Review Skoda Citigo Elegance – Soapy lightning

Skoda Citigo appeared on our roads at the end of 2011 and immediately won many fans. Already in the first months of sales, the little Skoda rose to the top of its segment , during 2012 more than 30,000 customers succumbed to its charm. The Citigo is available with two engines. We subjected the lower-powered three- cylinder engine with 44 kW to the editorial test , which worked with a manual five-speed gearbox. Does it even make sense to look for competition among minicars?

Design

Maximum interior space on a minimal floor plan – this is how the first idea when designing the Skoda Citigo could have sounded. The shapes of the 3,563 millimeter long body with minimal overhangs do not yet fit into the new design language of the automaker. The front part is very similar to the current generation of the Fabia , but the sharply cut radiator grille already hinted in 2011 which direction the new models of the Mladá Boleslav brand would go. The Citigo was also the first car to sport the latest rendition of the winged arrow on the hood.

The side view is dominated by the long doors , the wheels pushed up to the very corners of the body and the almost straight roof line. The length of the doors does not make it difficult to get in and out of crowded parking lots. Compared to the sister Volkswagen Up! I appreciate the horizontal bottom line of the rear side windows. Although they lack a visible external seal, the passengers on the back seats have a feeling of greater airiness in the interior.

Already thanks to the trunk lid, you can tell the Skoda Citigo from the Volkswagen Up! fairly quickly. While in Germany they decided on an all-glazed version, here we have to settle for classic metal doors. However, I personally like the rear of the Citigo a little better. At 1,641 millimeters wide, the car is just one millimeter narrower than the class-larger Fabia . In addition, the tested car was built on fourteen-inch alloy wheels with tires with a width of 165 millimeters, which looks quite comical, especially when viewed from the rear.

Interior

There is more space inside the Skoda Citigo than it might seem at first glance. The driver and passenger can sit very comfortably on the front seats, but personally I would prefer to sit a little lower. Longer journeys are not a problem either. Despite the minimalist exterior dimensions, there is even more room in width than in the current Fabia! The rear part of the interior can accommodate a pair of passengers. Willy-nilly, they have to put up with more difficult boarding. There is also not much headroom, but the Citigo reigns supreme in the competition. I would definitely like the locking of the front seats during folding. The seats do not return to their original position after the passengers board the rear.

The luggage compartment has a basic volume of 251 liters , which is fully sufficient for most people interested in a minicar. The short and relatively deep trunk can easily accommodate weekend shopping, and those who need to transport longer items can fold down the split backrest of the rear seats. The volume increases by a pleasant 700 liters, but there is no flat loading surface. A little on the branch you will be from the covering plate. This is because it remains in a horizontal position after opening the lid, and the only option is to tilt it manually with a catch. Of course, this is not a big problem. However, if you're as distracted as I am, you'll find yourself returning to the trunk more than once to lower the plate to its original position.

I have long since become accustomed to excellent ergonomics, quality materials and excellent workmanship at Skoda cars. The sporty, leather-covered steering wheel has an excellent grip and is very pleasant to the touch. The simple concept of the instrument cluster with a centrally located speedometer is clear, as is the center console with a minimum of buttons and three rotary knobs.

I definitely recommend paying an extra CZK 6,600 for the Move&Fun portable navigation system with voice control . It is connected to the car's on-board computer, which eliminates the need to go through the menu with the rocker button on the lever under the steering wheel. The touch control works great, the device is functionally comparable to much more expensive models.

Some colleagues objected to the painted parts in the interior. Of course, the free surfaces in the luggage compartment are quite impractical and will probably get scratched soon, but the yellow contrast of the doors and black plastics is fantastic! The interior, which is available in beige and black, adds playfulness and evokes a pleasant retro impression .

Engine – The base is enough

The tested piece was equipped with a three-cylinder MPI petrol engine with an output of 44 kW and a torque of 95 Nm. The new engine with variable valve timing is mounted on a subframe and does not excessively transmit vibrations to the interior.

The unit has a linear thrust from the lowest revolutions, is sufficiently flexible, quiet and in no way drains your wallet. He doesn't have much to do with the light Skoda Citigo and claims an average of 4.5 l/100 km . However, consumption is quite dependent on driving style. If you are going to enjoy turns with revolutions in the red field, expect to consume around 6 l/100 km.

In our case, the engine was connected to a five-speed manual transmission, but an ASG robotic box is also available on request. The shift lever moves in short and precise paths, I appreciate the fuse against unintentional engagement of reverse gear.

Ride – Soapy Lightning

Driving the Skoda Citigo is a real pleasure. In dense city traffic, you zigzag briskly and with incredible grace, the same applies to parking. However, you will certainly not be a traffic brake even in the districts. The little Skoda reacts precisely to changes in direction, and although it only has a towed rear axle, don't expect bumps on bumps. The main contribution to the behavior of the car is the simple, but sophisticated modular MQB platform , which will eventually be the basis of a wide range of models of the VW concern.

You don't even have to worry about the highway. At a speed of 130 km/h, the engine spins at 3,800 rpm and does not run out of breath even on long climbs. Personally, I was very surprised with how gracefully the Citigo can hold its own against far more powerful cars. However, he is best in the city. There is its natural habitat!

Conclusion

The Citigo model was conspicuously absent from the Skoda portfolio. Long gone are the days when people would buy a Fabia or Polo as a pure city car. If I compare the Skoda Citigo with competitors such as the Kia Picanto , Peugeot 107 or Ford Ka, it clearly wins. All the named models are produced with a low price in mind, but Skoda managed the fight with the financial department the best.

Among the positive features, I have to highlight the pleasant design, processing and rendering of the interior, which the competition can only envy, and the engine, which deserves the epithet "The best gasoline three-cylinder". You'll be a little sad because of the lack of locking front seats, the naughty salary and the visible non-upholstered areas of the luggage compartment.

Skoda offers a very attractive price of 216,900 crowns to buy the Citigo Elegance model, which is almost 30,000 crowns less than the highest level offered by the Peugeot 107! The top-equipped tested model does not lack navigation, a panoramic sunroof, alloy wheels, air conditioning, heated front seats, rear parking sensors, a network program in the trunk, ESC or the City Safe Drive system, which can prevent collisions at intersections.

The premium equipment increased the price of the tested minicar to CZK 282,253. However, a similarly equipped Peugeot 107 without navigation and a panoramic sunroof costs a similar amount. Now learn about it…