Test drive Hyundai i10, Citroën C1, Fiat Panda, Skoda Citigo: children with four doors

Hyundai soon managed to win the i10 compact car class at a price of around 20 leva. Citroen is now joining the game with the new C000. How will a stylish Frenchman compete with competitors from Italy, Korea and the Czech Republic?

To cope with the tasks of everyday life and even illuminate it with the charm of originality, and at the same time it is not expensive - it is not at all easy for small cars. In any case, their lives are much more difficult than those of luxury luxury cars, whose buyers do not care if they give a few thousand more or less. But someone has to fight ahead in the small class - and as the demand for versatile or original mini models grows around the world, the industry is really putting in a lot of effort to keep competitors in good shape. Now Citroën has basically updated its C1, which in the comparative test is fighting against the Skoda Citigo, Fiat Panda and Hyundai i10, so to speak, and on behalf of the Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aigo. It is known that, with the exception of some external details, the models of this intercontinental trio do not differ structurally from their predecessors.

Without detours, we have to admit openly that in Germany all four cars tested are above the magic price cap of 10 euros. The reason is that manufacturers simply do not offer cheap base versions for testing, because then it will be quite difficult for them to sell them. However, buyers of these cars prefer to furnish themselves with the luxurious and interesting colors they are ready for, and do a little digging in their pockets.

It is the decorations that are the main motive of the Citroën C1, because at the test meeting the French model came in a special debut version of the Airscape Feel Edition. Behind the long name lies an attractive equipment package for the standard 80cm x 76cm convertible Airscape that promises to

Citroën C1 - a real pleasure in the great outdoors

To a large extent this is true. Bright red - like the side mirror housings and the distinctive center console - the opening roof gives the short C1, with its wonderful full-glazed tailgate, a bold touch that contrasts well with the wild DS3's menacing lower front end. At the push of a button, the roof retracts powerfully and transforms the C1 into a landaulet. The deafening noise of the airflow is effectively suppressed by the lift spoiler, which, however, also generates aerodynamic noise when driving fast.

The feeling of air and just reigns supreme in the front seats with a psychedelic zebra color that can provide better back support. The driver looks forward through the wide plane of the rigid black plastic dashboard, through the large windshield, and occasionally pauses to look at the cyclopean speedometer, which moves up and down along with a height-adjustable steering wheel complete with a tachometer attached as if to the left. ... It may sound too playful or funny, but the legibility of the stones is not very good due to the low contrast. Rather, some other details are perceived as a sign of stinginess: the electric adjustment is surprisingly range, despite the modest width of the cabin, the right side mirror is only available on the top-end Shine, and like Skoda in Citigo, Citroën folks have spared the ventilation jets in the middle of the dashboard.

This will stop on complaints, the topic of which can be a very lack of space in the second row of seats. After all, C1's short length should still have some consequences. Therefore, start the bike and start. A small three-cylinder engine is clearly present in the intonational atmosphere of the cabin, but it pulls briskly in low gears. Somewhere between 3000 and 5000 rpm, its ambition drops significantly, which shows up as weakness even on easy climbs. Farther away, however, in the spinning rock, the engine takes its breath away again and continues to accelerate with a distinctly audible roar. Shifting and turning the steering wheel does not require much effort, the car fights elegantly around the city, manages to take advantage of the smallest gap and feels safe there. Compared to its predecessor, the C1 has the advantage of a new chassis with a more comfortable suspension. True, it causes some wiggle in more dynamic cornering, but the C1 allows you to move quite vigorously before it begins to skid the front wheels or even ask for ESP help.

Here the joy of car life is fully present, and it is not overshadowed even with an empty 35-liter tank - if you give it more carefully, when refueling you will report consumption below the important limit of five liters per 100 km; On average, the Citroën model consumed 6,2 liters in the test.

Fiat Panda demonstrates flexibility

So the C1, with its modern three-cylinder engine, registers exactly half a liter less than the Fiat representative. "And what?" Panda fans will ask (not all of them) and praise the smoothness of the only four-cylinder engine in this comparison test. This 1,2-litre, two-valves-per-cylinder unit from an old, tried-and-true generation of fire engines now feels almost like a "big block". It doesn't pull with brute force, but works with consistent grip throughout the rev range and shows nearly as good elasticity numbers as the impression of the Citigo's much more traction, and is so quiet that airflow noise soon begins to dominate the cabin. and rolling tires. With such a stable and smooth ride in the Panda environment (let's just mention the thick-rimmed goggle-style devices worn by Nana Mouskouri or the fancy handbrake lever) this bike feels a little too complicated. Because Panda is a strange guy who can do a lot of things well, and a little very well.

