CITROEN C4 HATCHBACK 1.2 PureTech [130] Max 5dr Auto

The updated version of Citroen's third generation C4 remains a credible but properly distinctive family hatch. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

This improved version of the third generation C4 is a far more creditable offering for Citroen in the family hatchback sector. The looks are sharper, the cabin's smarter and the mild hybrid and EV drivetrains are well up to date. As before though, the really brand-specific bit is the clever suspension system which makes this contender feel really Citroen-esque.

Background

Back in 2020, the third generation C4 was launched as being 'Citroen to the core'. Well four years into production, the brand hopes that this extensive mid-term update will continue to set it apart in the combustion and EV parts of the family hatchback segment. 2022 saw the introduction of a C4 X saloon variant - which continues, but mild hybrid tech takes over from most of the conventional PureTech petrol engines at the foot of the range. Significant styling and interior updates feature with this improved design, bringing the C4 more into line with its segment rivals. And as before, this C4 plays to the things people tend to like about Citroen - innovative design, a distinctive feel and exemplary ride quality.

Engines and Tech Spec

As part of this update, Citroen has dispensed with most of the pre-facelift model's un-electrified PureTech engines, so now if you want an affordable combustion-powered C4, your main choice is to opt for the brand's 48V mild hybrid tech. This was available before in Hybrid 136hp form, a variant now also joined by a more affordable Hybrid 100hp model. In both cases, the brand's familiar 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol unit is supported by a 28hp 48-volt electric motor energised by a tiny 0.4kWh battery pack. If you really don't want the hybrid-ised petrol unit, the brand will still sell you the old PureTech 130 engine mated to EAT8 auto transmission. The full-EV e-C4 options haven't changed, so as before you choose between 50kWh/136hp base version (with a 219 mile range) or a 54kWh/154hp model (with 257 miles). To boost this capability, the car can recover energy when decelerating or braking. And there are three drive modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport' - that can vary the level of engine power and the energy draw from the air conditioning to boost driving range. Citroen hopes that the way this car drives is what will sell it to you - or more specifically, the way this car rides. As before, it features a clever Progressive Hydraulic suspension set-up. Here, the car's springs and shock absorbers work in concert with hydraulic compression and rebound stops, which are supposed to slow body movement over bumps and tarmac tears.

Design and Build

The visual changes to both hatch and C4X saloon versions of this model go beyond the scope of the usual facelift, drawing upon the brand's Oli concept car from 2022, with squared-off lighting signatures and the brand's latest logo. The slim LED front headlamps feature a characteristic light signature divided into three distinctive horizontal segments. There are rear tail light updates too, as part of changes to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Plusher versions get smart new 18-inch 'Amber' wheels, whilst the 'Colour Clips' that run horizontally across the rear of the car aim to add personalisation. The changes are even greater inside, where there's a bigger 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster (1.5-inches larger than before). The 10.0-inch central screen's the same size as before, but has been updated with a new connected 3D navigation system and a better 'Hello Citroen'-activated voice control set-up. A major selling point of the pre-facelift car was its cossetting 'Advanced Comfort' seats; well they've been improved with an extra 15mm of foam and a new denser section of padding in the centre of the squab. For the EV versions, there's also now a 'V2L' 'Vehicle-to-Load' system, which enables you to plug external devices (like laptop, lights, coffee makers, drones and so on) into the vehicle battery. Further back of course, it's just as before. For the rear seat, the brand continues to claim best-in-class knee room and offers a wide range of storage compartments. Plus there's a decently-sized 380-litre boot in the hatch version; the C4 X saloon's boot is a big 510-litres in size.

Market and Model

Right, let's get to prices, which as before are the same whether you choose hatch or C4 X saloon and start from around £22,000. The full-electric e-C4 and e-C4 X models start from around £26,000. The core trim levels are 'Plus' and 'Max'; the hatch additionally has a cheaper entry-level 'You' level of spec. To take on key compact similarly-sized EV rivals in the same price bracket, all versions of this C4 need to be well equipped. They are. Nice touches the include LED ambient lighting on the new 7-inch digital instrument panel. Front passengers benefit from access to Citroën's Smart Pad Support, a retractable tablet holder built directly into the dashboard, which enables the front passenger to make the most of time spent on the move. Below this is a Dashboard Tray, a large sliding drawer with a cushioned action. A popular option will be the large electric opening panoramic sunroof. A 10-inch central infotainment screen comes with all C4s, as does wireless 'phone charging and 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring connectivity. A superb sound system can be specified too, with Arkamys digital sound processing and 8 speakers. A nice optional touch you might well want to consider is a full-HD camera built into the rear view mirror which can take photos or video stored on a 16GB memory card. Safety-wise, there's no fewer than 20 different driver assistance features, including Highway Driving Assist and a 'level 2' semi-autonomous drive system incorporating Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist.

