Test drive Citroen Nemo: Guardianship! Carefully!
Content
It is no exaggeration to say that in the urban disorder Nemo feels better than a fish in water. The greatest pleasure for the driver is precisely driving in a confined space.
The French "confectioner" became the star of the evening when all the other city suppliers were forced to stop because of an imaginary barrier that appeared in front of them. With his VIP pass, Nemo can continue down the narrowing city "corridors" and even casually pick up a boulevard chanson. The Citroën-derived all-wheel-drive helper keeps a brisk trot, scurrying around among his counterparts ugly parked in the old Sofia style, and obediently takes a position in such indistinguishable places. The 3,7-meter Nemo parks without fuss, and then quickly finds the right exit. In an urban environment, the French "craftsman" is a ninja whose sneaking ability simply cannot go unnoticed. With a compact shoulder strap (1,7m wide), the Crazy French is a remarkably nimble and manoeuvrable machine, equipped with sturdy bumpers, headlights carefully hidden behind them, safety strips on the sides, and everything you need for possible contact during risky intimate maneuvers.
Citroën Nemo is a playful and arrogant young man with an undeniably high pragmatism factor. The French and Italian designers waved casually before abandoning any overhangs planning. Glittering eyes drew a bulging chin and an indefatigable curious wagon nose, the sides of which had apparently been raised during the construction of its genome. In a way, this gives the sheets an "elegant" sheen.
This mini-transporter is a great fakir in the use of interior space - its interior is like a black hole that absorbs more than you might think. Behind the wheel comfortably fits a two-meter hero, which every Frenchwoman dreams of - according to this indicator, Nemo hides the ball even on the new high station wagon Berlingo. Despite the dense figure of the body, two satellites can comfortably ride next to each other, for which we warmly congratulate the interior designers. Also thanks to them for the spacious interior Nemo. In fact, a trick used by cockpit architects has recently become quite popular - the windshield is at the heart of the feeling of freedom of movement.
The French courier, though brand new, could pass for an old detective story. Like any practitioner, Nemo simply cannot afford backlashes in furniture - in his doors, for example, there are A4 pockets, and there is also a place for bottles. Glove box lock for documents and tools that stays better in the dark, and with just one swipe, you can toss new newspaper right on the dashboard. Only a small person complains to the French manufacturer about the strip painted in body color under the edge of the side windows and unpretentious interior trim materials. Given that the city supplier delivers impeccable build quality and a base price of BGN 21 for a diesel-powered truck version, any criticism of Citroën regarding the Nemo cab can rightly be taken as pure nitpicking. The doors close tightly, as if by means of a vacuum, and the ergonomics of the controls make further operating instructions unnecessary.
The shift lever is located at a medium height and, despite the “jelly feel” when moving, does not create problems. Supported by an optional information display, the devices are arranged conservatively and clearly, which is unusual for a French automotive product.
Visibility from the driver's seat is a topic that can be considered in several ways. It's true that the exterior mirrors are a good size, but the wide-angle mount has been forgotten, so our field of view seems too limited. You will see for yourself these words the first time you try to reverse out of a crowded parking lot. You will also easily understand how risky it is to suddenly enter the adjacent lane without reliable reflective glass. Going down, the first columns became more and more massive, which is probably due to the French concept of car safety. In the forward direction, the driver has a much better view and can cover almost the entire front cover. The "thorn in the eye" is the only curved windshield that creates a deceptive refraction of light in front of the eyes of a hasty supplier. The central rear-view mirror to some extent compensates for the irritation caused by the shortcomings described. The column between Nemo's rear doors has little effect on visibility, as does the folding grille in the middle between the cab and the cargo area.
The real disappointment in Citroën's small light truck, unfortunately, is its turbo diesel engine. The compact HDi looks dizzy and refuses to show any signs of life. Sucked into a seemingly endless turbo hole that engulfs him, he struggles to get out of the warm bed at low speed. The propulsion system needs urgent help due to the ugly 160 Nm, with which it has to tow at least 1,2 tons of its own weight every day. The French designers seem to have deliberately decided to add to his misery by equipping it with a gearbox whose long gears are likely to save valuable drops of fuel and reduce overall cabin noise, but ultimately make the Nemo's flexibility and agility unattainable.
