The CitiGolf was and still is an iconic car. Now though, Volkswagen has brought it back, sort of, in the form of the Citi Vivo. The question however is, is this a legend in the making or just a clever marketing ploy?
For me, the CitiGolf was my first car. Mine was dark red and it didn’t stay stock for long. I added all sorts of extras to it and easily at that. In fact, most of my friends had CitiGolfs and we had a little unofficial Citi club going. The CitiGolf gave us our first taste of freedom.
This little car not only crawled into our hearts, but I’m sure it made its way into the hearts of many South Africans since its introduction in 1984. Its discontinuation in 2009 due to safety regulations was therefore a sad moment not only the local automotive industry, but for those who considered the Citi more than just a car.
When Volkswagen announced that it would be reintroducing the Citi name within the Vivo line-up, I was slightly upset to be honest. How could the Vivo truly be worthy of the Citi name? I was pretty sure that VWSA was just playing the marketing game. Well, I’ve driven the Citi Vivo and I have changed my mind, sort of.
The Vivo is to many first time car buyers what the Citi was to me. Look around you, the Vivo is one of the most popular cars on the road. It’s a top seller and is also one of the most customised cars on our roads. It also features what the Citi didn’t have; airbags and ABS.
Chatting to various Vivo owners, I got the sense that the Vivo, like the Citi, has a cult following. People love its simplicity and reliability. They love how easy it is to customise and live with. Based on the previous Polo, the Vivo remains a well built South African car. It features good quality materials and a spacious cabin.
So the Vivo as a car, a culture and a lifestyle statement is all well and good, however, I’m still not sold on the Citi bit though. The Citi Vivo is based on the 1.4i Conceptline which has a power output of 55kW from its 1.4-litre petrol engine.
In addition to the standard features of the donor model, which includes a Bluetooth/USB sound system, air-conditioning and central locking, the Citi Vivo also gets white 15-inch alloy wheels, white mirrors, door handles and tailgate and CITI decals. Optional features fitted to my test car included cruise control, an ultrasonic alarm system, front electric windows and front fog lights.
All in all, it is a fuss free, quality product which features all the must haves one needs. If you are looking for an entry into the car market, the Vivo is definitely worth a look. I’m not 100% convinced about the Citi name being resurrected, however, that’s not for me to decide. It’s now up to the next generation of Citi owners to start their own journey as we did, and once again Volkswagen has provided the car to do just that.
