The site drove more than 400 kilometers on the updated Citroen C4 sedan on the smooth asphalt of the Republic of Tatarstan and the broken roads of Chuvashia in order to evaluate in practice the results of the modernization of all modifications of this "Russian" car.
Not even two years have passed since the start of production and sales in Russia of the Citroen C4 sedan. So why did the company call auto journalists for a new test drive on a model that, in fact, hasn't even been upgraded? Oddly enough, the reason was the emergence of two new trim levels: Optimum and Lounge, which Citroen has special hopes for.
On April 2, PSMA Rus launched the production of the Citroën C4 sedan, designed for the Russian market, at its plant in the Kaluga region. It is clear that the word "designed" here should be politely changed to "modified", because the Citroën C4-based sedan appeared a few months ago in China, for the local market. Now, therefore, the area of its distribution is expanding to the countries of Latin America and Russia. For Citroen, this is now the main model in our market, replacing the C4 hatchback on the Kaluga conveyor. The latter will now be delivered to us from France: the expected fall in sales of the hatch makes its local production unprofitable.
Stories about road trips in a Citroen C4
For a correct perception, I strongly recommend that you first read the report on the first part of our trip. But it's up to you :). So, on Tuesday, July 23rd, we finally got to Montenegro, where, in fact, we followed, and by 11 pm that day, after a short wander, we found our apartment in the village of Becici. The owner's wife turned out to be Russian, she showed and explained everything to us, we paid her 295 euros for four days (a prepayment of 65 euros was sent from St. Petersburg via Western Union).
Still, autotravel is one of the types of addiction. I started planning this trip literally a week, maybe a little more, after I returned from Bulgaria last August. Almost a year has passed and here we are again moving towards adventures and new countries. I must also say that our last year's experience inspired many of my friends and acquaintances to travel independently, even my dad decided to take a short trip around Bulgaria in a rented car.
So, on the eve of the new year 2013 and the weekend following it, a dilemma arose: how to celebrate New Year's Eve and what to do during the ten days of January? Traditional options came to mind: rent a "house in the mountains" - a warm company - Olivier - a hangover. It was because of the tradition that this option was rejected. I wanted something new. Closer to December 30, the plan finally matured. It was decided: we go by car to the Crimea along the “short” road (via a ferry crossing) for 5-7 days.
On dark winter evenings, when the snow was slowly circling outside the window, I dreamed of the warm sea, high mountains and southern colored houses, immersed in greenery on their slopes. In addition, memories of last year's trip spurred on new achievements. Decided! Let's go to Italy! And since I have long wanted to visit the Côte d'Azur and Provence, we will also visit there. The dates of the trip were guessed at the time of the flowering of lavender - the symbol of Provence.
We return to the topic of long test drives of relatively affordable cars. And this time the Citroen C4 sedan became the hero of the column. Why exactly him? The fact is that the impressions of the related Peugeot 408 are still fresh in our memory, which we studied up and down, having tested the big “lion” in various versions and conditions (read more in the material « Long test Peugeot 408. Finishing on diesel» ). In addition, the Citroen C4 Sedan debuted only at the end of last year at the Paris Motor Show, so the French had time to better adapt the car to the realities of our market. Did Citroen succeed, and what are the differences between the C4 and the Peugeot platform? And why are there still not as many of them on Russian roads as the creators would like?
A chrome grille, fog lights, and body-colored door handles and side mirrors are a hallmark of all C4 sedans from Tendance and up. For the basic version of Dinamique, this is an option for 5 thousand rubles. I wonder how long the chrome will last in the Russian winter? On the Peugeot 408, such elements give in to de-icing reagents
Are they greeted by clothes? Here Citroen will give odds to Peugeot! Yes, he can’t be called handsome either, but at least attention to detail appeared. Embossed hood, an abundance of chrome parts, headlights and a radiator grille of complex shape - the simpleton "408th" cannot even dream of this. And how do you like the "concave" rear window? Of course, this nod to the former flagship of Citroen - the C6 sedan - turned out to be just an optical illusion, but, nevertheless, the appearance of the C4 Sedan enlivens. And when viewed in profile, it does not seem that the trunk was hastily “sewn” to the C4 hatchback - the daring bend on the tailgate and the stamping on the wing confirm that the designers did not draw the car at lunchtime.
