Citroen’s most efficient automatic gearbox is the robotised manual unit that, while only offering accelerator and brake pedals, isn’t technically a full auto.
BusinessCar has been critical of the driving experience of the precious EGS auto, and the new ETG solves some of those problems by adding a creep function that prevents lurching during low-speed manoeuvring or take-off.
The change itself is also smoother, although the only smooth way to drive it in self-shift mode rather than the manual paddles is still to pre-empt the shift by lifting off the throttle a touch. Drive it like a regular automatic and there’s still a lurch with every shift, so don’t expect seamless changes. The gearbox is also going into the C3 and new C1 models, and will in time make its way across the range.
But the economy also doesn’t match standard autos. In a good way. A VW Touran 1.6 TDI 105 auto comes with a CO2 figure of 121g/km, and Renault’s auto Scenic 1.5 dCi 110hp model is at 124g/km, while the C4 Picasso offers 105g/km, giving it a significant efficiency advantage that equates to around 10mpg on the official test cycle.