The electrification of cars from Mladá Boleslav did not fully start until 2019, with a slight delay. Skoda Auto then presented its customers with a plug-in hybrid version of the Superb model and a fully electric Citigo.
The Skoda Superb iV, which combines a petrol engine with an electric motor, has already passed our editorial test, but now we have tested the second representative of the electrification of Mladá Boleslav, namely the city model Citigo.
Urban proportions and quite inconspicuous design
The Citigo model is definitely not a newcomer to the market and we have already gotten used to its external shapes quite well. It is a small car with classic shapes, which can be playful especially in terms of the concept of the front and rear parts.
The tested all-electric Citigo differs from the classic version mainly in the front fascia. It is always painted in the color of the car and, following the pattern of "electric cars", it is noticeably less perforated than in the classic version of the model.
In the rear section, the main Skoda inscription is also present, instead of the original logo. We also have a smaller Citigo sign and also the iV sign. The Citigo continues to hold a very good design element for me, which is the vertically oriented lamps, optically elegantly integrated into the trunk lid.
The car is then charged under the classic tank lid, so the electric Citigo differs from the classic combustion version really only very minimally.
Skoda Citigo e therefore continues to work with fairly moderate corporate proportions, which are then enlivened in individual imaginative details.
Modest interior
You will find simplicity and modesty in the interior of the car. Its primarily low purchase price then results in the presence of harder plastics and exposed parts of the body painted in the color of the car. The interior, on the other hand, is very functional and well-crafted for the user.
The dashboard itself has simple horizontal proportions. Its central motif is the voluminous device compartment, which has classic analog indicators. The central circular speed indicator is complemented by circular indicators on the sides, a "force meter" on the left, and an indicator informing about the state of charge of the accumulator on the right. In its lower part, the speedometer is also equipped with an on-board computer display, which is unfortunately quite outdated by today's standards.
In the central part of the dashboard are the air conditioning controls and an ordinary radio with a very simple display. Both are then elegantly integrated into one compact panel, above which a mobile phone holder is placed. It is here as a replacement for the missing on-board infotainment display.
In the central panel, there are controls activating the individual eco modes, as well as the automatic transmission selector and the classic handbrake.
The Citigo offers plenty of space in the front seats, and I also have to appreciate the seats with integrated headrests, which look really good as a result. The rear bench is quite modest, the space above the head is sufficient, but the seat of the bench itself is relatively hard and short.
The luggage compartment with a basic volume of 250 liters pleases with its multi-level arrangement, but its floor plan dimensions are logically quite economical. The luggage is missing any padding on its sides and in the back, so scratching its surface will certainly not go unnoticed.
Electric propulsion system
Skoda Citigo e iV is equipped with an electric motor with a power of 61 kW and a torque of 212 Nm. In terms of numbers, it is therefore not an electric racer, but in terms of the feeling of driving, the electric Citigo is a very pleasant companion not only in an urban environment.
The car's battery capacity will be 36.8 kWh, according to the manufacturer's data and the WLTP methodology, the vehicle should travel up to 260 km on a full charge. The battery can be recharged to 80% in an hour with a fast charger, with a 7.2 kW wallbox in 4 hours and 15 minutes, and finally, the electric Citigo can be recharged from a home socket in 13 hours.
To achieve the lowest possible consumption and the highest possible range associated with it, the electric Citigo is equipped with a pair of optional eco modes. The first will limit the power and maximum speed, the second is a bit more radical with an overlap into the air conditioning and limiting the maximum speed to 95 km/h.
Driving impressions
The first seconds with an electric Citigo are always a little strange, because the car is quite unconventionally activated for me with a standard key and a classic switch box, not with a start button. So after inserting the key into the ignition, you turn it to the start position and the electric Citigo is only quietly activated in this position.
After this starting ceremony, you will enjoy the silence and comfort that the car is able to give you thanks to its electric drive, well-functioning chassis and good sound insulation.
With the chassis, I also have to praise the car's steering, which is in no way overpowered, provides adequate resistance and conveys clear information from the wheels.
The electric Citigo is a very simple car to use, which is equipped with a single-speed automatic transmission. This is controlled by a modified automatic transmission selector, which is located within the central tunnel. In addition to the classic positions P, R, N, D, you also control the degree of recovery of the car with it. By moving the lever backwards, you activate the highest fourth degree of recuperation (position B), by moving the lever to the sides, you can gradually choose the degree of recuperation from the first to the fourth degree.
So it only takes a few kilometers of training and then a certain amount of predictability. Thanks to the frequent use of recuperation, you will manage to accumulate some electric mileage. The rate of recuperation is then beautifully visible on the display of the on-board computer, where the rate of recuperation is also displayed, just like the current consumption, but with a negative sign.
I tested the electric Citigo during the summer months, and as a user who appreciates the window down far more than the air conditioning being on (of course, provided that it is possible), with the eco mode on quite often and a thorough recuperation, I reached an average consumption of around 12 kWh/100 km.
The electric Citigo therefore manages the city and district pace very playfully and economically, it is much worse on the highway, where the electric motor is almost under a constant load. The consumption here increases rapidly (to values of around 20 kWh/100km) and with it the range of the car is reduced quite adequately.
In conclusion
For me, the Skoda Citigo e iV is a very interesting player in the field of electric cars. It makes sense to me comprehensively, as a city car will offer compact dimensions that do not significantly restrict the crew in the front positions, and will also offer decent equipment and very good workmanship. The electrified version has a decent range and completely comfortable driving characteristics. All this, by the standards of electric cars, you can buy for a very respectable 499,900 CZK including VAT.
Source: Author's text
Image source: Author's own photos
