Citroen C-Quatre

Citroen C-Quatre: which version to buy and why

If you are choosing a Citroen C-Quatre, the numbers collapse to four real drivetrains, not ten catalogue lines. Across 1 generation (2008–2012) and 2 generation (2013–2016) the sedan is always FWD, Gasoline, Euro 4, 60 L tank, front Independent, spring and rear Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem. The only mechanical fork is 1.6 versus 2.0 and Manual versus Automatic.

If you are choosing a Citroen C-Quatre, the numbers collapse to four real drivetrains, not ten catalogue lines. Across 1 generation (2008–2012) and 2 generation (2013–2016) the sedan is always FWD, Gasoline, Euro 4, 60 L tank, front Independent, spring and rear Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem. The only mechanical fork is 1.6 versus 2.0 and Manual versus Automatic. Buy 1 generation 1.6 MT if you want the only 10.2 s 0–100 km/h figure in the whole model. Buy 2.0 MT if you want 147 hp and 9.1 kg per horsepower. Buy 2.0 AT if you want 200 km/h. Avoid treating the extra 2 generation 2.0 AT and 2.0 MT lines as new engines: they repeat 147 hp and 200 Nm, and their 0–100 km/h is not measured.

Specs: four drivetrains, ten named versions

Power per litre is almost a tie: 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT make 117 hp from 1587 cc → 73.7 hp/L. 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT make 147 hp from 1997 cc → 73.6 hp/L. The 410 cc step (+25.8%) buys +30 hp (+25.6%) and +50 Nm (+33.3%). Specific torque is 94.5 Nm/L on 1587 cc versus 100.2 Nm/L on 1997 cc. Both engines peak at 6000 rpm and 4000 rpm, compression 11.0 versus 10.8, bore × stroke 78.5 × 82 versus 85 × 88, fuel 95, Distributed injection (multi-point), Front, transverse, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No.

Performance and mpg: what the extra 30 hp actually buys

0–100 km/h is measured on only four of ten lines. 1 generation 1.6 MT: 10.2 s. 1 generation 2.0 MT and the 2 generation 2.0 MT with a measured time: 11.6 s. 1 generation 2.0 AT and the 2 generation 2.0 AT with a measured time: 12.0 s. Not measured: both 1.6 AT lines, 2 generation 1.6 MT, and the second 2 generation 2.0 AT and 2.0 MT.

The 1.6 Manual is 1.4 s quicker to 100 km/h than the 2.0 Manual where both are measured (10.2 versus 11.6). The 2.0 Automatic is 0.4 s slower than the 2.0 Manual (12.0 versus 11.6). Top speed does not follow the same ranking: 1.6 AT is the slowest at 186 km/h (−9 km/h versus 1.6 MT at 195). 2.0 MT is also 195 km/h. 2.0 AT is the fastest at 200 km/h (+5 km/h). City, highway and combined mpg are not measured on every version. CO2 is not measured on every version.

Dimensions and weight: kg per horsepower

Ground clearance is not measured. Wheel size is not measured. Tank is 60 L on every version.

Kerb / gross / payload / kg per hp:

• 1.6 MT (both generations): 1321 / 1723 kg, payload 402 kg, 11.29 kg/hp. Lightest C-Quatre.
• 1.6 AT (both generations): 1350 / 1763 kg, payload 413 kg, 11.54 kg/hp. Automatic adds 29 kg versus 1.6 MT.
• 2.0 MT (all named 2.0 MT lines): 1338 / 1771 kg, payload 433 kg, 9.10 kg/hp. Best power-to-weight. Only 17 kg heavier than 1.6 MT for +30 hp.
• 2.0 AT (all named 2.0 AT lines): 1370 / 1800 kg, payload 430 kg, 9.32 kg/hp. Heaviest. Automatic adds 32 kg versus 2.0 MT.

Gross rating rises 77 kg from 1.6 MT (1723) to 2.0 AT (1800). Payload is highest on 2.0 MT (433 kg), 31 kg more than 1.6 MT. Brakes do not change the choice: Ventilated disc front, Disc rear on all.

What changed between generations

1 generation (2008–2012) lists four versions. 2 generation (2013–2016) lists six: the same four plus a second 2.0 AT and a second 2.0 MT. Engine, gearbox, drive, tank, Euro 4, kerb and gross weights of matching names do not change. What does change is which 0–100 km/h figures are filled in.

1 generation 1.6 MT is the only 1.6 with a measured 10.2 s. 2 generation 1.6 MT keeps 117 hp, 150 Nm, 195 km/h and 1321 kg, but 0–100 km/h is not measured. For a timed 1.6, the first generation is the only documented choice.

On 2.0, 1 generation already records 11.6 s (2.0 MT) and 12.0 s (2.0 AT). 2 generation repeats those times on one 2.0 MT and one 2.0 AT, then adds twins with 0–100 km/h not measured and the same 147 hp, 200 Nm, 195 or 200 km/h, and 1338 or 1370 kg. There is no extra displacement, ratio count, or drive type to buy by moving generation on a 2.0.

Which version to choose

Want the shortest measured 0–100 km/h: 1 generation 1.6 MT — 10.2 s, 117 hp, 5-speed Manual, 1321 kg, 195 km/h. No other C-Quatre is timed faster.

Want the most horsepower per kilogram: 2.0 MT in either generation — 147 hp, 1338 kg, 9.10 kg/hp, 11.6 s where measured, 195 km/h, payload 433 kg. Versus 1.6 MT you add 17 kg and 30 hp. Versus 2.0 AT you drop 32 kg and 0.4 s (11.6 versus 12.0) but lose 5 km/h of top speed (195 versus 200).

Want the highest top speed and Automatic: 2.0 AT — 200 km/h, 147 hp, 4-speed Automatic, 1370 kg. Versus 1.6 AT you add 20 kg, 30 hp, 50 Nm and 14 km/h (200 versus 186). 0–100 km/h is 12.0 s where measured; on the second 2 generation 2.0 AT it is not measured.

Want Automatic on the 1.6: 1.6 AT — same 117 hp and 150 Nm as 1.6 MT, 4-speed Automatic, 1350 kg, 186 km/h. You pay 29 kg and 9 km/h versus 1.6 MT. 0–100 km/h is not measured in either generation.

Want 2 generation specifically: the 1.6 pair and the first 2.0 pair match 1 generation on power, torque, weights and top speed. The only documented loss is the 10.2 s 1.6 MT time, which is not measured on 2 generation 1.6 MT. The extra 2.0 AT and 2.0 MT names in 2 generation are not a fifth and sixth engine; they are 147 hp / 200 Nm repeats with 0–100 km/h not measured.

Do not choose on mpg, CO2, clearance or wheels: those values are not measured on every version, so they cannot rank the list.

There is no VTS line in this data, no China-only power figure, and no C4 Quatre rename: the model name is C-Quatre, the body is Sedan, and the buy decision is 117 hp / 11.3 kg per hp / 10.2 s (1.6 MT) versus 147 hp / 9.1 kg per hp / 11.6 s (2.0 MT) versus 200 km/h / 12.0 s (2.0 AT).