hdi 90

A short cavalcade of Citroëns

hdi — Same brand, but not the same personality.

I cannot hide the fact that I am above average interested in French cars, - so much so that I am willing to see through the fingers of weaknesses that have given rise to many of the prejudices that many people have with regard to French cars. The prejudice stems from the time when many car manufacturers launched innovative technology and design to stand out from the crowd. Many of these models have been immortalized and are kept alive by car enthusiasts around the world.

hdi - Citroën 2CV, a car concept we Norwegians don't quite understand. — Citroën 2CV, a car concept we Norwegians don't quite understand.

Over the course of 4 years, I have gotten to know the Citroën C4 more closely. It is not an extremely French car. Without the Citroën logo, it could have been any European car. The 90 HP HDi engine is shared by many other models in the PSA group, as well as Ford. The C4 is just as good as the permanently motorized Peugeot 308 or Ford Focus. It can compete well with the VAG group's Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia and Seat Leon.

But it doesn't make a car enthusiast's heart beat faster.

In the small southern French town where I currently live, there are many old Citroëns, which have given rise to old prejudices. There are no cars for parades and exhibitions. They are used cars that are used in the same way as the C4 I drive, often as car number 2 in the family, or as a work car.

hdi - Dyane Fourgonnette is a tiny bit less spartan than 2 CV. In front of Citroen Nemo - a more modern van concept. — Dyane/Acadiane is a tiny bit less spartan than 2 CV. In front of the Citroen Nemo – a more modern van concept.

The most common old Citroëns I find in traffic are the air-cooled 2 CV and Dyane, as well as the Visa van – or C15 as it is called. Of the newer models, there are still a good number of ZX, Xantia and Xsara on the road, often with faded paint - but without rust. I have trawled the roads and alleys for large Citroëns such as the CX and XM, but they are almost impossible to drive up.

If you are looking for a used C4 - or other car brand - you should follow these two pieces of advice:

1. Choose a popular drivetrain
2. Simple is best

hdi C4 — The C4 differs little from other cars in the same class.

The C4 with a 90-horsepower HDI engine is very widespread. It has now been replaced by a new engine with 100 HP, but the 90-horsepower has no known weaknesses. The only thing to be aware of is that engines with particulate filters require refilling with cleaning fluid, and that the particulate filter is changed as part of the service programme, - estimated at 120 km service. If you follow the service intervals carefully, you can drive several hundred thousand problem-free km. If you are going to buy a used C000, I recommend that you choose a 4 liter HDI.

hdi — Head cushions that can be adjusted correctly. An important safety detail.

Today, PSA supplies a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine series with 82 and 110 HP. PureTech are modern engines developed to provide high performance and low consumption based on small displacement. I think the 82-horsepower must work a lot, and it is difficult to follow the factory figures with regard to consumption. The 110 horse is better suited to the C4 family.

The C4 has – like its competitors – a long list of extras. If you are on the second-hand market, I would urge you to exercise caution. Drop robotic automatic transmission (EMG) on early models, or models with high mileage. The C4's drivetrain is not sporty, but manual gearboxes are easy to use and durable.

hdi — You get a good first impression in the C4.

"My" C4 has navigation, an electromechanical handbrake that automatically switches on and off, front and rear parking warnings, as well as warning of traffic in blind spots. The navigation system on the 2012 model is not up to par with the best. It is too inaccurate for city driving. You can safely ditch navigation and buy Tom-Tom instead.

I recommend C4. You get a lot of car for the money, and a solid, large and comfortable car that will last for many years, although perhaps not as long as the other Citroëns in this "Citroënad".

I have previously written a test report about the C4 that can can be read here

Keyword-wise summary

Engine feels powerful in traffic.
Good comfort and big car feel.
Pleasant noise level.
Good overview from the back seat.
Large luggage compartment for its class.
Durable engine (1,6 HDI).
Good brakes with emergency brake assistance.
High level of security.