This is also the merit of shorter overhangs - the Citroen C4 sedan is inferior to the Peugeot 408 in length of 82 mm with a practically unchanged wheelbase (2708 mm versus 2717 mm). What does this mean? Yes, the same royal space on the back sofa! Our Vitaly Kabyshev, with a height of 190 cm, calmly sits down behind himself, and there are still a good few centimeters left to the back of the front seat. That's just here for additional amenities - the cat cried: there is not even a central armrest, because the seats here are exactly the same as in the "408th". How is it, French gentlemen? Does the folding design really increase the cost of production? Yes, and the ventilation system deflectors have disappeared somewhere. Although the owners of the Peugeot 408 had complaints about them due to their low efficiency.
The criticism of the front seat remains valid - there is not enough lateral support, the back profile is not ideal, and there is no adjustment of the lumbar support. In addition, the right seat is too high, which is why tall passengers almost support the ceiling. In general, for the “extra” time that Citroen had in preparation for the production of the C4 sedan, absolutely nothing has changed in this regard. In fact, inside Citroen and Peugeot differ only in the front panel - here it is exactly the same as in the C4 hatchback. And it plays into the hands of Citroen.
Calm design, good build quality, and the materials are good - the upper part of the panel is finished with soft plastic, the panels fit evenly, the covers of numerous compartments for small items do not play. In general, there is no feeling that you are sitting in a "budget" car. But is "our" Citroen really accessible? This time we took one of the most inexpensive versions for testing - a sedan in the Tendance configuration (with a number of additional options) is equipped with a 116-horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a manual transmission and costs 716 thousand rubles.
The "base" Citroen C4 Sedan is equipped with a simple audio system with mediocre sound and a monochrome display. For a surcharge of 10 thousand rubles, a USB input will appear, the Bluetooth protocol, which is relevant with the growth of fines for talking on a mobile phone while driving without using a headset. And for 55 thousand a package is available, which includes a navigation system with a 7-inch screen (USB and Bluetooth included) and separate climate control
Of course, this is far from 579 thousand rubles for the basic version of Dynamique, but the Tendance package can be called optimal - there are four airbags (front plus side), ABS, air conditioning, heated front seats and side mirrors, an audio system with steering wheel controls and a linear input, fog lights, cruise control, as well as electric windows for all windows. Surcharge in the case of "our" car was required for 16-inch alloy wheels, metallic paint, and a number of equipment packages. And you can’t call them useless: “City” for 15 thousand adds rear parking sensors and an electric drive for folding “burdocks”, but the “Visibilite” set (for the same 15 thousand) looks even more attractive with light and rain sensors, a salon mirror with auto-dimming and, Attention, fully heated windshield!
The equipment is the main difference between the Citroen C4 Sedan and the Peugeot 408, for which you won’t get the mentioned “Visibilite” package for any price, and Peugeot only heats the rest area of the wiper blades. And for the Exclusive+ version, swivel bi-xenon headlights are also available. However, we still have time to try the top version of the C4 sedan, as well as all this “winter” economy, which has not yet become relevant at the end of autumn. In the meantime, let's answer the question, is 116 “horses” and 150 N∙m of torque enough to pull a decent-sized sedan with a curb weight of 1330 kg?
The motor does not give itself away at idle, but in cool weather it is better to let it run for a couple of minutes. If you start immediately, then when driving at low revs in an unheated state, it “twitches” a little. And the instrument panel is devoid of a coolant temperature gauge. By the way, like many cars of the PSA concern, the Citroen C4 Sedan package includes a plastic shield for the front bumper, which covers the radiator from the flow of cold air, but we have not installed it yet - we'll wait until winter.
But the clutch causes the most questions at the first starts - you squeeze the left pedal, and your foot seems to fall into a tub of dough. A viscous and uninformative drive provokes jerks, which is exacerbated by very slow responses to gas at low revs. But, oddly enough, you get used to it quickly - one traffic jam was enough for me. And when starting off, the “short” main pair helps out - the gear ratio is 4.93! In traffic jams, you can generally forget about the first gear and use it only on the rises. However, this also forces you to work with the gearshift lever much more often. Need to speed up? First, second and... suddenly you hit the rev limiter at a speed of just over 80 km/h.
