I don’t think Citroen has ever built a vehicle which can be so widely accepted by everyone that you could even actually and properly consider it a fleet vehicle – and a well thought out one at that.
Let’s be real – unless you work at the French embassy or consulate, head up a trade delegation from Paris or work for a French car importer, a Citroen is not likely to be the first car to come up on your radar…until now.
The preceding generations of C4’s have always been something of a work in progress for the French marque but now by de Gaulle, I think they’ve got it!
The C4 first made its debut in 2004 and was presented as a 5-door couple with a rather impractical low curved roofline. It was though, a classy looking unit which saw a facelift in 2008.
Today’s C4 is more mature and the model we have today falls into the hatch/SUV category, a contrived blend of two distinct vehicle classes which only a few companies can successfully pull off.
I pick this more as an SUV than a hatchback, but then I am a traditionalist. Whichever way you want to identify this well-considered Citroen is up to you. Citroen claims hatchback, by the way.
Back up, well-considered Citroen? Yes, Citroen’s are well-considered as just about every model the brand has ever made will show. They have historically, been just a bit quirkily charming…
… but today’s C4 takes the description ‘well-considered’ to a whole new level. The interior could almost be considered minimalistic, yet you’ll find it lacks nothing.
Increased foam allowance in all seats ensures softness, support and vibration absorption, while the cabin comprises multiple tactile surfaces, a handy mix of digital and analogue switches, contemporary control layouts and clever storage spaces – including a tablet holder for the left hand seat passenger.
A 10-inch colour screen handles the 3D satellite navigation, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity among other things.
The oddly squared edge steering wheel is delightful to use with a multifunction capability including cruise control, voice connectivity and the driver information found on the 5.5-inch digital display.
There are a lot of good things onboard Citroen’s all-new C4 Shine, and it IS all-new.
From the previous model, the new EMP1 platform carries a much larger body at 4360mm long, 1800mm wide and a 1525mm height atop a 2670mm wheelbase, with 156mm ground clearance.
It’s long, low, and as easy to get into as a small SUV and yet it offers the nice, taut handling of, well maybe not quite a conventional hatch, but certainly a comfortable ride, largely due to the Citroen’s patented progressive hydraulic cushion suspension.
The C4 is a front wheel drive, as demonstrated by a ‘dig down and claw’ take off when ‘encouraged’ with a firm right foot.
Impressive acceleration suggests a larger powerplant than the C4 has under the bonnet, and the terrier-like growl of the three-cylinder petrol engine is something purist petrolheads will appreciate.
This is a turbocharged, direct injected petrol engine and feels/responds in a way you wouldn’t expect a 1.2-litre to, delivering sporty hatch performance with the high riding comfort of an SUV.
Sorry Citroen, it is what it is as far as the vehicle’s segment position goes, but revel in the fact that this vehicle is a spectacularly good one and a credit to the brand.
SPECIFICATIONS
Citroen C4
BODY TYPE
5-door hatchback
DRIVE
Front wheel/ 8-speed EAT
ENGINE TYPE
3-cylinder, direct injection, turbo petrol
ENGINE CAPACITY
1199cc
MAX POWER
114kW
MAX TORQUE
240Nm
L/100KM (COMBINED)
6.8 (3P-WLTP)
CO2 EMISSIONS
153 g/km (3P-WLTP)
ANCAP RATING
4 Star
PRICE
$41,990 (list)
