Citroen C3 test drive since 2002 hatchback

A wealthy lady wants to meet

As there is no perfect vacation, dress or even a husband, there cannot be a car that everyone would like and everyone. Nevertheless, there is a happy combination of attractive appearance and lightness that can captivate the female heart. It is fully inherent in any of this trio.


Lady boys?
What do you want to do with me, but I am absolutely convinced: Mikra was born to serve the hostess, not the owner. With this appearance, other options are excluded. The smallest Nissan seems to be a toy, an almost living creature that you want to caress, to pour and treat something tasty ... A man at the wheel of this charms can be represented in only one case, a caring husband drives his wife’s car to the service.
 

Citroen, by the way, is also charming, but at the same time soft body contours and a friendly smiling muzzle look more like a unisex style. Women are worn by jeans and men's shirts ... A striking, but three years later from the day of debut C3 looks still fresh. So the restyled Citro, which will appear in the dealers in November, almost did not change. The new fog-tulrings and a bit to the summary of the radiator of the cinema as if it seemed to increase the sponges.
 

But Swift will not turn to call a female car. If it is for women, then for those who, in their style in clothes, in behavior, and in the car, emphasize independence. The lobed and serious Suzuki such ladies will even like.
 

The courageous outwardly, Swift is not going to flirt with you in the salon. The interior is solved in strict dark colors of restrained design. The absence of a pronounced desire to appeal elusively resembles compact folkswagen: everything is strict, busy. And this approach is already good in that it is difficult to present claims on the ergonomics to Swift. By and large, this is only one steering wheel adjustment only in the corner of the inclination.
 

The inner world of Mira and C3 is a design feast. A rounded and live Citroen resembles the decoration of a cozy country house. Everything here is so homemade, warm. Mikra is woven from modern ideas about the city interior gleaned in countless decorators. Finishing for snake skin, buttons for porcelain, seats, upholstered in soft villi plush. Art Deco, you can’t say otherwise.

 
   
Easy, elegant, beautifully and generally convenient, this is the best characteristic of the interior of the French supermino

The workplace of the little Suzuki looks very adult. Respectability add black kner and strict design

You will never guess that Nissan’s bright interior has been for three years. Here is that no detail is a mini-barrier!
 
  
There is too much stool on the front and limited leg supply on the couch the minuses of the Sitroen salon

The opening of the back door of the swift is the narrowest, but inside you the most spacious sofa is waiting for you

High-speed passengers of the sofa of mycrum have enough space for the legs, but due to the falling line of the roof is small supply for the head


It is difficult to give preference to anyone here. Nissan has a high -quality plastic, but Citroen has a steering wheel adjustment both in length and in the corner of inclination. In Micre, we did not like the climate control of the climate control, but in C3 the same block is too confused, and is located low. Like it or not, Swift made less errors with all its severity.


Better than in the subway
If passengers up to sixteen, not older, there will be no questions about the capacity of the capacity of the capacity to any of the participants in the test. All three have three sets of seat belts and head restraints from behind. And even narrow doorways do not trouble. But what if the husband with a friend who ruined at a beer party decided to ride behind? In Citroen it will not be too convenient for them. There are quite a few reserves for the legs, and the falling line of the roof will definitely spoil the hairstyle.
 

Mikra gives more space in the longitudinal direction here one after another a couple of adult men talked about a meter of ninety. True, they will have to decide where to put their heads. Mikra, like Citroen, fell victim to the same falling line of the roof. And only the swift in terms of the sofa is impeccable, there is a place for both the legs and for the head. And the fact that the sofa here is the narrowest is not scary because he will still not accept more than two passengers.

By the way, the front seat of Suzuki is noticeably more convenient. The longest and widest pillow and even a hint of side support are available. So taking a convenient working pose is easy and simple. In Micre and C3, on the contrary, you will have to put up with a high, stool planting. For visibility, this may be not bad, but on the back the way the legs will get tired much more.