The lever itself is traditionally long-stroke for PSA machines, but this does not interfere with switching. Moreover, “short” gears give rise to almost racing associations - the engine always keeps in good shape at high speeds, delighting with a rough roar. It’s hard not to remember that the EC5 engine is a descendant of the well-deserved TU5 JP4 unit, also known from the Citroen Xsara and Peugeot 306. And it, in turn, was the basis of the “combat” engine of the Citroen and Peugeot rally hatchbacks of the Super 1600 category. By the way, driving the Citroen Saxo VTS S1600, the legendary Sebastien Loeb came to his first serious success, and in 2008 Sebastien Ogier became the JWRC champion, already driving the C2 S1600.
The EC5 engine is the result of the modernization of the TU5 family engine known from a bunch of PSA concern models. Phase shifters have been added and the cylinder-piston group has been updated. But do not expect an explosive character from him - the unit is confidently lucky only from 3000 rpm and revives at the "tops". It produces peak torque (150 N∙m) at 4000 rpm, and reaches maximum power (116 hp) even at 6050 rpm. In the city, you can easily keep within 10 l / 100 km
Alas, telling fables about the rally spirit and kinship with the "combat" Citroens can only be done during friendly gatherings - it will not be possible to prove this to neighbors downstream. C4 Sedan quickly accelerates only in the first two gears, and only if the engine is unscrewed "ringing". But at higher levels and in highway modes, Citroen is no longer so cheerful, so it’s not worth the risk when overtaking on two-lane roads - calculate maneuvers with a margin. Especially when the car is fully loaded. However, if you are a supporter of a measured ride, and the main routes pass through city streets, then the C4 dynamics will not cause any complaints. Yes, and on the highway it is better to stick to cruising 100-110 km / h - then the fuel consumption is lower, and there is less noise from the engine.
Noise isolation also does not make you think of budget sedans, where either pebbles are merrily knocking and water is murmuring in the wheel arches, or the engine is screaming. Inside the Citroen, no cacophony of sounds was noticed - the engine remains the dominant during acceleration, at medium speeds it is replaced by tires, and at high speeds, the air dissected by the machine enters into legal rights. Only the suspension alerted me - I got the impression that it works louder than that of the Peugeot 408. And in front, when speed bumps, patches and shallow pits pass, something is already rattling. The first 13 thousand kilometers on the odometer turned out to be difficult? If necessary, try to look at the diagnosis to the dealer.
The luggage compartment is one of the main differences from the Peugeot 408. Its volume is much less than that of the related "Frenchman" - 440 liters versus 560 liters. And the point here is not only in the shorter length, but also in the design of the loops (in the Peugeot 408 they do not go inside). But when you press the opening button, the Citroen trunk lid rises, and you need to make less effort when closing it than with Peugeot. Underground - full-size 16-inch spare tire
Otherwise, this is the familiar Peugeot 408 with trump cards in the form of the absence of buildup on the waves even with a serious load and a decrease in shaking with an increase in speed. But there is one more plus - shocks from road defects are less transmitted to the steering wheel of the C4 sedan, the “steering wheel” has become easier in parking modes, and the car is less responsive to ruts. The reconfigured electro-hydraulic amplifier is to thank for this. Fortunately, this did not affect handling in any way - it provides good feedback, which is especially valuable in high-speed turns. The Citroen is commendably stable, and the Michelin Alpin A4 winter tires have a stranglehold on the pavement. And only with a frank excess of speed at the entrance to the C4 turn, the Sedan will begin to slide smoothly outward, but when the gas is released, the feed will turn a little. Chassis is awesome! Even more embossed seats would be here so as not to “fall out” of them in long arcs - the rolls are decent ...
By the way, for a Citroen with this power unit (116-horsepower engine and manual transmission), a stabilization system is not available, but, to be honest, the behavior of the car is so unambiguous that it doesn’t really need ESP. What's more, the C4 Sedan does a good job of braking while avoiding obstacles without giving the driver any unpleasant surprises. However, we will draw the final conclusions when the roads are covered with snow and ice. And if the presence of ESP in a car is important for you, then we hasten to reassure you - for an additional 15 thousand rubles, it will be equipped with an Exclusive Citroen C4 Sedan with a 120-horsepower EP6 engine and a four-speed automatic (price from 755 thousand rubles), and for modification with a turbo engine with a capacity of 150 forces, this is completely basic equipment.