Slightly weak acceleration from standstill to highway speed (90 HP HDI)
Lots of reflections in the instruments.
High mileage is no problem, but then avoid the EMG automatic transmission.

hdi — An Ami 8 Break – family car concept from the 70s.

The station wagon version was perhaps more practical than beautiful.

hdi — This Xantia taxi was previously often seen on local roads with an aging owner behind the wheel. It's not often you see such a nice Xantia.

hdi — The C4 is a nice long-distance companion.

Not as fancy dashboard as in the 60s and 70s.

See

Ciitroen.no

comfortable — 2012 Citroën C4 1,6 HDi 90 HP

There is not much that distinguishes the Citroën C4 from its competitors in this class. With the PSA group's superb e-HDI powertrain, high level of equipment and level of safety, the C4 belongs in the top group of the class. The C4 is experienced as a comfortable car – perhaps the most comfortable in its class?

Look and feel

I have always liked the design of the new C4. The previous model was a good car, but it had some design quirks. Here in the new C4, everything is as standard as a Volkswagen. If you come straight from a Golf or Passat, you will find a surprising number of similarities. Same feeling of quality. Same electronic handbrake solution. Blue light in the dashboard - which Volkswagen has otherwise done away with... The seats look like Volkswagen, but the bright partial leather seats in the Exclusive version feel a little more comfortable.

Inside the car, I notice large window areas, apart from the visibility to the rear which is as bad as all cars of this type.

I got to test drive a version with GPS. The choice of materials in the dashboard and panels, as well as the large screen, contribute to a good feeling of quality.

Minus for strong glare in the instruments. The main instrument with speedometer is completely unreadable on a bright summer day with lots of sun.

Driving pleasure

The C4's engine/driveline is based on the latest version of the PSA group's HDI initiative. An e-HDI of 90 horsepower is more than enough to drive effortlessly everywhere. The gearbox's five steps cover the Norwegian speed ranges well so that the engine can run at favorable revs everywhere. The engine pulls very well at low revs. When driving long distances on foreign highways, I felt no need for a sixth gear.

The car's chassis is more comfortable than sporty. But it still feels like the car is fully capable of handling all extreme situations if needed. The gearbox is precise but not click-clack, and does not invite sporty driving. Nor does the steering invite sporty driving. This is a car for road cruising.

Comfort

The seats in the Exclusive version are comfortable. They are slightly softer than many competitors, but still provide sufficient lateral support. The chassis is thought to be comfortably set up, but not so much that it affects the driving characteristics. You actually get a bit of a big car feeling when the car is at speed.

Low noise level in all speed ranges contributes to the good feeling of comfort. Likewise, the equipment level with two-zone automatic air conditioning, automatic lighting, rain sensor, retractable mirrors - to name a few.

Place

In the back seat I get the feeling of sitting a little high, but it could also be that the large side windows are deceiving me. Legroom in the back seat is good, even when I'm sitting behind a driver's seat adjusted for a 1,88 meter person.

The trunk is easy to use and feels more spacious than it actually is.

Safety

Passive safety is at the top level. Blind spot warning in the side mirrors and seat belt warning for the rear seat are also standard on the Exclusive version. Distance detectors at the front and rear are connected to the large screen and provide visual notification of the parking distances around the car.

You can also order your C4 with high-tech adaptive lights and the AFIL system, which wakes you up if the car changes lanes without using indicators.

Economy

Very low operating costs. Low fuel consumption. You can order a service package that gives a full overview of the maintenance costs. Purchase price in the 250-300 price range is nothing to complain about as these are very well equipped cars. Citroën does not have a tradition of keeping trade-in prices high, but since the C000 shares a powertrain with Peugeot, Volvo and Ford among others, I think trade-in prices will remain at an acceptable level. C4 deserves a five here!

Comfortable seats and suspension
Low noise level

Strong glare in dashboard clocks

PHOTOS

See

citroen.no

HONEST ABOUT CARS

A short "Citroënade"