With a sliding double rear seat (surcharge) and a spacious rear lid, the Panda is well suited for vehicles. On the other hand, it would have been nice if the seats were more comfortable (the front ones are a little casually upholstered, and the rear ones are very stiff and with a very steep backrest) or if the chassis responded more resiliently. With the usual pavement quality on secondary roads, the Panda copes with some wobbles and filters out most of the bumps (since, unfortunately, the feeling of contact with the road is a little lost in corners due to the not very informative steering system). However, on a supposedly flat track, for no apparent reason, vibrations appear that make you think about poorly balanced wheels.

On the other hand, the elevated seating position with good all-round visibility is great; The same goes for carefully protecting the body with plastic plates and strips. Once in the parking lot, they protect the body paint from costly scratches.

The fact that Fiat offers rear parking sensors for an extra charge, bundled with the City Emergency Stop Assistant, is also a sign of caution. But it would be even better if the front side airbags did not have to be ordered separately, but were standard on board, like the competition. Light and shadow alternate with Panda and when measuring the braking distance - on a dry surface the values ​​​​are normal, but on a wet road they deteriorate and become menacingly large, on a wet track only on one side. Although the Panda has only been on the market in this form since the beginning of 2012, in some respects it seems outdated compared to its competitors.

Hyundai i10 is not empty

Do we mean the Hyundai i10? Yes, only him. What is remarkable is the way this Korean model does its job, which is atypical for a small car. The dashboard looks well-stocked, with large controls, the seats are good in both the first and second rows, and there is room for a bag for each passenger in the back with 252 liters of luggage compartment.

Suspension joins the game with goodwill and empathy - whether the car is empty or loaded, and the i10 makes the driver forget very quickly that he is driving a small model. This is only reminiscent of a small three-cylinder engine in front, which, by the way, has a good effect on smoothness. However, it doesn't rev as easily as a Fiat or Skoda engine, has trouble with lower registers, and wants to downshift more often. You do it with pleasure, because the high-speed lever with a precise short stroke just tempts you to use it. In addition, the i10 is quiet, safe and agile on the road, acceptable greed with 6,4 liters per 100 km of average consumption in the test and in addition comes with a five-year equipment warranty at an attractive price at the level of Panda.

Skoda Citigo prioritizes

We have a few lines left to talk about Skoda Citigo, but we will try to fit into them. But most importantly, we have talked about this many times, for example, in test articles with VW Up. As you know, Citigo is its direct relative, that is, the same serious aura of a conscious professional hovers around it. They don't tolerate weaknesses at all. And if someone does find them and point them out—think economically placed window actuation switches, lots of hard plastic, or not-so-useful rear-opening windows—their presence is protected by the need to save so others can invest. much more significant places.

For example, in the careful workmanship or in the finely tuned and balanced running gear, which, although allowing slight oscillations under full load in deep waves on asphalt, under normal conditions with precise and firm suspension work, arouses the desire for a sports version with more than 100 hp . under the short front cover. The fact that the Citigo looks as roomy as possible due to its widest interior width, and the fact that the right front seat folds down (at an additional cost) gives it decent transport qualities fits in well with the overall picture of a car designed in every sense, which works well in the basic version. Of course, for a lot of money it can be decorated and individualized. But this is a common practice for modern cars in the class below BGN 20.

CONCLUSION

1. Hyundai i10 Blue 1.0 Trend

456 points

The i10 wins by a small margin thanks to its balanced performance and attractive price. The estimate is entirely in his favor.

2.Skoda Citigo 1.0 Elegance.

454 points

The quality ratings give the Citigo a distinct advantage, with a powerful engine, safe handling and interior space. The only obstacle to victory is the high price (in Germany).

3. CITROEN C1 VII 68

412 points

C1 is a vibrant color phenomenon in a small classroom. If you rarely need four seats, you'll get a good companion, and the two-door version will save you some of the price.

4.Fiat Panda 1.2 8V

407 points

Panda was unable to win in any section of the test, and showed weaknesses in terms of security. Its four-cylinder engine performs well but is relatively voracious.

Text: Michael Harnishfeger

Photo: Hans-Dieter Zeifert

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