Skoda Citigo LPG - two's a company

© gazeo.comIn plain view and within reach - the LPG/petrol switch on the dashboard

Putting all that's under the bonnet aside, all the other components of the system are also identical as the ones we saw on the previous Citigo we tested. The petrol/LPG switch is still placed on the dashborad, to the left of the steering column and close to the driver's door. We criticised this location before, arguing that the LPG level display may become illegible under sunlight, but on second thoughts it's not that bad. After all, sun doesn't always shine directly onto it and besides, after a couple of fill-ups you're bound to learn how far you can drive on a single tank without checking the LED display. Which is not that precise anyway.

We remain critical about Skoda's insistence to place LPG refueling valves in the bumpers. We know and understand it's done this way to protect the metal parts of the body, but for convenience's sake it would be reasonable to move the valves to within the petrol filler wells. In the Citigo more so than e.g. in the Rapid, as the small model's refill valve is at the back and faces the ground rather than the person trying to refuel. Crouching, kneeling and looking for the valve will convince few to the advantages of LPG.

© gazeo.com33,6 l of capacity is quite something in such a small car. Combined with modest fuel consumption it provides more than decent range

As for the autogas system as a whole, it works just fine. Yes, the switchover threshold is set quite high (both in terms of coolant temperature and rpm – the engine won't switch over in idle and if you rev it to force switchover, it will only happen when rpm drops, not when it rises), but let's assume it's all for the well-being of the engine and the LPG components (granted, they work most efficiently when the motor has properly warmed up). Such is also the explanation behind the fact that between 3000 and 4000 rpm the engine runs on 7% of petrol and beyond 4000 rpm it runs on petrol only. Since it takes the Citigo a while to switch to LPG (even if the engine has been previously warmed up), the car generates highest savings when driven on longer distances at a time (more start-ups mean more petrol used), but the car's city character may be something of a hindrance here.

Meanwhile, let's say how far you can drive it on a single refill. According to Skoda's data, the 75 PS version needs only 0,2 l/100 km of fuel more than the 60 PS sibling. But you can forget the official data, as it states the car makes do with less than 4 l/100 km (on petrol) in extra-urban driving mode. You may be able to get such figures in terms of momentary fuel consumption, but overall it'll be hard to get below 4,5 l/100 km. In the city the number's bound to go up to 6-6,5 l/100 km (still on petrol). In autogas mode the above translates to roughly 5,5 l/100 km outside the city and 7-7,5 l/100 km within it, so with 33,6 l of useful tank capacity every refueling will suffice for anywhere between 400 and 600 km of range. And worry not about what to do with the spare wheel – it's been replaced with a space-saving tyre repair kit. You may choose to get a spare to be on the safe side, but you'll need to sacrifice boot capacity (251 l). It's up to you.

The Citigo is a Skoda like any other – laden with practicality and common sense, not emotion. Even with the extra 15 ponies under the bonnet it's just as little and as much as a four-seat city car that can be occasionally used for intercity driving. And all along it's bound to generate running costs giving public transport a run for its money. Well, who wouldn't swap a train ride for driving their own car when it costs 14 zlotys (slightly above 3 euros) to cover 100 km?