Cost of Ownership

So, petrol or electric? Of course, to make a proper judgement, you're going to need to peruse the combustion model efficiency figures - which are very class-competitive. The Hybrid 136 DCS6 petrol/electric version manages up to 62.1mpg (similar to the old 1.5 diesel) and up to 107g/km (much better than that old diesel). Citroen reckon that in urban driving, you'd be battery-powered around 50% of the time. And the full-electric variants? Well, the Department of Transport tells us that the average motorist in the UK covers 7,400 miles a year, which is the kind of mileage that would cost an e-C4 owner somewhere between £200 and £300 in added electricity charges, powering up from a typical 7.4kW garage wallbox on off peak rates, the variance depending on driving style and different electricity prices (we've assumed 11p per kWh). The e-C4 charges at up to 100kW with the 50kWh battery - or at up to 115kW with the 54kWh battery. But charging times are much the same either way. The e-C4 is fitted with a 7.4kW on-board charger, which can rapid charge to 80% in around half an hour using a 100kW public fast charger. At home, the car will charge from empty in around 7.5 hours using a 7kW garage wallbox. That could fall to just 5 hours if you have a 3-phase home electricity supply and have the car fitted with an optional 11kW on-board charger. As usual with an electric car, to take advantage of lower cost off-peak electricity tariffs, you can manage charging times by using the touchscreen tablet in the passenger compartment or by using the provided 'MyCitroen' app. The charging port features a coloured indicator so the user can monitor the charging process - which can also be followed on the 'MyCitroen' app. Whatever your choice of C4, you'll properly want to keep garage costs in check by opting for the affordable 3 year servicing plan that is available at point of purchase. Finally, there's the usual Citroen three year / 60,000 mile warranty. And the e-C4 has its own battery warranty - 8 years or 100,000 miles for 70% of charge capacity.

Summary

As before, this third generation C4 nods to the two currently trending themes of crossover style and electrified power. Yet now delivers them within a family hatchback package that traditional buyers in this segment can be more comfortable with - quite literally, thanks to the Progressive Hydraulic Suspension set-up and the improvements made to the Advanced Comfort front seats. The French maker thinks this sector is 'right for changes' and this car delivers them without getting carried away with innovation. We can't help thinking that right here, right now, the Hybrid version might make more sense than the full-EV variant. Whatever your choice though, ultimately what really matters is that what we have here is a proper Citroen - with all that means. Thank goodness for that.

Body Glass

Rear wiper

Rain sensing automatic front windscreen wipers

Dark tinted rear windows and side windows with chrome detail

Front and rear electric windows

Brakes

Anti-lock brake system

Electric parking brake

Hill start assist

Electronic Stability Programme

Chassis/Suspension

Advanced comfort suspension - double hydraulic stops on front and rear suspension

Communication

Voice commands

Apple car play and Android auto

Driver Aids

Front, rear and lateral parking sensors

Citroen connect box emergency and assistance system

Active blind spot detection

Speed limiter

Adaptive cruise control with stop function

Electronic Power Steering (EPS)

Citroen Smart Pad Support - integrated support for attaching a tablet computer for front passenger

In-crash braking

Driver Convenience

Tailgate

Driver Information

Driver's head-up display

My Citroen Drive Plus: 10" high-resolution touchscreen user interface, controlling media, connectivity, vehicle settings + connected nav

5.5 inch backlit full TFT driver's instrument cluster with LED ambient lighting

Driving Mirrors

Perla Nera black painted external rear view mirrors

Electrically heated, folding and adjustable external rear view mirrors with courtesy lighting

