The Citroen C4 is one of the coolest cars around. It’s like a concept hatchback from the near future teleported to the here and now. And it accelerates like the Millennium Falcon (although like the said spacecraft, there’s a slight delay before “bam”). The price is right, too. In terms of outright roominess and handling, however, the C4 leaves something to be desired.
The Fiat Bravo is a good-looking machine with a certain bravado that makes the Golf seem a bit boring. And it drives with gusto, happily revving away and attacking corners in a frisky manner. It’s quite a rewarding experience for the keen driver with a heavy right foot on the throttle pedal and a busy left hand on the Dualogic gearstick. But the regular driver hoping for an Italian Golf with the works would be dissatisfied.
So the protagonist wins this round. Although it loses to the Fiat in flair and character, and lacks individuality besides the singular Citroen, the Volkswagen wins ultimately by being the most complete package of the trio. It never puts a wheel wrong where it matters most to the end user, be it performance, equipment, ergonomics, quality or practicality.
The Golf is not perfect, of course – road noise is an issue and the dashboard is looking increasingly staid. But at the end of the day, the best game of Golf that you can play is still in the VW.
Fiat Bravo T-Jet 1.4 (A)
ENGINE
Capacity 1368cc
Cylinder layout Inline-4
Valves 16, DOHC
Bore x stroke 72mm x 84mm
Compression ratio 11:1
Power (with motor) 120bhp at 5500rpm
Torque 206Nm at 1750rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type 6-speed automated manual
Driven Wheels Front
PERFORMANCE
Top Speed 197km/h
0-100km/h 9.6 seconds
Consumption 14.9km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Torsion beam, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
Front Ventilated discs
Rear Discs
TYRES
Type Continental ContiPremiumContact 2
Size 205/55 R16
SAFETY
ABS Yes
Airbags 4
Traction Control Yes, with ESP
MEASUREMENTS
Length 4336mm
Width 1792mm
Height 1498mm
Wheelbase 2600mm
Kerb Weight 1260kg
Power to Weight Ratio 95.2bhp/tonne
Turning Circle 10.4m
BUYING IT
Price $86,900 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/60,000km
+ Stylishness through and through. eager drivetrain loves to be revved. sporty disposition and driving position
– Lifeless steering and average grip. interior plastics could be of higher quality, pricing should be more competitive
Citroen C4 1.4 THP (A)
ENGINE
Capacity 1598cc
Cylinder layout Inline-4
Valves 16, DOHC
Bore x stroke 77mm x 85.8mm
Compression ratio 10.5:1
Power 140bhp at 6000rpm
Torque 240Nm at 1400rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type 4-speed automatic with manual select
Driven Wheels Front
PERFORMANCE
Top Speed 202km/h
0-100km/h 9.7 seconds
Consumption 13km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Torsion beam, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
Front Ventilated discs
Rear Discs
TYRES
Type Michelin Pilot Preceda
Size 215/50 R17
SAFETY
ABS Yes
Airbags 6
Traction Control No
MEASUREMENTS
Length 4260mm
Width 1773mm
Height 1456mm
Wheelbase 2608mm
Kerb Weight 1290kg
Power to Weight Ratio 108.5bhp/tonne
Turning Circle 10.7m
BUYING IT
Price $79,988 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
+ Striking exterior and inspired dashboard, strong performance, especially mid-range, plush seats with great outward visibility
– Just four gears to play with on the road, ride and handling better on the highway, interior a little less practical than expected
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI (A)
ENGINE
Capacity 1390cc
Cylinder layout Inline-4
Valves 16, DOHC
Bore x stroke 76.5mm x 75.6mm
Compression ratio 10:1
Power 122bhp at 5000rpm
Torque 200Nm at 1500rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
Driven Wheels Front
PERFORMANCE
Top Speed 200km/h
0-100km/h 9.5 seconds
Consumption 16.7km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear 4-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
Front Ventilated discs
Rear Drums
TYRES
Type Michelin Energy Saver
Size 205/55 R16
SAFETY
ABS Yes
Airbags 7
Traction Control Yes, with ESP
MEASUREMENTS
Length 4199mm
Width 1779mm
Height 1479mm
Wheelbase 2578mm
Kerb Weight 1241kg
Power to Weight Ratio 98.3bhp/tonne
Turning Circle 10.9m
BUYING IT
Price $86,800 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
+ Real refinement, particularly in town, comfortable and well-made cabin, efficient performance and neat handling
– “Recycled” design and dimensions, interior space the same as before, gearbox prone to low-speed lurching