The most affordable Citroen C4 Sedan is estimated at 579 thousand rubles - it will be a car with mechanics and a 115-horsepower 1.6 by Dynamique. The Tendance version starts at 658,000 rubles, and for a surcharge of 35,000 rubles, the sedan will receive a 4-band automatic. Moreover, it is aggregated with a more modern 120-horsepower EP6 engine. At the top of the range - C4 Sedan with a 150-horsepower turbo engine and a six-speed automatic at a price of 773 thousand rubles
In general, the marketers of the PSA group did a good job of spreading the Citroen C4 Sedan and Peugeot 408 in different corners. The more compact Citroen will be in the court in cities where advanced equipment and appearance are more important to buyers, and Peugeot will appeal to people who need a large trunk. But this is intracorporate competition. And the situation on the market suggests that the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra rule the ball in the C + segment, and Citroenites can only dream of the success of the Toyota Corolla sedan. What is the reason? The upcoming comparative test of the Citroen C4 Sedan with rivals will answer the question.
Alternative
Ford Focus
The leader of the Russian C + segment, Ford Focus, boasts a wide choice of powertrains and bodies. It's no joke, as many as three options for atmospheric gasoline 1.6 are available for the Focus - with a capacity of 85, 105 and 125 horsepower. The starting price for a 105-strong modification is 686 thousand rubles. For a surcharge of 45,000, the place of a manual transmission will be taken by a PowerShift dual-clutch robot. We have already tested the Ford Focus sedan - you can read about it in the material
chevrolet cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze, which recently underwent an update, also sells well. The 1.6-liter engine produces 109 “horses”, and the Cruze sedan with this unit is estimated at least 609 thousand rubles. The version with a gun will pull already 678 thousand in the performance of LS. And more recently, a 140-horsepower turbo engine has also appeared in the range at a price of 841 thousand rubles (LTZ version).
Opel Astra
The Opel Astra sedan will cost even more than Cruz - for a 115-horsepower car with mechanics in the Essentia configuration, you will have to pay at least 674,900 rubles. True, already in the base Astra is equipped with four airbags and an ESP system. But the modification with a gun is available only when you buy Astra in the Enjoy version, and this is already 757,900 rubles. We evaluated the Opel Astra sedan in a comparative test with the Peugeot 408 and Hyundai Elantra - read more about this in the article
Opel Astra Family
You can save money when buying an Opel when choosing a sedan of the previous generation, which is now sold under the name Astra Family. A car with a 1.6 engine (115 hp) and mechanics in the Essentia version costs 613,900 rubles and is also quite well equipped (front and side airbags, ABS, air conditioning, heated seats). But the machine is available only with a 1.8 engine (140 forces) at a price of 717,900 rubles, since only the EasyTronic robot with one clutch is combined with the younger engine (from 667,900 rubles).
Toyota Corolla
The new generation of the most popular car of the Toyota brand debuted on our market only in the middle of this year, but the model is included in the 25 best-selling cars in Russia. The price bites: a sedan with a 1.6 engine (122 hp) costs from 699 thousand rubles, and there will be only two airbags in the Classic configuration. A similar Corolla with a CVT is 44 thousand more expensive. Dmitry Laskov met Corolla - details in the material
Meet: the current sales locomotive of the Citroen brand in Russia. The updated C4 sedan entered the market in the second half of the year and continued the success of its predecessor. Of course, in absolute terms, this does not look too cool: we are not even talking about thousands, but hundreds of sales, and before receiving a test car, I had not seen a single one of the same on the roads. But what is the status! Moreover, I have the most powerful and complete version in my hands, and therefore it should be even more pleasant to get acquainted with it.
The mileage of the Citroen C4 sedan in the first two weeks of the test was 1460 kilometers
Our editor-in-chief in one of last year's materials gave out the wisdom of an experienced tester: “Do you know why long test drives are better than ordinary, short ones? Well, besides the fact that you ride a cool (or not so) car for a month ... The fact that during this month you have time to get used to the car and, if necessary, adapt to it. To study all its nodules and cracks and understand which of them really strain you and which do not. Can not argue.
The best test format: you use a new (and generally new, and for yourself) car for a long time, slowly sorting out your impressions. What is really good, what is not quite, and what is not at all. Let me start with the good.
