Skoda Citigo - a brave kid

Let's fast forward to the United States for a moment, or rather to the crowded streets of New York. The first thing that catches your eye is the ubiquitous yellow taxis. Are they that color by chance? Yellow attracts attention and symbolizes joy, warmth, making the journey from point A to point B on this vehicle stress-free and not very exciting. So can the yellow Skoda Citigo become the European analogue of the famous overseas taxi? 

WOW - it's not here....

The Citigo is available in two versions: a three-door and a five-door hatchback. Our test car is an increasingly rare three-door variant that looks sportier but less practical. Outwardly, the small Citigo does not stand out in any way. The only characteristic feature is the shape of the body, reminiscent of a shopping trolley. No wonder - after all, this car was created mainly for the transport of everyday purchases. We won't find many creases or harsh lines here, but that's not what Skoda customers expect. This car should be cheap and in harmony with the urban jungle.

The body line is very simple. At the front, we see a bumper with typical lines and a grille with a characteristic shape for this brand. In 2017, the model underwent a facelift, during which new headlights were introduced - they now have LED daytime running lights.

A very long door stands out on the side. This is justified, because thanks to the large opening, it is easier for us to get to the rear row of seats. Unfortunately, this solution also has a downside. Having taken a place in front, we have to bend a little to reach the belt.

In the back of the car - nothing special. Simple headlights and a massive bumper. The car leaves the dealership on 14″, 15″ or 16″ wheels. The lacquer palette consists of seven colors. An interesting addition is the Color package, which allows you to change the standard color of the roof and mirrors to black or white. When setting up, it is worth considering the Monte Carlo version, which significantly changes the appearance of the Czech peanut. Black elements such as the grille, mirrors, front and rear diffuser and spoiler are characteristic features of this version. Inside, Skoda has also prepared special upholstery.

empty inside

The middle of the standard version, like the exterior, is nothing shocking. We find here elements well known from other models. Praise is given to the leather multifunctional steering wheel, which fits very well in the hand. The steering column only adjusts in one plane, but finding the right setting is no problem. Seats with built-in headrests are also a positive side of this car. They are comfortable and can be heated as an option. In a city car, we drive mostly short distances, so the lack of lumbar adjustment is not surprising.

The upper part of the dashboard is made of hard plastic, which, fortunately, does not make noise when driving. A decorative panel with glitter particles runs through the center. Looks very good, although it will scratch over time. Below you will find another hard material - this time beige, which brings variety to the interior. The visual effect spoils the door, on which we can see a sheet in body color. This is probably a savings effect, which, however, the Korean or French competitors did better.

It is worth paying attention to the side air intakes. In the middle are embedded "honeycombs" - a detail that pleases the eye.

We associate the latest Skoda models primarily with practicality and spaciousness. And this time the same. We have pockets in the doors, a glove compartment in front of the passenger, a shelf in the middle part, two cup holders (one in front, one in the back) and pockets on the sides of the seat. As for a city car, it is enough for 100%. The only problem is the location of the USB port. Difficult to find at first.

There is enough room in front for a 185 cm tall person, and even - quite surprisingly - there is still a spare. Visibility in all directions is satisfactory. By pressing the corresponding lever, the front seat folds and slides forward, making it easier to get into the rear seats. Unfortunately, after returning, he does not remember the previous settings, so everything will get out of hand.

How is the back? When a 185 cm tall person sits behind a driver of the same height, he cannot complain about the total lack of space, although “sharply”. However, the car is designed for four people, so the large central tunnel will not bother anyone. There are no vents or pockets behind the rear seats.

The Citigo's trunk offers 251 liters, which is a good result for this class. It can easily accommodate weekly shopping for two people. On the sides there are two hooks and a light source. For an additional fee we can get a double floor. Pleased with the presence of folding rear seats, which is not a standard in this class.

Something for the young

There are some very interesting elements aboard the Citigo. In a city where it is easy to "look", the emergency braking function will come in handy. It is based on a proximity sensor and helps us avoid collision with the vehicle in front.