The technically identical Fiat Fiorino develops its extra 30 Nm of maximum torque much better. Although its average consumption does not fall below the factory level, Citroën remains quite economical. Loaded to the limit, Nemo spends from five liters per 100 km under the guidance of an experienced driver to save fuel up to eight liters of gasoline on sheet metal, for example, in the Sofia-Varna section. The car passed the difficult test route of the last auto-omnibus, swallowing six liters, which is neither less nor more. However, French confectionery remains an economical way to transport goods, mainly due to long service intervals of 30 kilometers or a two-year period.
Let's not forget that in the case of the Nemo, it's the practical cargo area that counts the most - a clean, almost square space accessible by the fork of an electric truck or a pair of sturdy levers from asymmetrically divided "portal" doors, the wider of which is located on the driving side. If necessary, the entrances open 180 degrees by pressing a button located near the hinges. Depending on the nature of your relationship with a colleague accused of buying a new company car, the one you are driving may please you with one or even two side sliding doors. If you have time, try to get to one of the privileged versions with additional openings so that you do not have to crawl on your stomach every time to the bottom of the 400-meter trunk floor. In addition to the large amount of air in Nemo's chest, named after the little fish from the cartoon of the same name, there are two rectangular wing protrusions, six hooks to reinforce the load and a tool shelf. Unlike most modern cars, this one has a full spare tire tucked away in the lower rear. Its weight of course affects the payload as well as all the other (additional) benefits such as air conditioning, sliding doors, power windows and more. This should not embarrass you, because even with a real man behind the wheel, the craftsman will be able to carry another XNUMX kilograms.
In fact, due to the voluminous interior, it is absolutely necessary. 2500 liters is quite a decent price that will satisfy most carriers. Otherwise, Citroën offers an Extenso package at an additional cost, which provides additional cargo space with a folding right seat and a removable safety grille. Thus, after performing two extremely simple manipulations, the volume increases to 2,8 cubic meters. Be warned that this internal configuration leaves the right side of the dashboard exposed, making it easy prey for any loose cargo.
The undercarriage of a useful courier is solid enough and will constantly whisper to you: "You are driving a French truck!" The rear torsion bar with springs strongly shakes the bodies of passengers and does an excellent job of sleeping, preventing a drop in driver's concentration. With more practice and a little talent, you can even count the writing on the metal manholes of the sewers you pass through. With more strain on the back, the Nemo is starting to show signs of comfort, but don't expect it to be a high-end French sedan. Disharmoniously upholstered and generally inhospitable seats also miss the chance to add points to the confectioner's dignity in terms of comfort.
As you might guess, mediocre suspension comfort is again in the name of safety, and we even want to say - driving pleasure. In fact, we take the liberty of saying this out loud because it can be a real motivation to buy from sole proprietors. Nemo moves nimbly and avoids obstacles like a game with more pounds in his ass; An ESP stabilization program is not available and does not seem to be needed. Citroën brakes are traditionally reliable and well tuned, and our tester is no exception. Even after the tenth attempt, they did not give up, and if we were not so impressed with his abilities, we would probably blame the French for the injuries due to the painful sensation of the rescue harness.
Finally, no matter what we tell you about the Nemo's stiff rear axle and its skinny engine, after spending a day with it in heavy traffic in a big city, you are unlikely to think about replacing it with a larger, but also more awkward somewhere. "conveyor".
text: Randolph Unru, Theodor Novakov
a photo: Augustin
technical details
| Citroën Nemo HDi 70 | |
|---|---|
| Working volume | - |
| Power | 68 k. From. at 4000 rpm |
| Maximum torque | - |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h | 19,6 s. |
| Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h | - |
| full speed | 152 km / h |
| Average consumption fuel in the test | 6,3 l / 100 km loaded |
| Base Price | - |