It seems that several Citroen designers forgot to tell that DS is now a separate brand, and they still draw, so to speak, at once on two fronts. Because the updated C4 sedan is a “style” car. Yes, in the segment of catchy Asians and respectable Europeans, this is more of a requirement than a super bonus, and yet Citro is really not bad. Generous strokes of chrome look good against the background of a cold body color (and there are no warm ones in the range), and the space “mask” on the face is both futuristic and elegant.
If I were the owner of a pre-styling sedan, I would definitely envy the huge confused headlights and rear optics with real LED 3D graphics. Looks just badass! And if you're not stingy when choosing a complete set, you will also get cool 17-inch wheels. It's no wonder that with all this tsatsk, the four-door C4 quickly got a funny nickname: Le sedan.
The front optics can also be fully LED, which makes it even prettier, but this option is available only for the most expensive version of the sedan - 150-horsepower when equipped with Shine Ultimate. The light is not adaptive, but powerful enough and certainly better than the only alternative in the form of halogens.
The salon is a success. At first, not poor finishing materials impress: delicate leather on the steering wheel, solid fabric of the central part of the seats, soft upper part of the front panel. And don't get me wrong, the large lever on the new C4 six-speed automatic (we'll get back to it) feels good in the hand. And what big and soft armchairs! The cozy front seats and the rear sofa with a good angle of inclination and a long pillow deserve admiration. Over time, you notice other important things like chrome-plated marks on the steering column switches. What do you say, little thing? No matter how it is, this is the difference between a high-quality interior and a cheap one, where they saved on everything that seems to be invisible.
Good-quality chairs come with wide-o-o-okie (that's right!) Possibilities for their adjustment. Albeit tame and without the luxury of a rising cushion edge, but with greater ranges. The steering wheel also moves where it should. In short, you are assured of comfort.
Speaking of comfort, and more specifically, the feel of the ride, I love the suspension on the updated C4. From the test drive of Efim Repin, I learned that the top-end sedan with other shock absorbers and springs is the toughest option, which seems to lack the energy intensity of the suspension, which is so pleasing on the diesel version. Indeed, in combination with smart 17 wheels, small details of the road often get to the fifth point, and large ones make you worry about the integrity of low-profile tires. Only here, for my personal taste, “dense European tuning” and moderate rolls are still good. The noisy front suspension is a little frustrating, but that can probably be attributed to the condition of the test car.
This consumption showed C4 sedan in the first weeks of the test
A tight ride sets you up for a driver’s driving mode, but no one taught the C4 steering. Behind the unjustified heaviness of the steering wheel, there is ... nothing. In addition to an unreasonably powerful restoring force without feedback. And in terms of sharpness, the steering hardly surpasses the fruit cake.
The not-too-racing format of the trip is dictated by the new Aisin six-speed automatic, paired with accelerator settings. The box works smoothly and predictably in quiet mode, which is actually not bad by modern torque converter standards. But, firstly, this is still not a lightning-fast "robot" (yes, yes, like a DSG - argue about the resource as much as you want, but almost nothing in this world works just as well). That is, switching "down", so to speak, reluctant. Secondly, the gas pedal can be pushed to the floor even before you decide which way to turn out of the “standing” lane - the transmission takes so long to digest the driver’s cries of despair.
However, next to the solid lever of the "machine" there are two special buttons for turning on the sports and winter modes. The first one forces the box to choose gears lower and keep them longer (only the “sport” does not get any more from this), and the other, on the contrary, will start off from the second one and switch up at every opportunity.
But the turbo engine unconditionally pleases. The well-known 1.6-liter engine developed jointly by PSA and BMW produces 150 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. Moreover, by its nature, the French-German "four" unexpectedly reminded me of the engine of one venerable "Swede" with aviation manners, who had once been in my hands. Saab engineers at one time firmly believed in the power of turbocharging and, at the same time, in the need for traction “from below”. I don’t know which of the developers of the top-end C4 engine read the same mantras, but he definitely succeeded in the prank - the engine gives all the Newtons from 1400 rpm and doesn’t really like to spin up more than four thousand. I can say with confidence that it is convenient, because almost all possible traction is always there. On the other hand, this is again not about the drive. If you do not want to upset the street racer in yourself, do not drive the “turbo-four” into the right zone of the tachometer. Nothing special, except for a terrible noise, there is nothing.
