Test drive Citroën C4 Cactus, Ford Ecosport, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur: just different
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Test drive Citroën C4 Cactus, Ford Ecosport, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur: just different

Test drive Citroën C4 Cactus, Ford Ecosport, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur: just different

Citroën has once again plucked up the courage to surprise its own customers and attract the attention of competitors. Before us is C4 Cactus - a wonderful product of the French brand. Continuing the brand's tradition of creating simple yet original cars is an ambitious task.

In the test Citroën, the brand's team carefully left exhaustive information for the press. He informs us in detail about the materials that make up the outer body panels, called Airbump (actually they are made of "organic thermoplastic polyurethane"), explains the various ways to reduce weight, draws attention to the value of having a small 1,5, 2 liter wiper reservoir , but not a word was said about the predecessor of the Cactus - "The Ugly Duckling" or 2CV. Just think how many Citroën models have so far failed to become worthy successors to the 3CV - Dyane, Visa, AX, C8 ... In fact, this is not so important anymore - the test car, apparently, is responsible for the brand's historical values. Well, it's true that one of the body protection panels is rattling (probably the result of a close collision with one of the cones during slalom). Yes, the Airbump in question is slightly but noticeably separated from the wing. Which actually gives us the perfect opportunity to take a look at the 1980/2 issue of auto motor und sport magazine and quote our colleague Klaus Westrup's words about the 2008CV: "Sometimes something just falls on the road, but for fans of it It's not a problem - just because that they're sure it couldn't be something important." Which, of course, doesn't mean that the Cactus deserves to be called a real Citroën just because of some of those liberties. However, whether it can take a strong position in the class of small crossovers, we will try to answer with a comprehensive comparison with the Ford Ecosport, Peugeot XNUMX and Renault Captur.

Ford: Eco instead of Sport

Probably, initially Ford had some other plans for this model. In fact, Ecosport was supposed to be sold in markets such as India, Brazil and China, but not in Europe. However, the decisions have changed, and now the model comes to the Old Continent, bringing a sense of some roughness, which is especially noticeable in the frankly simple materials in the interior. The spacious interior is made of hard plastic, the front and rear seats have weak side supports. Behind the passenger compartment is a decent trunk with a volume of 333 liters. However, with a payload of just 409 kg, luggage shouldn't be too heavy. A spare wheel is mounted on the side-opening cargo cover, which increases the length of the Ecosport by a completely unnecessary 26,2 centimeters and, in addition, impairs rear visibility. A rear-view camera would be useful here, but there is none at all - with the exception of a modern infotainment system, the list of additional equipment is rather modest. The more troubling news, however, is that Ford is missing not only some handy options, but also much more important things, such as good ergonomics and reliable brakes. Or a harmoniously tuned chassis. Although the Ecosport is built on the technology platform of the Fiesta, little is left of its pleasant ride and agility. The small SUV shakes on short bumps, and the big ones start to sway. When fully loaded, the picture becomes even more depressing. The Ford enters the corner with a lot of body lean, the ESP kicks in earlier, and the steering is pretty inaccurate. And because the 1,5-litre turbodiesel has the daunting task of weighing 1336kg, the Ecosport lags behind its powertrain rivals despite its well-shifting gearbox. To top it all, the model was the most expensive in the test.

Peugeot: the character of a station wagon

In 2008, it was possible to achieve something that Peugeot did not happen for a long time: due to the great interest of buyers, it had to increase production. Although it is marketed as a crossover, the model can also be seen as the modern successor to the 207 SW. The rear seats fold very easily to form a flat-floor cargo area, a loading edge height of only 60 cm, and with a payload of 500 kg, 2008 proved to be the most talented carrier in this test. However, there is less room for rear passengers than for its opponents. The front seats are comfortably padded, but the windshield extends just above the driver's head and the steering wheel is unnecessarily small. Depending on the physical characteristics of the driver, the miniature steering wheel in question is likely to hide some of the controls, but more annoyingly, it will make the steering more nervous than it actually is. 2008 really turned out to be the fastest year in the tests between the cones, and ESP intervened late and competently, but due to the too harsh reaction of the steering system, the car requires a strong concentration from the driver. Thanks to the rigid suspension, 2008 rides in a balanced and generally comfortable way, even when reaching full load capacity.

In addition, the Peugeot model shows better elasticity than all three rivals. 2008 is equipped with the old version of the 1600 cc PSA diesel engine. See. With it, it meets only Euro-5 standards, but meets all expectations from a cultured diesel engine with powerful traction. Power is developed evenly, traction is strong, and manners are almost flawless. In fact, if it weren't for inaccurate gear shifting, 2008 would have had an even more convincing victory in powertrain. However, due to weak points in ergonomics and braking system, the model remains only in third place in the final table.

