot allows the driver to be boundless. Unlike rivals, in the turns of 206-I demonstrates excess turning. Therefore, throwing gas in the strife, be attentive - the rear axle drift can begin very sharply. I did not blinked the eye, and the fawn had already turned across the road! To withdraw 206 from the drift, a clear work of the steering wheel and gas is required. Are you ready for this? Peugeot allows on the winding track more than others, but does not forgive the driver of the amateur.
     
What how much
The simplest C3 with the motor one and four can be purchased for $ 11,990. And in Russia, the third comes in the so-called Scandinavian version: bilateral body galvanizing, anti-gravine coating, heated mirrors and front seats, headlight washer. From other charming of life in standard - front airbags, electric mirrors and front windows, electric power steering, central locking with Du, immobilizer. Additional options: ABS ($ 425), parking sensors ($ 270), air conditioning ($ 700), fog ($ 200), leather interior ($ 690). But to get climate or cruise control will have to order a machine with automatic checkpoint - and this is at least $ 13,690.
 
It is quite an appetizing start price and Volkswagen Polo. However, for 12,085 euros ($ 11,480) you literally get a 3-door body, motor, seats, wheels - and that's it! To turn polo from the Spartan vehicle movement to a modern car, you will need at least $ 13,980. This amount includes ABS, air conditioning, 5-door body, front windows, electric drive and heated mirrors, 2 front airbags. However, unlike C3, the polo cannot be ordered neither leather upholstery or parking sensors nor cruise control.
 
Peugeot-206-1.4 in the database costs even cheaper - $ 11 260. However, the set of XR PRESENSE is also not distinguished by special generosity: driver's airbag, electric windows in front, immobilizer, power steering - here, actually, and that's it. The cost of the options is comparable to the Citroenovsky price list: air conditioning - $ 700, ABS, supplemented by the EBD system - $ 435. But listen to the good advice: it is more profitable to stop the choice on a more advanced configuration, which is stuffed by the base options. For example, an HT option for $ 12,138 is a well-equipped car with climate control, front passenger safety, fog, electric and heated mirrors, and 15-inch alloy wheels.
Skoda configuration system copies Volkswagenovskaya. That is why the 68-strong Fabia can be purchased for $ 10,500, that's not only beaten between the fog and heating of the seats there will be nothing in it. Skoda visited on our test is estimated at $ 11,500, implying air conditioning and front windows. ABS will additionally cost you $ 500.
Peugeot and Citroen provide a 3-year warranty (1 year factory plus 2 dealership). Volkswagen and Skoda are limited to a two-year warranty according to scheme 1 + 1.
     
 
Citroen (left at the top) is an obvious leader and on a simple, and for the convenience of using the trunk. It's nice that the backs of the seats of all four cars are folded both together and in parts
 
 
Wives are different
So, with whom to tie your life for the coming years? Much depends on your character. The introverts for which its own inner world is infinitely more important than the opinions of others, the Volkswagen and Skoda will fit well - self-sufficient, solid, who inspire the owner a sense of confidence and their own dignity. Fabia, in general, is not excluded, the perfect city car is a comfortable, very safe, high-quality and inexpensive. Polo is significantly more expensive, despite the price, the difference in price is justified by only a more powerful engine. However, for many, the prestige of the brand and the company's Volkswagen feeling of a large car - the concepts are by no means ephemeral. Frenchwoman is the same - for those who like Makarevich, laughing in life. Dorny, cute, elegant and in something foolish, they are really created for fun. Peugeot is also happy to satisfy the driver's ambitions, and Citroen, despite the modest dimensions, very universal.
And yet I feel sorry that cars, unlike the designers of Lego, can not be assembled, as your heart. Otherwise, my perfect car would look like this: Stunning
    
Soon the choice of supermini will become an even more complex occupation. As you know, Skoda-Fabia can also be bought with the body of a wagon, as well as with the classic 4-door notchbeck sedan. Moreover, Fabia with a separate trunk is not so frequent spectacle on our roads as a rhenium-clio symbol. But this is a logical explanation. Notchback is the top version of Fabia, with powerful engines - gasoline, as a rule, 75 or 101 hp - and a good level of equipment. Therefore, buy such a car is cheaper than $ 15,000 it is unlikely to succeed.
The 4-door sedan will appear in the polo gamma, but it will be intended exclusively for Brazil and China. It seems that the Germans cease to consider Russia a third world country. This is also evidenced by the rapid debut of diesel polo. Moreover, the 1.4-liter turbodiesel with pumps-nozzles is the most powerful in its class - 101 hp.
Not far from the world and the world premiere of the cabriolet based on Citroen-C3. It is absolutely known that it will be a convertible coupe, the rigid roof of which is automatically removed into the trunk of A la Peugeot-206s. Most likely, externally C3 coupe-Cabrio will resemble the concept car lumiere (in the picture), who made his debut in Frankfurt-99.
Well, Russian delegers' delegers are about to begin to accept orders for an elegant and sports station wagon 206SW. The debutant of the present Geneva is already sold in Europe and hopefully come in Russia. Prices have not yet been announced, but they are unlikely to be much higher than the basic hatchback
Peugeot-206.
Per
The most attractive appearance,
sports handling,
reasonable price
inexpensive options
 
Against
Budgetary execution of the cabin,
tesne in the back seat,
nevaznetskaya Noise Isolation
 
Volkswagen Polo.
Per
Best noise insulation,
ideally thought out driver's workplace,
frisky engine
good handling
feeling a big car
spacious salon,
production quality
 
Against
High, taking into account options, price
boring interior design,
exterior without findings
 
Skoda Fabia.
Per
Spacious salon,
quality of manufacture
affordable price,
safe handling,
large list of additional equipment
 
Against
High cost of additional options,
boring interior design,
medium dynamic characteristics
 
Citroen-C3.
Per
Bright design outside and inside,
rich equipment,
good handling
chain brakes
spacious trunk,
affordable price,
an impressive list of custom equipment
 
Against
Not the most spacious interior
small lack of assembly
 
Mikhail Medvedev, photo Maxim Goncharov

 

A source: Limousine magazine [07-08 / 02]