The current update of the Citroen C4 sedan has deprived it of a 120-horsepower engine, a joint development of the French and BMW, and an old 4-speed automatic. The role of the starting motor was transferred to a 115-horsepower engine of the same volume. Of the new power units - a 114-horsepower diesel engine. And the 6-speed unit, which we have already seen on DS models, acted as a replacement for the old machine. However, “deep” restyling would not be called that if the matter was limited only to changing the line of power units. What else the Frenchman got, we went to Kazan to find out.
Tatar traditional cuisine, rituals, and, of course, the nature of the region with its highlight - the island-city of Sviyazhsk - all this will absolutely delight not only a foreigner, but also us, worldly-wise journalists. And even the low autumn sky and the endless rain that accompanied our test both days were unable to spoil the impressions of what we saw and tried. We liked the region very much. And he (the region), it seems, is an updated Citroen C4 sedan. How else to explain the interest that was read in the eyes of passers-by and drivers in the capital of Tatarstan - Kazan, when they saw a passing detachment of brand new - hot, hot - Kaluga sedans?
The ground clearance of the Citroen C4 sedan is an impressive 176 mm. And we unanimously assessed this parameter, rolling on real off-road, which was formed on the Volga coast due to incessant rains.
And there really is something to see. On the outside, it's a redesigned design, new all-LED headlights, including foglights and new 3D-effect taillights also with LEDs. Of course, the design of the rims has changed, which look especially advantageous with low-profile 17-inch tires.
The rear seats fold down to create more space for transporting long loads.
The interior does not seem to have been touched at all. But this does not mean that nothing new has appeared here. Let's take a look at the list of options. And there ... The multimedia system is now even more friendly with smartphones, thanks to the CarPlay and MirrorLink functions, which allow you to synchronize smartphone data and play their contents on the screen. The electronics controls the blind spots of the mirrors and signals this. With keyless entry, you can easily open and close your car and start the engine without taking the key out of your pocket. Parking has become more convenient, thanks to parking sensors and a rear-view camera. And if you happen to get caught in freezing rain, which is now not uncommon in our latitudes, heating the entire surface of the windshield and washer nozzles will come to the aid of the driver. And even uphill with a manual transmission, it became more convenient to get under way - the sedan was equipped with an anti-recoil system.
Trunk volume is 440 liters. At the same time, due to the wide opening, access to it is very convenient.
Well, we take places in the 150-horsepower version of the sedan with a new machine gun. Everything here is basically familiar - the ergonomics of the seats and the abundance of their settings and the steering column make it easy for a driver of any height to fit behind the wheel of a sedan. By the way, I am 186 cm. And I did not experience any discomfort here. As, however, and in the back row of seats. There is much more space here than in the same hatchbacks - the base is longer. And this is conducive not only to driving short distances, but also to long journeys. What makes Citroen C4 sedans more preferable than hatchbacks.
But what upset me was the design of the interface of the multimedia system. The feeling is that this is an unfinished draft of a schoolboy who has not yet decided whether he needs to become a design developer or whether his calling is to draw road markings. French comrades, you draw beautiful cars, but this is ... sorry, no way. However, they quickly reassured me, promising that with the new generation of the system, the design of its interface would be changed. True, no one has said anything about when this will happen.
LED light is a good thing. But as it turned out, it was of little use on dark sections of the road - visibility, especially in the rain, was not so hot. In addition, they did not offer a washer for LED headlights.
150 horsepower, fast, comfortable, pleasant to work with a 6-speed automatic ... Why is it so dull? No, the sedan, of course, rides and even overtakes certainly better than the 115-horsepower version. But, all the way I personally felt deceived. Somehow not 150 hp he is driving. Even if on paper its acceleration is 8.1 seconds. And why was it necessary to reconfigure the suspension, making it too stiff, in addition, putting the sedan on low-profile rubber? However, those who like it harder (but not hotter) and do not leave the city with its smooth asphalt will probably appreciate it. But, alas, not me and not here - on public roads and secondary routes between Kazan and Cheboksary. Should the road surface change in quality, the sedan immediately harshly notifies the driver and passengers about this, swaying and shaking the entire cabin with frenzy. Yes, and listening to the suspension sobbing, breakdowns of which occur almost on every bump, is still a pleasure, for a person who will pay for this version, presumably more than a million rubles. No friends, we are changing to a 115-strong version.
Gasoline engines Citroen C4 sedan consume fuel not lower than AI-95.
