Citroen C2 Euro NCAP 4 stars
Fun & Funky the stylish and affordable C2 is well equipped, well priced and has head-turning good looks. Despite its small size, theres good head- and legroom for the driver.
Its four-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating is pretty good and it comes with a decent amount of safety kit including two front airbags, ABS, seatbelt pre-tensioners, and four three-point seatbelts. Security is taken care of with remote central locking, deadlocks and an immobiliser
As youd expect from Citroen there are several ingenious touches, like a split-opening rear tailgate and the paddleshift gear change option that give it the edge over some of its rivals.
For the environmentally aware, all engines have low carbon dioxide emissions and drink fuel gingerly. The 1.4 HDi with Co2 emissions as low as 113g/km has a VED band B and fantastic fuel consumption figures of 65.7 combined and 76.3 extra urban it even does over 50mpg around town. The new C2 Stop & Start
lowers emissions and increases fuel efficiency even more The added bonus for those travelling or living within the London congestion charge zone is that this little beauty is exempted from the charge, increasing saving even further. Parts and servicing costs are reasonable and good security means insurance groups are low, too, with the 1.1 an eye catching Group 1.
The engine range is kicked-off with the 60bhp 1.1-litre which is cheap to run and fun around town. For those spending more time on motorways or dual carriageways theres a punchy 1.4, which is also the only engine to be offered with 'Stop-and-Start' technology. For hot hatch fans 1.6-litre GT and VTS models offer wheel-to-wheel spoilers and tight handling to complement the zippy performance. Amazingly for a fairly hot hatch, the insurance rating is group 8 and
insurance is provided free for the first year too.
Trim levels range from the entry-level L up to the well equipped SX. All have a trip computer, remote central locking, tinted windows, digital dashboard display and variable-rate power steering. Air-con is standard on the SX, optional on the Furio. VTR models are available
with body colour side skirts, front bumper and rear spoiler, 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome tail pipe, cruise control, heated and power folding mirrors and sport seats. VTS gets generous equipment all round, with, electric windows, CD player, air-con, sports seats
traction control and plenty of sporting hardware. Automatic headlamps and wipers, cruise control and leather seats are optional. Also some special models available such as the Airplay+Special Edition which includes a 4 GB iPOD Nano with docking station to
play directly on your car stereo, air conditioning and electric door mirrors as standard.
Every new Citroen car offers the benefit of a 3year, 60,000 mile warranty package. There is also a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty against all internal to external perforation to bodywork or underbody.
About the manufacturer
Citroen are taking action at each stage of the product life cycle in an attempt to reduce the effects of their cars on the planet. They are achieving this by managing their industrial sites to high standards, reducing greenhouse gas and pollutant vehicle emissions, and designing recyclable vehicles. Indeed in the space of 20 years Citroen claim to have reduced vehicle
emissions by a factor of between 10 and 20. Whats more they developed the diesel particulate filter system, which destroys the particulates produced by diesel engines.
One of the main natural resources used in the production of cars is water, accordingly Citroen is working hard to reduce this and over the past ten years has invested a total of 2.7 million in
recycling resources. Through this worldwide policy, the Group states it has reduced water consumption per vehicle by an impressive 46% since 1995.
To reduce the amount of waste being dumped in landfill sites etc current Citroens have a recycleability of between 85% and 95%.
The most public and arguably biggest issues facing Citroen (and all other manufacturers) remain the elimination of harmful emissions and the eradication of reliability on the planets ever diminishing natural resources.
To this aim Citroen has already committed toward reducing fuel consumption and co2 emissions through innovations in technologies. Its new HDi engine for example reduces consumption by 20% compared with an indirect injection diesel engine, thereby cutting CO2 emissions by between 90 and 120g/km, depending on the model.
The new Start & Stop system cuts the engine automatically when the car comes to a standstill in neutral (at a red light for example). It then starts up again quietly and instantaneously as soon as the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal. To reduce fuel consumption still further, the Stop & Start system can be coupled with engines that have already been downsized. Launched in 2004, the C3 Stop & Start, can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 15% in heavy urban traffic.
More recently, Citroen committed to develop a mid-range hybrid HDi family vehicle consuming 3.4 litre of fuel and emitting 90g of CO2 per km, with the aim of bringing this vehicle to market at an affordable price by 2010. The advantages of the hybrid HDi are linked to its fuel economy and to its ability to function in all-electric mode in the city. CO2 emissions could potentially be
halved, compared with a petrol vehicle and with the power battery, the vehicle can be driven in electric (zero emission) mode at up to 45 kph with no pollutant emissions and no noise. This is a car that will contribute to quality of life in the city while also being highly versatile.
For more than ten years, PSA Peugeot Citroen has been committed to promoting the use of ethanol in petrol up to 10%. The Group believes that it is the effective way of developing the use of biofuels by widely and rapidly extending it to the entire car range. The implementation of Flex-Fuel technology involves
the adjustment of the engines currently available on the market and PSA Peugeot Citroen plans to launch flex-fuel vehicles in Europe in 2007. These cars will be able to run on all blends of pure petrol and E85 fuel (85% ethanol) and will comply with Euro IV pollution standards. The Group has expertise in this technology, which it has successfully distributed in Brazil since 2005. Today, flex-fuel vehicles make up 80% of Group sales in this market.
The Group is also promoting a type of biodiesel called diester 30, made up of 30% VOME (vegetable oil methyl esters) and 70% diesel fuel. This fuel brings a 22% reduction in particulate emissions from HDi diesel engines. It also helps cut CO2 emissions by as much as 19%.
Finally, a European Directive to address the treatment and disposal of vehicles when they reach the end of their life, was published to the EC Member States in September 2000. To fulfil its obligations under the terms of these regulations, Citroen UK Ltd, has contracted with CarTakeBack.com (CTB), to guarantee that qualifying vehicles will be taken back from the last owner or keeper at no cost.