Electrochrome interior rear-view mirror with automatic day-night switching

Entertainment

6 speakers

DAB Digital radio

Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming

Exterior Body Features

Body colour door handles

Boot spoiler

Gloss black rear skirt

Body colour bumpers

Shark fin roof aerial

C-Series badging on front wing

Rear side wing doors

Exterior Lights

LED front fog lamps with static cornering function

Welcome and goodbye lighting

LED daytime running lights in V signature

Automatic headlights

3rd brake light

Intelligent beam headlights

LED front headlamps

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Dual zone automatic air conditioning

Interior Features

Dashboard tray in front cabin

Rear central folding armrest with cupholders and ski hatch

Deluxe leather steering wheel with two command blocks

Alcantara and black leather effect textile seats

XXL storage in front cabin

Heated steering wheel

Raised centre console with armrest and two cup holders

Height and reach adjustable steering wheel

Two position boot floor

12V power outlet, 1x USB Type-C socket & data connection, 1x USB Type-A socket at 1st row + 1x USB Type-A socket , 1x USB Type-C socket in 2nd row

Interior Lights

Front and rear LED interior lighting

Boot light

Packs

High level acoustic insulation pack - C4/C4 X/e-C4 X

Safety pack plus - C4/C-Series Edition/Max

Safety

Seatbelt unfastened on the move warning

3x3 point rear seatbelts

Driver and front passenger airbags

Manual child lock in second row

Manual deactivation of front passenger airbag

Row 1 and 2 curtain airbags

Row 1 side thorax airbags

Front seatbelt pretensioners

Tyre underinflation detection

Seats

Single front passenger seat

Height adjustable front passenger seat

Electrically heated front seats

Front head restraints

3 rear headrests

Split folding rear seats

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Map pockets in rear of front seats

Height adjustable driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support

Security

Keyless entry and start

Remote locking with deadlocks

Anti-theft alarm (volumetric protection)

Immobiliser

Vanity Mirrors

Driver and passenger sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Wheels - Alloy

18" Bi-tone diamond-cut aeroblade alloy wheels with anti-theft locking wheel nuts

Wheels - Spare

Puncture repair kit with compressor

Emissions - ICE

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

Noise Level dB(A): 66

CO: 0.325

HC: 0.02

NOx: 0.033

HC+NOx: N

Particles: 0.0005

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 133

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEL: 168

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEH: 174

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEL: 127

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEH: 142

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEL: 105

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEH: 122

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEL: 128

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEH: 148

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 142

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 131

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 75

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 90.5

CC: 1199

Cylinders: 3

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Number of Valves: 12

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Compression Ratio: 10.5:1

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Gears: 8 SPEED

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 38.1

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 36.8

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 50.2

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 44.8

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 60.9

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 52.5

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 49.8

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 43.2

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 50.7

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 44.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 7.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 7.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 5.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 6.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 4.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 5.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 5.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 6.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 5.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 6.3

General

Coin Series: Max

Coin Description: PureTech [130]

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 19E

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 80

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 83

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 57

NCAP Safety Assist %: 63

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 4

Badge Power: 130

Badge Engine CC: 1.2

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 3

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 9.4

Top Speed: 124

Engine Power - BHP: 131

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 96

Engine Power - RPM: 5500

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 170

Engine Torque - NM: 230

Engine Torque - RPM: 1750

Engine Torque - MKG: 23.5

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 195/60 R18

Tyre Size Rear: 195/60 R18

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 18" ALLOY

Wheel Style: DIAMOND CUT AEROBLADE

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4360

Width: 1800

Wheelbase: 2670

Width (including mirrors): 2032

Height: 1525

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1278

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1755

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 50

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1200

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 670

Max. Loading Weight: 477

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 380

No. of Seats: 5

Max. Roof Load: 80

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1250

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.9

Exterior Body Features

Premium metallic paint

Additional metallic paint

Bi-tone roof - Perla nera black

Opening glazed sunroof

Packs

Anodised deep red colour pack - C4/C4 X/e-C4 X Shine/Shine plus/Plus/Max

Techno pack - C4 Auto

Safety plus pack with highway driver assist - C4

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Eclipse blue

Metallic - Platinum grey

Metallic - Perla nera black

Metallic - Cumulus grey

Metallic - Okenite white

Paint - Special

Premium metallic - Elixir red

Trim - Alcantara Suede

Alcantara/leather effect textile seats - Black alcantara/black leather effect textile seats