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Small but strong
Page 44
Page 45
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LONG-TERM TEST VEHICLE
CITROEN NEMO 1.4HDI
IPrice: El 0,045 Engine: 1.4-litre, 70hp Payload: 610kg Mileage: 7,884 Expenses: None Faults: None Average mpg: 48.1 With winter well and truly upon us, and the temperature plunging towards the zero mark. CM's long-term Citroen Nemo continued to be called upon to provide transport for a number of people and their individual tasks, including several trips 'up north: And it was these long-haul ventures that further uncovered the little Citroen's character. 'You wouldn't necessarily choose a vehicle of this size to tackle extended motorway trips, what with those big pesky trucks dominating the space around you. However, this modest little van surprised us with the ability to stand its ground.
At speed it behaved with an impressive degree of refinement thanks to a combination of its well-weighted steering, which dispels the small vehicle nervousness you might expect, and strong structural rigidity, helping you to feel sufficiently isolated from the outside action. We also appreciated the level of refinement from the Nemo when battling up the M6, an area we thought would be an issue when operating at higher speeds.
Noise suppression is generally good, with the only filtration coming through from the rear via the half-mesh bulkhead when approaching the national speed limit.
So, the basis of what a decent small van should incorporate in terms of qualities is present and correct.
However, our time spent together has also highlighted a few areas that also need upgrading. For example, the driving position, while adequate for most, lacks satisfactory rear travel for the taller among us, and this is compounded by the limited footwell space, something that's noted on longer journeys when you want to stretch those plates out.
Another area that falls under the 'could do better' banner is the transmission. While not performing particularly badly, it's still the Achilles Heel in what is an otherwise well-designed set-up.
There just isn't enough torque from low-down to make it feel nippy, and when you are zooming around town, that's exactly what you need.
Instead of being able to nip off at the lights, you're left waiting for the revs to increase sufficiently until a modicum of urgency arrives, and when the revs finally make an appearance, there aren't that many fireworks to write home about.
And this transmission issue is further compounded by a less-than-precise gearshift that really can't be rushed if you want to hit the right gate all the time. •