And you can?!
At first glance, trunk workers of the three supermini are emphasized by modesty. In these tiny bins, it seems, nothing more voluminous than female cosmetic bags will not fit. Do you really think so? Well, in vain. Say, Citroen’s trunk swallowed a set of three road suitcases. The French chest was moderately wide and very deep thanks to the spare wheel, which Citro engineers hid at the very bottom. But in order to put the suitcases in the trunk, the lady will clearly need men's help. C3 has a very high (perhaps even too high) loading height 76 cm from the ground to the edge of the trunk. However, why not a reason to get acquainted with the gallant and attentive gentleman?

 
   
Citroen trunk is definitely the most capacious set of three suitcases, he swallows playfully

Swift is very small in the length of the loading platform, which is why modest freight opportunities

Three suitcases Mikra will be able to take on board only when you move forward the sofa


But the trunk of Suzuki is frankly small. Obviously, the components preferred the spaciousness in the cabin. The length in an indefinite state is only 50 cm by a large road suitcase here enters only sideways. A small suitcase will fit into the remaining space. However, let's not forget Swift the only one offers the opportunity to fold not only the back, but also the sofa pillow. There is more beneficial cargo area, but at the same time Suzuki turns into a 2-seater.
 

In Micre, they coped with this problem by equipping the sofa with longitudinal adjustment. The hostess is free to solve either more passengers, or with a dozen bags. Yes, in its minimum configuration, the trunk of Mlak is significantly inferior to Citroen. But, pushing the rear row to the stop forward, significantly increase the supply of space. At the same time, on the couch you can at least fix a couple of children's chairs. Young mothers will certainly appreciate this.


We can do without clutch
Automatic gearboxes are a natural choice for a city car. If the driver is a woman, then there is no doubt. This is the only way to achieve the desired lightness of character. But then why, tell me mercy, looks like a toy mikra so aggressively rides? In fact, a 1.4-liter 88-horsepower engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission is surprised by agility. The tough hydrotransformer perceives the slightest touch to the pedal of the gas as a personal insult and takes Mikro with a traffic light to envy for many. A swift run lasts to about 60 km/h, where nature takes its own, and the acceleration rate decreases. No, of course, the car does not hibernate at all. Say, even drowning an accelerator of 120 km/h, you will feel a light pickup, and the speedometer arrow will point out 140. And only to the maximum 160 micra will come slowly. However, already the dynamics of little Nissan is even redundant for a female car.
 

The four -speed Testron of Citroen in normal mode D is more thoughtful. Galantnate, as a true Frenchman, as a car seems to understand that with sharp accelerations the lady cannot be charming, but only you can scare ... Therefore, if necessary, when overtaking on the counter, for example, drowning the pedal must be struggled. Then, jumping to the program, or even two down, C3 will do the heat. On the highway, the Frenchman also gains 140 easily and at ease, after which he worships up to the maximum speed.


By the way, Citroen’s machine gun is not sophisticated in the class. In it, both sports, winter, and manual switching modes. The latter will delight the active driver with the opportunity to effectively use braking with an engine. It is only a pity that after restyling, a mechanical robotic transmission of a sensors, the principle of operation of which is similar to a box installed on Suzuki, takes a mechanical robotic transmission.
 

Such designs are often called semiautomatic devices. And not in vain. After all, a robotic transmission is essentially ordinary mechanics, devoid of adhesion pedal. A computerized hydromechanical drive itself squeezes a virtual pedal and includes transmission. You just have to decide how you want to go in fully automatic mode or clicking on your own. Semi -automatic machines are more economical and cheaper than traditional automatic transmissions. But at the same time, they are not deprived of their minuses, the main of which jerks during switching. Although you can fight with this. In total, business: in manual mode, before switching the transmission, you need to remove the leg from the gas pedal and no annoying shocks or jerks to you.