Another interesting addition is the multimedia system. More and more people refuse to buy built-in navigation because of the price, but nowadays each of us has a smartphone. Skoda offers a phone holder with which we can safely secure our device. After installing the Move & Fun app (available for iOS and Android) and connecting the phone to the USB port, we get additional features. Previously, Swing radio only offered the ability to listen to radio, music from various media, or Bluetooth. Now our smartphone is an additional screen and expands the entire system. The most important change is the emergence of navigation that takes into account the traffic situation. We download the map to our device and we can look for the fastest route to the store or kindergarten. Another novelty is Green Score, which gives us points for driving style. The greener we drive, the more points we get. On the screen of our smartphone, we can also view data from the on-board computer or manage multimedia.

good old friend

Skoda has accustomed us to a wide range of engines that can be installed under the hood, but, unfortunately, not this time. The Citigo has only one engine - a naturally aspirated three-cylinder unit 1.0 MPI. Depending on the option we choose, it produces 60 or 75 hp. and 95 Nm. A choice of a 5-speed manual transmission or, in a more powerful version, an automated ASG transmission. It is a pity that Skoda failed to "borrow" the twin Up! and a more powerful version of the 1.0 TSI. Nothing. We must be content with what we have. This is enough for city driving, but we do not recommend taking longer routes.

In a smooth ride, the engine retains its class and doesn't reveal its three-cylinder nature. At idle, unfortunately, there is a lack of an additional cylinder. Vibrations are felt throughout the cabin. However, when we add some more gas, we will hear a characteristic rattling sound. Someone likes this sound, but someone gets the impression that the whole engine is about to fall apart ... Summa summarum - we don’t need anything else to go to the city.

The steering system is sure to appeal to women as the power steering is very strong. For maneuvering between parking spaces as found. We can only stick to his translation. Between the extreme positions, you have to “wind up” a little ...

The suspension is worse. This is not very convenient, and when cornering it is felt that there is a torsion beam at the back. In faster corners or on transverse bumps, the car does not ride confidently, but again you have to look at it through the prism of price and its purpose. Driving in the morning for rolls, we are not surprised how great our car is going, but we think about plans for the next few hours.

Citigo surprises with silence. Even at high wind speeds it is not audible. Hear something else. The wheel arches and the engine are no longer so soundproofed.

The car accelerates without problems, brakes, turns, and with careful handling even burns a little. When driving slowly around the city, fuel consumption is about 5 liters per 100 km. During peak hours, fuel consumption rises to 7l/100km. The destination of this car is the city, where we stop at traffic lights all the time - so it's surprising that there is no Stop & Start system designed to work in these conditions.

How much does it cost?

The disadvantages of a small Czech are justified by its price. The basic version of Ambition starts at PLN 36. This price includes manual air conditioning and electric windshields. If we want to have a better equipped version of the Style, we must prepare for the costs of PLN 900. More powerful engine? No problem if we prepare an additional PLN 41. The surcharge for the next pair of doors is also PLN 550. We can go crazy and choose a panoramic roof for PLN 1500 or automatic air conditioning for PLN 1500 in the configurator. It's a lot? Twin Volkswagen Up! or the Seat Mii is more expensive (VW prices start at PLN 3 and Seat prices start at PLN 100). Competition in the form of Toyota Aygo or Kii Picanto is also more expensive - for the basic version of the "Japanese" we will pay PLN 1, while for the purchase of Kii we will have to allocate an amount of PLN 200. On the other hand, the Fiat Panda is a little cheaper - the car is in the lowest version and with a 37 hp 590 engine. will be available for 44 300 PLN.

Who is this car for? The form already tells us about its fate. While the Citigo doesn't hit anything mechanically, don't expect more from it. It does not require special attention from the driver. He will just take us wherever we want, like a yellow taxi. If we are looking for emotions, driving sensations and sporty temperament, unfortunately this is not the right address. The Citigo will be the first car for the "fresh" driver or the undemanding person who wants to enjoy a trouble-free ride for little money.