Citroen C-Elysee
This pair was first shown to the general public in September 2012 at the Paris International Motor Show. But interestingly, despite their debut and production in Western Europe, these cars are not available there at all. The reason is that local residents prefer small, compact cars (mostly hatchbacks) – they are more economical and environmentally friendly, easy to park, and often more advantageous in terms of taxes.
Developing countries (Turkey, China, states of the former Union, and others) traditionally love large, inexpensive sedans with huge trunks – so they can carry sacks of potatoes, drive to the dacha on broken dirt roads, and in summer comfortably set off for the sea with five people for a couple thousand kilometers.
In Ukraine, the Citroen C-Elysee can be purchased at the official dealership 'ViDi Elegance'. On the company website http://citroen-vidi.com.ua/models/passenger_cars/c-elysee/ a wide selection of cars of this famous brand is presented. Clients of the Citroen dealership can buy a car here on credit or lease, arrange insurance, and order official service.
But let's return to the car review. Its length is almost four and a half meters. And thanks to traditional proportions, the car looks even longer than it actually is. And from some angles, even luxurious.
Sitting in the front seats is quite comfortable, but height adjustment is not available in all versions, which will be inconvenient for short people (since the hood is quite stretched forward). The interior manages to combine style and frankly budget solutions. For instance, even the mechanical heater control is done with buttons and equipped with a display, making it seem like climate control. But the window switches are on the central tunnel because putting them on the doors is expensive. Similarly, the rear switches are placed higher than in the 'Logan' to avoid getting dirty with shoes.
In the back, the car offers royal comfort and plenty of space. The only complaint might be the headrests – for cost savings they are not full-size, but rather small 'protrusions' on the backrest.
The trunk opens only from the interior, and its volume is an impressive 506 liters! Moreover, that is not the end – you can pay extra for a split-folding second-row seat.
The base engine is a 1.2-liter 72 hp unit, which is fine for unflappable drivers. But there is also a more powerful (110 hp) 1.6-liter version. For fans of diesel, a turbo diesel is available (1.6 liters, 91 hp). Transmissions: manual for all versions, and for an extra cost – a 'robot' (for the smaller engine) or an automatic.