Citroën C3 VTi 95 Exclusive
The completely fresh Citroën C3, even if not taking into account the enlarged front view, served with a certain freshness in its appearance in the small family car class. Among other things, with new colors. But this, of course, is not yet a reason to buy. He must convince otherwise. Thus, it can be expected that the second generation Citroën with this name will differ from the first, because it is, after all, already declared by the exterior. This is nicer than its predecessor, although even a beginner retains the basic idea, i.e. the course of the entire body in almost one arc (when viewed from the side).
The headlights are also figurative, which cannot be said about the aggressive mask, which is a copy of some ideas from other brands, they even "borrowed" it a little even from his sister Peugeot. Slightly less than the C3 can be praised for the fact that it looks from the back. The headlights, some of which extend from the hips to the tailgate, give it a somewhat precarious character, there are more of them on the side than in the middle ... What is most noticeable to any observer is the color. This blue is called Boticelli and is available at an additional cost.
The interior of the new C3 is, of course, well lit thanks to the larger windscreen. Combined with the dashboard and steering wheel accessories made of light gray metal "plastic", this created a very cheerful impression compared to most competitors, which can only be positioned with a much more inconspicuous, almost black plastic interior. The shape of the steering wheel is also pleasing, and the transparency of the instruments is satisfactory. There are no problems with the control buttons either, except for the one next to the steering column for the headlight beam, which needs to be determined "by touch" and which seems completely useless.
Slightly less accessible is the radio control part, which is completely hidden in the lower part of the center console (the main functions are under the steering wheel). The right side of the dashboard is designed so that the front passenger can push their seat forward slightly, which gives more knee room to the right rear passenger, which could be, with larger front passengers, an effective measure to provide more knee room.
The driver has no problems with the seat, and even taller people can fully adapt it to their desires and needs, but it is hampered by the elbow positioned too high between the seats. Why Citroën chose a steering wheel where it is "missing" the tangentially cut part in its original position lower, closest to the driver's body, is also not properly explained - unless they assume that most users will have seating problems due to their oversized sizes. stomach. !!
The view through the windshield is, of course, completely different from that of the competition. If we “use” Zenith glass in all its size, part of the view will be covered only by the rearview mirror located somewhere in the middle (if the sun is too annoying, we can use a movable shade to help us with the curtain. ). At the very least, looking up is a new discovery, especially useful for watching too high-mounted traffic lights, and some will also see this glass as an opportunity to experience romantic moments in the car. Unfortunately, the side view, which is important when cornering, still obscures the rather generous first pillars…
The second generation Citroën C3 is slightly longer (nine centimeters), but with the same wheelbase, this increase did not bring more spatial increase. The same goes for the trunk, which is now slightly smaller, which does not affect its usability - if it is a basic trunk. Anyone intending to carry larger items in the C3 also has to deal with poor flex – only the upgraded rear seat back folds down, the seat is regular and permanently attached. Compared to the previous one, the amount of luggage that can be placed in the back of the C3 is about 200 liters less. First of all, the carrier is concerned about the high step that forms between the bottom of the trunk and part of the folded rear bench.
The new Citroën C3 is based on the Peugeot 207 platform, which has undergone only evolutionary changes. It retains some of the features of the previous C3, but in terms of driving comfort, it seems like Citroën hasn't paid much attention to it. The chassis could be more comfortable, but the wheels are too big and too wide (17 inches, 205 mm wide and 45 gauge). It gives a little more sense of cornering stability, but from a car like the regular C3 I would have preferred the emphasis on comfort. Due to the fact that the rear is trying to escape, in more difficult positions on the road, even the electronic stabilization device, which must be purchased for 350 euros, will not be damaged.
After several years of collaboration between the mother of Citroën, PSA and BMW, we expected the petrol engines of the joint project to be enjoyed by everyone. But this cannot be fully asserted for the car engine under test. It looks like it continues to be gray. At lower revs, the behavior and moderate engine noise are satisfactory, the power remains as we expect, and at higher revs everything changes. From the noise level the engine should be much higher or vice versa, but it looks like it will never be able to deliver the promised maximum power of 95 "horsepower" (the number next to the model brand!), Even at a very loud 6.000 horsepower. rpm
So can we expect a calmer result, at least in terms of fuel consumption? The answer to the C3 Exclusive VTi 95 is no! The average test consumption of around seven liters is quite solid, but it ranges from six to nine liters, of course, depending on the driving style. However, it was easier to achieve an average of nine liters than trying, almost like a snail, to reduce the partial average to six.
Citroën, of course, also due to the more affordable price, continues to install five-speed gearboxes in its models. This VTi 95 seemed like an old familiar after years of experience with small cars from the French PSA. Not so much because of the still satisfactory precision (and the desired length of the shift lever) when shifting, but because of the fact that it is not necessary to rush too much when changing gear ratios. It resists fast shifting due to the crunch and makes you spend more time shifting.
It is very difficult to write about the adequacy of (not) prices in times of dynamic car sales. According to the official price list, C3 is not among the most expensive, and 14 thousand is not so cheap. Exclusive equipment includes quite a lot of equipment, such as manually controlled air conditioning, as well as the already mentioned Zenit windshield and the Dynamique package (with speed limiter and cruise control, for example). The already mentioned trendy blue Boticelli color scheme, hands-free and enhanced radio connectivity (HiFi 3) and 350-inch aluminum wheels are all largely to blame for the C17 under test another $XNUMX more. If someone wanted even more security, the price would certainly go up.
Tomaž Porekar, photo: Aleš Pavletič
Citroën C3 VTi 95 Exclusive
Basic data
| Sales: | Citroën Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 14.050 € |
| Test model cost: | 14.890 € |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Power: | 70kW (95 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 10,6 with |
| Maximum speed: | 184 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 5,8l / 100km |
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - gasoline - displacement 1.397 cm? – maximum power 70 kW (95 hp) at 6.000 rpm – maximum torque 135 Nm at 4.000 rpm. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | front wheel drive engine - 5-speed manual transmission - tires 205/45 R 17 V (Michelin Pilot Exalto). |
| Capacity: | 184 km/h top speed - 0-100 km/h acceleration in 10,6 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 7,6/4,8/5,8 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 134 g/km. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.075 kg - permissible gross weight 1.575 kg. |
| External dimensions: | length 3.954 mm - width 1.708 mm - height 1.525 mm - wheelbase 2.465 mm. |
| Inner dimensions: | fuel tank 50 l. |
| Box: | 300-1.120 l |
Our measurements
| T = 27 ° C / p = 1.250 mbar / rel. vl. = 23% / Odometer Condition: 4.586 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 11,2s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 17,8 years ( 125 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | 12,7s |
| Flexibility 80-120km / h: | 19,1s |
| Maximum speed: | 184km / h (V.) |
| test consumption: | 7,3 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 38,8m |
| AM table: | 42m |
evaluation
The Citroën C3 is actually a bit of a disappointment. Compared to its predecessor, with the exception of the new Zenit windshield, it doesn't have much added value. It's also far from the comfort we once knew from Citroëns (because of the nice, big and wide wheels too). You could give it a sleek A for looks, but nothing new under the sheet metal. Is that enough for five or six years of existence of this kind of C3?
We praise and reproach
modern, “cool” look
spaciousness and pleasant sensations in the passenger compartment, especially in the front
satisfactory road position
big enough trunk
the engine does not fulfill the promise and runs loudly (at high revs)
imprecise steering feel
"Slow" transmission
insufficiently adjustable trunk