16-inch wheels and moderate suspension stiffness immediately set in a positive mood. This Citroen C4 rides nicer, softer and more comfortable. Definitely, this modification with the same machine goes better than you expect. Having no illusions about the power of the engine before the trip, I was very happy with it while driving around Cheboksary. Box okay friends with the motor. And they work in pairs, complementing each other. The machine deftly, on time, gently shifts gears, choosing the right one in each specific situation. And the motor, buzzing merrily at high speeds, picks up speed, delighting with dynamics (it’s hard to believe that it takes 12.5 seconds to accelerate to a hundred) and even allowing you to overtake streams of trucks on highways. Honest, convenient and economical. Fuel consumption in my case never got out of 9.5 liters per hundred.
But the steering wheel, or rather its shape, was not liked in all modifications. The rib that runs along its surface digs hard into the palm. It seems that it should take place in a slightly different place. And where it is now, it does not provide the correctness and comfort of the grip.
But the best, perhaps, was the "diesel" on the mechanics. 114 horses are driven like the previous two motors combined. One minus, in Kazan and the region there are a lot of cameras, so I had to be content with short-term moments of enjoying the high-torque power of this motor. By hitting the gas pedal, you can easily rip the sedan's wheels into slip. And after that, no less bright acceleration will follow. Hmm, 11.4 seconds to a hundred? Come on, I don't believe it!
Sitting in the back is very comfortable. The knees practically do not touch the back of the driver's seat in front.
Also the mechanics are good. Or rather, the correctness of its articulation with the motor - the gear ratios are ideally matched. And the motor itself is very flexible. In the city, moving in third gear, I did not touch the shift lever at all. The engine pulls from the bottom very easily. And in first gear there is already a preload, which does not allow even a beginner to stall - you release the gas pedal, and the car goes. Bravo!
The warranty for the updated Citroen C4 sedan is 3 years or 100,000 km. Plus there is a 12-year warranty against through corrosion of the body. For maintenance, the Frenchman will need to be transported once a year or every 10,000 km. Compared to the previous maintenance scheme, when the oil was changed for the first 10,000 km, and the maintenance itself was done in the second ten, the price tag for maintenance has grown a little, but this is due to new work: replacing the air filter and all kinds of diagnostics and checks.
Yes, and in driving I liked this sedan more than others - a little more reliable in driving, a little better balanced, just as moderately cruel as the Citroen C4 Sedan with a 115-horsepower engine - a definite favorite. It remains to wait for the price tag for the entire line of the updated sedan, which will be announced in October. In the meantime, only the initial price is known - from 899,000 rubles.
"Best in class ride." Such an award to the former Citroen C4 sedan was given by many - both journalists and owners. The car, indeed, was distinguished by a high level of comfort. In addition, the wheelbase of 2708 mm allowed the rear passengers to sit almost "foot for foot". But these advantages were overshadowed by the capricious 1.6-liter THP engine, created in conjunction with BMW, as well as the “ancient” and “braked” AT8 automatic transmission. But in the updated Citroen C4, everything is different now.
New engine and "automatic"
We propose to start not with a description of the appearance, especially since they don’t argue about tastes, but go straight to the technique. So, drum roll ... In the updated Citroen C4, the designers got rid of two things at once that undermined the interest of buyers in this not bad, in general, car.
The 1.6 THP engine with a capacity of 120 horsepower has gone down in history. Despite the fact that he was recognized 4 times in a row as the engine of the year in his category, he had a number of design features. As various upgrades were made, they were dealt with, but popular rumor has already recorded the motor as a “loser”. Instead, under the hood they now put the 1.6 VTi, proven by generations, with a capacity of 116 “horses”. This engine has its roots in the distant past, it is considered a reliable and proven unit.
Everyone who has driven it at least once dreamed of writing off the capricious and “stupid” AL4 automatic gearbox for scrap. And some French gods heard the prayers of the afflicted. The new Citroen C4 is now offered only with a normal six-speed "automatic" of the well-deserved Aisin brand. It was previously only available for the 150hp turbocharged 1.6.
Another news is the diesel engine. For adepts of economy, a version with a 115-horsepower HDi is offered in combination with a six-speed “mechanics”. We wanted to take a “diesel” for the test, but it didn’t work out - we bought a car. But we figured that a gasoline car with an “automatic” would also be in strong demand.
