Citroen 2 CV: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Citroen 2 CV catalogue contains one Sedan generation produced from September 1948 through December 1990, with five listed versions. Choosing among them primarily means comparing engine output and drive type: the 602 cc 0.6 MT is the most powerful at 29 hp and the only FWD version with measured performance, while the 425 cc 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT produces 24 hp and is the only AWD choice.
The Citroen 2 CV catalogue contains one Sedan generation produced from September 1948 through December 1990, with five listed versions. Choosing among them primarily means comparing engine output and drive type: the 602 cc 0.6 MT is the most powerful at 29 hp and the only FWD version with measured performance, while the 425 cc 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT produces 24 hp and is the only AWD choice. The remaining FWD versions—three entries named 0.4 MT—develop 9 hp, 12 hp, or 18 hp. Every version uses a Gasoline engine, an Opposite 2-cylinder layout, no boost, a Manual gearbox with 4 gears, and 150 mm of ground clearance.
Citroen 2 CV generations: what changed?
There is only one generation to compare. The 1 generation ran from September 1948 to December 1990 and was offered as a Sedan with five listed modifications. The supplied data does not identify a separate restyling, so no meaningful comparison between generations or restylings can be made.
Variation instead occurs within the generation. Engine displacement ranges from 375 cc to 602 cc, output ranges from 9 hp to 29 hp, and the choice of drive is FWD or AWD. Because all five versions share the same production dates in the catalogue, the data does not establish when one engine replaced another or describe changes by model year.
Citroen 2 CV engine and specs comparison
| Exact version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 MT (9 hp) | 9 hp / 7 kW | not measured | 375 cc | Gasoline | 2 | Opposite | No | Manual, 4 gears | FWD |
| 0.4 MT (18 hp) | 18 hp / 13 kW | not measured | 435 cc | Gasoline | 2 | Opposite | No | Manual, 4 gears | FWD |
| 0.6 MT | 29 hp / 21 kW | not measured | 602 cc | Gasoline | 2 | Opposite | No | Manual, 4 gears | FWD |
| 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT | 24 hp / 17 kW | not measured | 425 cc | Gasoline | 2 | Opposite | No | Manual, 4 gears | AWD |
| 0.4 MT (12 hp) | 12 hp / 9 kW | not measured | 425 cc | Gasoline | 2 | Opposite | No | Manual, 4 gears | FWD |
The 0.6 MT has the largest engine and the highest output. Its 602 cc engine is 227 cc larger than the 375 cc unit in 0.4 MT (9 hp) and produces 20 hp more. It also has 11 hp more than 0.4 MT (18 hp), 17 hp more than 0.4 MT (12 hp), and 5 hp more than 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT.
Power per litre further distinguishes the options. Calculated from the supplied displacement and power figures, 0.4 MT (9 hp) produces approximately 24.0 hp per litre, 0.4 MT (12 hp) approximately 28.2 hp per litre, 0.4 MT (18 hp) approximately 41.4 hp per litre, 0.6 MT approximately 48.2 hp per litre, and 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT approximately 56.5 hp per litre. On this measure, the AWD Sahara specification extracts the most output from its listed displacement, although the 0.6 MT remains the outright power leader.
The two entries using 425 cc illustrate why the exact version matters. The FWD 0.4 MT (12 hp) develops 12 hp, while the AWD 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT develops 24 hp. The Sahara therefore provides 12 hp more—exactly twice the output in the data—and changes the drive system from FWD to AWD.
Citroen 2 CV performance and mpg
| Exact version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 MT (9 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 0.4 MT (18 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 0.6 MT | 35 seconds | 115 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT | not measured | 105 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 0.4 MT (12 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
For a buyer who wants documented acceleration, the 0.6 MT is the only choice supported by the catalogue: its 0–100 km/h time is 35 seconds. Its measured top speed is 115 km/h, which is 10 km/h higher than the 105 km/h recorded for 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT.
Acceleration is not measured for 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT or any of the three 0.4 MT entries. Top speed is also not measured for 0.4 MT (9 hp), 0.4 MT (12 hp), and 0.4 MT (18 hp). These absences prevent a complete performance ranking based on the supplied data.
City, highway, and combined fuel consumption are not measured for all five versions. Tank capacity and fuel grade are likewise not measured, so the data cannot support an mpg comparison or an estimate of driving range. CO₂ output and eco class are not measured for any version.
Citroen 2 CV dimensions, weight, and chassis specs
The supplied catalogue does not measure exterior length, width, height, or wheelbase for any version. Kerb weight and gross weight are also not measured, so weight per horsepower cannot be calculated without introducing an unsupported number.
All five versions have 150 mm of ground clearance. Tank capacity and wheel sizes are not measured for every version. Consequently, buyers searching for Citroen 2 CV dimensions or tire dimensions should treat those items as unspecified here rather than assume that one setup applies to every car.
The chassis specification is consistent across the range. Each version has Independent, spring front suspension and Independent, spring rear suspension. Front brakes are Drum and rear brakes are Drum on all five entries.
Which Citroen 2 CV version should you choose?
Choose the 0.6 MT when maximum documented power and performance matter most. Its 602 cc Gasoline engine produces 29 hp and 21 kW, making it the strongest version in the catalogue. It is also the only version with measured acceleration—35 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h—and its 115 km/h top speed is the highest measured figure. The drivetrain is FWD, paired with a Manual gearbox and 4 gears.
Choose the 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT when AWD is the deciding requirement. It is the only AWD version; every other listed 2 CV is FWD. Its 425 cc Gasoline engine produces 24 hp and 17 kW, placing it 5 hp below the 0.6 MT but 6 hp above 0.4 MT (18 hp). Its measured top speed is 105 km/h, while its 0–100 km/h time is not measured.
Among the conventional 0.4 MT choices, select 0.4 MT (18 hp) for the highest output. Its 435 cc engine delivers 18 hp and 13 kW. That is 6 hp more than 0.4 MT (12 hp) and twice the 9 hp output of 0.4 MT (9 hp). No measured acceleration, top-speed, or consumption figures are available to show how those power differences translate into road performance or economy.
The 0.4 MT (12 hp) combines a 425 cc engine with 12 hp, 9 kW, FWD, and the common Manual gearbox with 4 gears. Compared with 0.4 MT (9 hp), it provides 3 hp more and uses an engine that is 50 cc larger. Compared with 0.4 MT (18 hp), it gives up 6 hp despite being only 10 cc smaller.
The 0.4 MT (9 hp) has the smallest displacement and lowest output: 375 cc, 9 hp, and 7 kW. Its key specifications otherwise match the FWD pattern of the range, including Gasoline fuel, an Opposite 2-cylinder layout, no boost, and a Manual gearbox with 4 gears. Because performance, consumption, and weight are not measured, the catalogue cannot claim that this least powerful option is slower, lighter, or more economical.
In short, the numbers favor 0.6 MT for outright output and measured speed, 0.4+0.4 Sahara MT for AWD, and 0.4 MT (18 hp) for the most powerful version carrying the standard 0.4 MT name. Price, reliability, parts availability, oil type, condition, and sale-market comparisons are not provided, so they cannot be used here to rank the five versions.