This question is not for me to answer, but for you, dear reader (and likely future owner). "I urgently need to go to Paris on business," I told my colleagues at the office, got into the car, and set off along the chain: Editorial office — Airport — Plane — Airport — Citroen C4.
Take a look and remember: this is style! Against the backdrop of this Citroen, a good half of newer rivals look like a modest vegetable garden next to Red Square. There are few changes — different bumpers, rear lights, hood, and grille. But, damn it, how virtuosically this rejuvenation and polishing work is done. Not a single miss, not a single controversial line! By the way, the C4 also stands out because the stylish three-door sells better than the practical five-door version. And that doesn't surprise me at all.
Or maybe the C4 was too unconventional? Don't laugh, such a problem — at least inside — really exists. Previously, to glance at the speedometer and tachometer without flying off the road, you needed either the reaction of a transformer robot from that very "C4" commercial, or suffer from a rare form of strabismus. Now (praise the robots!) the instruments are located on a single display in the center of the panel. True, you also need to get used to this solution. And how many are there who didn't want to get used to it and went to another dealer?
Someone from the audience suggests: "Engines!" Exactly! Previously, this was not great, but now instead of two-liter units with 140 or 170 horsepower, BMW engines with a volume of 1.6 liters have arrived — a naturally aspirated engine with 120 hp and a turbo version with 150 hp. These are the same engines known from the Peugeot 207/308 and Mini Cooper. The rest — diesels and the base gasoline 1.6 with 110 hp (slightly refined in terms of efficiency and ecology) — haven't gone anywhere.
And the car started driving much more interestingly! Moreover, the 150-horsepower coupe almost doesn't yield to the previous 180-horsepower VTS version (slower by 0.1 seconds to a hundred), but gives more pleasure. It's not just about the torque of 240 N•m, but also the new six-speed manual, which the French built on the basis of the "robot." The gears click so temptingly that you want to yank the lever for no reason, even when stopped at a traffic light. An excellent trainer for the wrist!
The naturally aspirated engine is also not bad. But for those for whom the name Sebastien Loeb means nothing except the number 4527. The hatchback drives confidently, but without spark. And the gearbox — the old five-speed — is somehow vague, doesn't inspire feats. There's also an "automatic" — for 40 thousand rubles it will be installed even on the most powerful version. True, to preserve the ancient four-speed gearbox, the turbo engine was deprived of 10 "horses." But in any case, BMW engines are a big plus for the "C4."
What else? The suspension reminded of unpreparedness for Russian roads: on rare French potholes it loudly thuds "ba-bah!" Although on smooth asphalt the car behaves simply magnificently — very comfortable and quiet! But where can you find that smooth asphalt in Russia?
So, what was the reason? Of all the above — a little bit of everything. "But the main problem is not the car, but the people who sold it," honestly admit representatives of Citroen. Complete chaos with logistics, warehouses, and trim levels. Not long ago, the Peugeot and Citroen offices merged — and these difficulties went away. The main question: what do we get from this?
Prices! And here the French remain true to themselves — the updated model has become cheaper. By 15 thousand rubles. And with the onset of the crisis, the price was cut by another 30 thousand. Citroen intends to earn money in Russia after the plant in Kaluga is completed. Now the task is to catch up with competitors and increase market share. And here everything is working out well — fresh design, normal instruments, new engines, reduced prices, and even Chinese-assembled C4 sedans that will appear next year. Enough playing — time to sell.
The test drive took place in the suburbs of Paris. The distance one way was about 70 kilometers, then there was lunch, a car exchange, and the same route back. The route turned out to be so monotonous and unremarkable that during the entire trip there wasn't a single picturesque place where you could stop for photos. The most vivid impression on the road was a group of elderly ladies driving tiny Ligier cars, for which you don't even need a driver's license.
When you get into this car, the first thing you notice is the unusual air freshener that comes as standard equipment. A pleasant smell greets you right in the cabin, and this is perhaps one of those little things that create a special mood. However, there are other pleasant details here — a comfortable driver's seat with adjustments in three directions, as well as a steering column that can be adjusted both by tilt and reach. By the way, the auto-dimming rearview mirror is available only in the most expensive trim, as is the velour interior, which, however, in the version with the turbo engine and three-door body is already standard.
On the move, the car behaves interestingly. The suspension is quite stiff, and this is felt on every uneven section of Parisian roads. But at the same time, handling remains at a high level — the car clearly follows the steering wheel, and the informative effort on the wheel allows precise maneuvering. The power steering works with a pleasant effort, not too light, but not heavy either. The car accelerates briskly, although there's no talk of any racing dynamics — it's more of a confident city pace that allows you to easily merge into traffic and overtake on the highway.
As for equipment, everything here is quite generous even in the base version. Front airbags, ABS, air conditioning, cruise control, onboard computer, fog lights with headlight washers — all this is already in the starting trim. But dual-zone climate control and rear power windows appear only as the price increases. The base version costs from 475,000 rubles, which is approximately $17,170.
The average trim with dual-zone climate and stamped R16 wheels will cost 521,000 rubles ($18,830). Well, the top version with velour interior, auto-dimming mirror, and rear power windows costs from 579,500 rubles ($20,950).
