Recently we were afforded the opportunity from Citroën Ireland to spend some time with the new C4 and Ë-C4. The C4 is an interesting offering really because although it sits in the C-Hatchback segment it offers a little more to punters over the traditional hatchbacks currently for sale in Ireland. The additional ground clearance, seat height position and interior legroom give the C4 dimensions more comparable to some B-SUV competitors. In a way Citroën are changing the segment a little with this Coupe shaped crossover hatchback that certainly turns heads. Available in petrol, diesel or all electric prices kick off from €24,740 and rise depending on the chosen engine and spec level. The electric variant or rather Ë-C4 has become the first fully electric passenger car available from Citroën with a 350km WLTP range making one of the few vehicles you can pick with petrol, diesel or an electric powertrain.
Features
On collection of the new C4 the first thing you notice is the V-shaped double-stage headlights with chrome chevrons stretched across the entire width of the vehicle. It’s very French or should we say Citroën like from every angle. The bonnet, high and horizontal lines remind us of the C5 Aircross SUV and the roofline that leads your eye to the sloping rear window looks modern and stylish. Moving around to the rear the LED lights again grab your attention with a striking design. Lifting the boot reveals 380 liters of space and the new C4 offers a multitude of colour combinations both inside and out. Opening the driver’s door you are greeted by a clean, contemporary dashboard, softly shaped door panels and soft, supple materials used throughout. In terms of specification, there are four grades available; Feel, Feel Pack, Flair and Flair Pack. All models offer a 10-inch colour touchscreen infotainment screen, which is the control centre of the C4. It feels spacious but at the same time everything is within easy reach and driving position is particularly good with decent visibility all round.
Even from the entry level Feel grade buyers get an impressive level of specification including 18-inch alloys, Automatic LED Headlights, Rear parking sensors and camera, Lane keep assist, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Automatic air con. The Feel Pack adds Citroën Connect Nav, Citroën ConnectedCam, Citroën Smart Pad support and Head up display. Flair sees the addition of Diamond cut alloys, Speed sign recognition, Blind spot detection, Front parking sensors, Adaptive Cruise Control and Keyless entry & start. Finally the top of the range Flair Pack adds the automatic 8-speed gearbox as standard, Citroën HiFi System, Leather interior, Heated seats and Highway driver assist. Unique to the Ë–C4, standard equipment includes a mode 3 charging cable for on street charging while the My Citroën app allows for pre-condition of cabin temperature and remote charging options. The Ë–C4 Flair Pack trim also has the addition of a heated steering wheel.
Power
Down to the business end now and it’s rare we get such choice when picking a power train. There are four petrol variants: a PureTech 100 S&S 6-speed manual gearbox, a PureTech 130 S&S with a choice of 6-speed manual or automatic and PureTech 155 S&S automatic completes the petrol range. There are also two Diesel engines, the BlueHDi 110 S&S 6-speed manual and BlueHDi 130 S&S automatic. The Ë-C4 has a 50KWh lithium-ion battery pack and 100kw electric motor to offer 260 Nm torque and 0-100km/h in 9.7secs with sport mode engaged. Charging to 80% possible in 30mins with 100kw connection while an 11kw 3-phase charger will charge to 100% in 5hrs. For those that like to charge at home with a 32-amp domestic wall box, it will take 7.5hrs. At the time of launch Ë-C4 customers that move their energy account to Energia could also receive a free home charger plus 20% off their electricity tariff while a 30% discount will apply if a wall box is already fitted to the home but with soaring energy prices this might be revisited.
Safety
The C4 certainly has lots of standard safety kit, with an Active Safety Brake function, Speed Limit Information, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Alert 3 with lane departure detection and a Forward Collision Warning system all available. The Flair Pack sees the addition of Active Blind Spot Detection, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. With so much tech on board it was a little surprising to see the C4 miss out on the maximum 5 star safety award from Euro NCAP but 4 stars is still very impressive.
Costs
With so many models and trim levels to pick from the pricing for the new C4 varies from the entry Feel specification of €24,740 for a 100hp petrol to €34,410 for a diesel 130hp automatic in Flair Pack. The Ë–C4 in Feel specification starts at €31,730 and rises to €36,603 for a Flair Pack. Naturally finance is available from 1.9% and there are PCP offerings across the range.
Summary
So what is it like to drive? Well it’s pretty decent actually and a very easy car to do mileage in. The comfort and ride is typically Citroën with Progressive Hydraulic Cushion Suspension and Advanced Comfort Seats. You could do any sort of a journey and get out feeling relaxed. Rear legroom is plentiful but do watch your head getting in as the Coupe-like shape results in sloping rear roof line that can be deceiving on entry. Once in, headroom is ample and there are two rear USB charging ports for the children’s devices. After driving both the electric and petrol variant I think we would side with a automatic 130hp petrol variant. It was super frugal and offered ample power across the rev range. Our time with the EV proved a little less fruitful with the claimed range not really achievable but perhaps this was down to the cold winter mornings. Overall with similar dimensions to some SUV competitors, the C4 is impossible to overlook if you are considering a new car at this price point. Although it was only launched last August it is reinventing the hatchback segment and has already claimed the Continental Tyres Irish Medium Car of the Year Award for 2022. Well deserved and many congratulations to all at Citroën.
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Ë–C4 Range