Moreover, if you go to Suzuki, as they say, in half a man, then even in a fully automatic twisting mode during switching are almost invisible. At least it is easy to get used to them. But the semiautomatic device is definitely lucky faster than the car with the automatic transmission. Therefore, we had no doubts about the winner of the nomination the fastest. It was worth getting behind the wheel of Swift to feel the difference. That's really Shustrik such a baby, and everything is going 170. And even from traffic lights, hold a hat, sorry, hat.


I twisted where I want
What is manageability in the female sense? This is when the car turns in the direction in which the steering wheel is turned. None of the test participants will have problems with this. Yes, and the steering wheel at all three supermini is spinning easily. Perhaps the female little finger is just right. Another thing is that the power steering of the steering wheel was upset by inhibitory-pronounced reactive effort. In turns, to wait for information from him about where the wheels are directed, it is like hoping for a winner in the lottery.
 

Citroen, and especially Suzuki, pleased with a much more convincing feedback. However, what do you, girls, from this? Do not score your head excess nonsense. Why do you really know that C3 in a quick turn holds on the chosen path for a long time, and then quite unexpectedly breaks off it. Can you fully evaluate the fraternity and excitement of Swift in corners?
 

Better remember this. At highways, all three cars behave very, very worthy. Even given the compact dimensions, neither the mira, nor the C3, nor the Swift are not subject to swing, they do not scare excessively active reactions to the steering wheel turns and, in general, behave not in the class noble and reliably, inspiring the driver with their strength confidence. In short, do not hesitate: all three turn exactly where your cute pens will order!


The character is not sugar
Not everyone is given to evaluate the charms of cool handling, it is much easier to feel discomfort in the car. And, unfortunately, in this discipline, the plush in appearance Mikra turned out to be too ... tough. Nissan’s short -flowing suspension settings seemed too harsh car repeating the slightest flaws of the roadway. In conditions of the ideal of Moscow roads far from the ideal, such a chatter cannot but annoy. The creators, apparently, tried to make Mikra more reliable at speed and in corners. But you yourself know where the road leads, paved with good intentions. Yes, and Nissan noise insulation was not perfectly performed. In the city of Rokot, the motor begins to get from 3000 rpm, on the highway, when aerodynamic noises interfere, the engine sings over 4500 rpm.
 

Citroen is noticeably quieter. Here, the trill of four cylinders becomes unbearable, only when the revolutions approach the red zone of the tachometer. So you will go infrequently. But the main charm of Citroen is the smoothness of the course. For such a compact car, C3 has a very comfortable suspension, ready to swallow almost anything. Lukes, tram tracks, thermal shutters on the flyover, all this in the Citroen salon is given to a lesser extent than that of the Japanese supermini. At the same time, the S3 suspension is also very energy -intensive to break through it is extremely difficult.
 

Swift in the field of comfort achieved exactly the average results. The suspension here is also not sugar. Especially on irregularities, the rear passengers go to, because they sit almost over an uncertain bridge. And noise insulation is not perfect. But when developing super-miners, creators have to save at least something.
 





Do not doubt your loved ones
Our trinity, which received four stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests, can rightfully be proud of this achievement. Moreover, each of them has frontal airbags are included in the basic configuration. Moreover, buying Swift, you do not have to pay extra for either ABS, or for side pillows, or for inflatable curtains. Another thing is that the price of this basic version is big.
 

Therefore, we add half a bell more accessible in the initial performance of Mikra, equipped with two pillows and ABS. It is a pity that Citroen could not get to this assessment. C3 lacks a standard anti -lock brake system.




And my gift is not dear?!
Studying the price list and the lists of equipment of three supermini, it is easy to come to the conclusion assigning prices, the dealers were guided by each other. Because both C3, and Swift, and Mikra are approximately the same. You can lose the gift of speech by learning that Swift GLX with a semiautomatic device will cost $ 17,920. Yes, the car that has been our car is equipped with a cd and a CD changer, and cast discs, and a keyboard system, but still ... even the price The basic swift is amazing for the imagination of $ 15,850. By the way, so much is asked for an optimally equipped focus car with a class above.
 