Renault: more successful Modus

In fact, in its own special sense, the Renault Modus was a really good car - a safe, pragmatic and simply designed car. However, he remained one of those models that, despite the efforts and talent of the engineers involved in their creation, remained quite underestimated by the public. Renault has apparently come to the conclusion that this practical and meaningful concept can be brought back to the market, only in a new, more attractive package. Captur is small in appearance, but there is enough space on board for passengers. The flexibility of the interior is also impressive. For example, the rear seat can be moved 16 centimeters horizontally, which, depending on needs, provides ample legroom for second-row passengers or more luggage space (455 liters instead of 377 liters). In addition, the glove box is huge, and a practical zipped upholstery is also available for a small fee. The control logic of the Captur functions is borrowed from Clio.

With the exception of a few bewildering buttons - to activate the tempo and Eco mode - the ergonomics are excellent. The 1,5-inch touchscreen infotainment system is available at a good price and features really intuitive controls. If desired, navigation can calculate the route in terms of the lowest possible fuel consumption, which fits well with the nature of the Captur, since it does not have much flair for dynamics. The small 6,3-litre diesel engine rattles hard but delivers powerful traction and picks up speed with ease. It's also quite economical - average fuel consumption in tests was 100 liters per 0,2 kilometers - only 100 l / 107 km compared to the lighter Cactus weighing XNUMX kilograms. On turns, the Captur is harmless as the ESP reins are ruthless. In borderline mode, the steering is noticeably boosted, but even in normal driving, the feedback is weak and the steering wheel feel is quite synthetic. It's surprising, but in road tests the Captur is even slower than the Ford.

On the other hand, Renault surpasses all of its opponents with its superior driving comfort. Whether short or long bumps, with or without load, it always rides beautifully and at the same time has the most comfortable seats. The affordable and lavishly equipped Captur also earns valuable points for its efficient and reliable brakes. The fact that Renault does not offer model-to-model side airbags is inexplicable given the model's good performance.

Citroën: Cactus with thorns

One of the things we've learned from Citroën's 95 years of ever-changing history is that a good Citroën and a good car are often two very different things. However, we can't help but recognize the fact that the company was at its strongest when it was most zealous in defending its ideas - as in Cactus, where many things are done in a different way, sometimes simply but witty. Take, for example, the fully digital control of most of the functions in the car from the touch screen, which takes a long time to get used to, as it even controls the air conditioning system. Other details are confusing at first, such as the presence of manually opening rear windows, the difficulty of folding the one-piece rear seat, or the lack of a tachometer. On the other hand, a lot of large items, low chairs and an extremely durable cabin make the Cactus more modern than its competitors. It weighs 200 kg less than a regular C4, as Citroën proudly points out. However, the objective truth shows that the Cactus is only eight kilograms lighter than in 2008, with which it is built on exactly the same technological platform. In terms of internal volume, Cactus is also closer to the compact class. Still, four passengers can enjoy good comfort - not to mention the loud aerodynamic noise on the highway and the fact that the suspension is generally smooth, but loses some of its finesse under full load. Rigid chassis settings are much better suited for roads with a lot of turns. Under such conditions, the C4 shoots quickly and safely - perhaps not as enthusiastically as in 2008, but without showing nervousness in control. In addition, the model offers excellent brakes and the best safety equipment in the test. A sense of completion completes the drive. Under the hood is a new version of the 1,6-litre diesel engine that meets Euro 6 standards and focuses mainly on efficiency. Even the long gears of a rather inexactly shifted transmission cannot hide the good temperament of the engine.

Thus, the Cactus was able to combine good dynamic performance with the lowest fuel consumption in the tests.

“We have every reason to observe with interest whether this car can, over time, surpass its more elegant competitors with their undeniable practical advantages.” This was written by Dr. Hans Volterek in 1950 when he conducted the first test of the 2CV in a car engine. and sports. Today, these words go well with Cactus, which, in addition to a good car and a real Citroen, has managed to establish itself as a worthy winner.

CONCLUSION

1. CitroenConsistency always pays off: a lot of simple but ingenious ideas in a spacious, comfortable and safe, although not entirely cheap Cactus, managed to bring him a well-deserved victory in this comparison.

2 RenaultThe affordable Captur relies heavily on comfort, functionality and interior space, but shows some drawbacks in handling. The safety equipment could also be more complete.

3. PeugeotThe temperamentally motorized 2008 shows pleasant agility, but its suspension is tighter than necessary. Weaknesses in ride comfort give him third place in the final table.

4. shipThis small SUV is only at the height of its opponents in the interior space. In all other disciplines, it lags far behind and, moreover, is too expensive.

Text: Sebastian Renz

Photo: Hans-Dieter Zeifert

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