Headlights in focus
Perhaps, in describing the appearance of the updated Citroen C4 sedan, you can get by with a few words - “front lighting”. It is she who determines the design of the sedan. It looks, of course, like an amateur, but you can’t refuse this design decision in showiness. The car received LED daytime running lights in the base, and in the maximum configuration you can get fully LED optics.
The rear lights also received LEDs and the prefix "3D" in the description. They look more spectacular, although the shape remains the same. The rest of the car has not changed.
The interior also remained the same, while there is absolutely nothing to scold him for. Good finishing materials, comfortable fit for the driver. The steering wheel is adjustable for tilt and reach. The driver's seat has height adjustment. But the front passenger seat is installed, in our opinion, a bit high. You sit like in a crossover. In this case, there is no adjustment.
The truncated-bottom steering wheel doesn't try to be sporty. It has a fairly large diameter and a thin rim. But this does not affect the convenience.
The wheelbase of the Citroen C4 sedan is one of the longest in the class, so there is royal space in the back. Immediately, we note the door swinging open at a large angle, a wide opening through which it is easy to sit back.
The designers do not get tired of saying that they have calculated the optimal angle of inclination of the rear seat backrest - 29 degrees. And we will say that we calculated correctly. Rear seating is just great. With one "but". I would like a couple of centimeters more headroom. Tall passengers' heads will touch the ceiling if you sit with your back and neck straight. The central passenger will interfere with the floor tunnel, although it is not too wide and high.
The trunk volume of 440 liters is far from a record for the class, but it captivates with a neat finish, compartments for small items and folding backrests. It is a pity that there is no hatch for transporting long items. And, by the way, there is no electromagnetic opening button on the lid either. At least on a test car. You can open the trunk from the passenger compartment or with the button from the ignition key.
Comfort, more comfort
When tuning the chassis of the Citroen C4, the designers clearly thought only about smoothness. If you have ever driven a Citroen Xantia or XM, then here it is, the reincarnation of hydropneumatic Citroen in the form of a sedan with a conventional suspension. Of course, the car does not reach the “airiness” of the famous French suspension, but among the classmates of the C4, the sedan stands out by completely ignoring small and medium bumps. Unless the sharp joints of the asphalt make the body shudder slightly.
On asphalt waves, there is a slight buildup, but body vibrations do not reach an uncomfortable level. The steering is not particularly sharp, but pleases with an informative effort. As a result, after a while you begin to be imbued with the correctness of the thought “Whoever understands life is in no hurry.”
The six-band “automatic” in combination with a 116-horsepower gasoline engine also persuades you not to rush. Of course, the new automatic transmission made driving more enjoyable. The "box" switches smoothly, imperceptibly, without jerks and jerks. However, 115 forces for a C-class sedan is not outstanding power. Therefore, miracles from the dynamics should not be expected. In a calm urban rhythm, no complaints. You can spur the “automatic” with a sports mode, but in this case it only starts to hold the gear longer, this does not affect the dynamics of acceleration.
If you want to drive actively, choose a 150-horsepower turbo engine. With it, the C4 accelerates to “hundreds” in 8.1 seconds. "Atmospheric" is not capable of such feats. But he has a smooth traction, a moderate appetite and a design proven over the years.
We did not have any complaints about soundproofing. Unless, when accelerating with the gas pedal in the floor, the sound of the engine already persistently climbs into the ears, but does not irritate. Wind whistle begins to appear at a speed of 120-130 km / h. Reduce to legal on most roads 90 km / h - and return to the realm of peace and tranquility.
The previous generation Citroen C4 sedan did not break the market, although there was strong demand for the car. The car returned to the Russian market a year ago, but in Belarus it began to be sold quite recently. C4 is still assembled at the plant in Kaluga, and the level of localization has already reached 35%. This made it possible to revise the prices for the updated car. This does not guarantee a triumphant return, but demand will whip up.
We remember
The front seats are quite soft, but comfortable. However, not suitable for everyone
The dashboard looks impressive, but the speed of reading information is not up to par
In the basic versions, only DRLs are equipped with LEDs, in the top configuration, the optics are fully LED
Heated front seats are multi-stage, but the “wheels” of control are not located in the most accessible place
The on-board computer screen is monochrome in the base, but there are also versions with a large color display