Mira, at least, has an attractive starting price. $ 12,990 is asked for a three-door with a 1.2-liter 65-horsepower engine performed by comfort. But what kind of comfort is if there is no air conditioner in it? It cannot be received even for a surcharge! So the minimum permissible mira is the one that costs $ 15,600. There is already a 5-door body, a 80-horsepower engine, and air conditioning, and an automatic machine. Those who want to switch programs manually can save $ 1000.

After such Citroen may even seem inexpensive. Minimum, in terms of American y. e., 12 670. But a car with a 1.1-liter engine plays the role of an advertising lumber alive and you will not see such. But the optimally equipped 75-horsepower SX will pull $ 14,295. Now, however, you can’t get it with a gun. At the end of the year, we will have a C3 with a 90-horsepower engine and a semiautomatic device at a price, apparently, not higher than $ 15,700. Given the configuration (4 pillows, ABS, electric package, side compound), this amount can be considered more or less acceptable.
 

The only thing Citroen is definitely inferior to the Japanese is in the timing of the factory guarantee for 2 years against 3.

 
 
Citroen C3
 
   
Multi -stage heating of the seats (shown by the arrow) will have to turn on blindly

Unlike the Japanese, even in a folded state, the rear head restraints worsen visibility

The reserve is hidden very deeply. Given the large loading height, it is not easy to get it
 
   
A very functional display of the side compound is ideally located and is easy to read

But the French climate control remote controlled into the very bottom of the front panel uncomfortable

In the end of the right steering switch, the super -compact and very convenient joystick of the radio
 
   
 
Suzuki Swift
 
   
We liked the strict and comfortable driver of the driver in Suzuki the most

The pocket at the bottom of the front panel is very roomy

A folding sofa slightly increases the volume of the trunk
 
  
Another fashionable chip system of launching a motor without a ignition key

Illumi Cancel button for those who travel with close light during the day, it turns off the backlight of the dashboard

Six pillows in the database rarity for supermini
 
 
 
Nissan Micra
 
  
The driver’s work chair in Nissan is more like a soft ottoman

Micra's glove box is more like a secretary bureau

Information for border guards: a secret smuggling container is hidden under the pillow of the right seat
 
  
Climate control windows constantly gleams readability not at altitude

The arrows at the heating buttons indicate the ward seat

Pulling for this lever (indicated by the arrow), the sofa can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction
   


     
We decided:

Having calculated all the pros and cons, we were amazed all three applicants for the hand and the heart of beautiful ladies scored an equal number of points, the average rating is 3.9. The assessment is certainly good, but what a sin to hide could be higher. Alas, each of the ladies' saints with his cockroaches. Citroen lifted spaciousness. However, the most modest sofa among the participants in the test, and not the very impressive plastic of the interior decoration is almost the only claim to the Frenchman. And the high level of comfort, multiplied by the inimitable style, will still provide a guaranteed favorite of female hearts for a long time.
 

Mikra was an uncomfortable suspension. But in all other disciplines, Nissan is a real Painka. What he uses, demanding too high a price for his services.
 

The same is true to Swift. It’s a pity, because he has the least shortcomings. The same modest volume of the trunk can be increased by folding the sofa. And the bright sled talents of Suzuki, coupled with the original design and high quality manufacturing, could make a Japanese-Hungarian supermini a favorite of not only female, but also male hearts. Alas, at such high prices you can not dream about it. That is why Sharm is dear, but a fashionable little thing makes swift, as well as C3 and Mikra, an ideal choice for wealthy ladies.
 

Mikhail Medvedev, photo of Maxim Goncharov

 
 

Source: Magazine buy a car [18/2005]