In a nutshell:
- New ë-C4 and New C4 represent the 10th generation of Citroën compact car, providing ‘comfort and character in each era’.
- Raised stance on large diameter wheels, ‘aerodynamic silhouette incorporating SUV themes’.
- Choice of powertrain - new C4 is available with Petrol or Diesel engines.
- Enjoys Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort’ programme, which means Progressive Hydraulic Cushions, Advanced Comfort seats, as well as 20 driving aids, including Highway Driver Assist.
- Order books open in the Autumn.
Citroen is on an electrification mission - and the brand new e-C4 continues its high-tech revolution.
The compact C4 has been around since 2005, ferrying countless families across the UK with minimum fuss and with maximum comfort.
And the latest facelift well and truly ups the ante.
Stylistically speaking, the C4 has never looked better than here - with an overhauled exterior now taking its cue from the other compact SUVs in the marketplace.
Meanwhile the new all-electric e-C4 has been added to the C4 range, and proves Citroen means business when it comes to plugging-in to the battery-powered zeitgeist.
After all, the e-C4 is the fifth model launched as part of Citroën’s electrification offensive, following in the tyre tracks of the C5 Aircross SUV Hybrid, Ami, e-Dispatch and e-SpaceTourer.
A Citroen spokesperson says: “Expressing all of Citroën's DNA through its innovative posture and exceptional comfort, this new model offers customers a choice of 100% electric, petrol or Diesel powertrains to meet the needs of as many people as possible.”
So let’s start with the choice of mills.
If you go pure electric, you enjoy a 100 kW motor that generates 136 hp, while creating zero CO2 emissions and boasting a WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) range of 217 miles (350 km).
It should prove nippy, too, with 260 Nm of torque and a 0-62 mph time of 9.7 seconds when in Sport mode and a top speed of 93 mph (150 km/h).
When it comes to charging, the e-C4 has various different modes, depending on how desperate you are to get going again.
- In Mode 4, at a public charging station using a 100 kW charger, the battery replenishes at a rate of approximately 6.2 miles/min (10 km/min), which Citroen says is ‘best in the segment’.
- Mode 3, at home and using a 32 A Wallbox, a full recharge takes 7.5 hours.
- And in Mode 2, you can simply plug it into any domestic wall socket you like.
Besides the electric option, there’s a full-range of turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engines or 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesels, with a range of power from 99bhp to 153bhp.
Then there’s the way the C4 looks - which is certainly eye-catching.
First thing to note is the higher stance and ‘muscular’ posture, largely thanks to new 18 inch alloy wheels and wider tyres that come as standard across the range.
There’s double-stage headlights and chrome chevrons stretched across the entire width of the vehicle, as well as lots of new LED lighting.
The gently sloping roof is a welcome nod to the iconic Citroën GS of the 70s and 80s.
And inside the C4, Citroen has focused maximum effort on providing comfort to stressed-out drivers, paying particular attention to noise cancelling technology.
The e-C4 and C4 come equipped, as standard, with Citroen’s trademark ‘Progressive Hydraulic Cushions’ suspension system, which was first introduced on the C4 Cactus and C5 Aircross SUV and which the French manufacturer describes as a ‘magic carpet ride’.
A spokesperson explains: “While conventional suspension systems have a shock absorber, spring and mechanical bump-stops at each corner, the Citroën Progressive Hydraulic Cushions system adds two hydraulic stops – one for compression, the other for decompression… which gives the impression that the car is gliding over uneven ground.”
More good news for your derriere is the option of Advanced Comfort seats, with the foam thickened by 15 mm and with reinforced support.
Meanwhile there’s a host of safety systems available, including obstacle-detecting ‘Active Safety Brake’, blind spot lights on the wing mirrors, and ‘Post Collision Safety Brake’, which activates automatically after a collision to avoid further movement and damage to your paintwork.
