Citroen C4 review
The comfortable Citroen C4 undercuts many of its established family car rivals, making it hard to overlook
Is the Citroen C4 a good car?
A recent facelift hasn’t brought massive improvements to the Citroen C4; the newest Hybrid 136 powertrain actually arrived in the final few months of the old car’s lifespan. Citroen’s family hatch feels cheap in places and its technology isn’t especially cutting-edge, but it’s now treading a value-driven path few other manufacturers can seemingly compete with. A few small tweaks here and there are welcome, but as ever the ride remains the outstanding part of the C4’s drive.
Key specs | |
Fuel type | Petrol, hybrid, electric |
Body style | Hatchback |
Powertrain | 1.2-litre three-cylinder mild-hybrid 50kWh battery, 1x e-motor, front-wheel drive 54kWh battery, 1x e-motor, front-wheel drive |
Safety | 4 stars Euro NCAP |
Warranty | Two years/60,000 miles |
How much does the Citroen C4 cost?
The boldly styled French hatchback was launched in its current fourth generation in 2020, and has proven to be a huge seller for the brand, with 270,000 models finding buyers last year. Looking to maintain this chunky slice of the segment, Citroen revealed the facelifted C4 at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 2024, introducing a fairly significant shift for the exterior look.
The jacked-up hatch bodystyle remains, meaning the C4 continues its two-pronged fight against traditional hatchbacks such as the Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf as well as small crossovers such as the Mazda CX-30 and Ford Puma. The powertrain line-up spans pure petrol, two petrol mild-hybrids and a full EV in the Citroen e-C4, while there’s also the booted Citroen C4 X saloon, which also received a mid-life refresh alongside the C4, despite only joining the range in 2022.
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Citroen announced major price cuts when it launched the new C4 and e-C4 in late 2024, with up to £5,600 off the list price. The most basic C4 You with the less-powerful mild-hybrid Hybrid 100 kicks off at just £22,295. This undercuts fellow Stellantis products such as the Vauxhall Mokka and Jeep Avenger by several thousands of pounds. The mid-range Plus trim starts from £23,385 with the PureTech 130 petrol engine, while the more powerful Hybrid 136 costs from £24,735. The most lavishly-equipped Max starts at £25,275 with the PureTech 130, rising to £26,625 for the Hybrid 136. The all-electric e-C4 can be had in You and Plus trim with a 50kWh battery from £26,295 and £27,360 respectively. The e-C4 with the larger 54kWh battery is only offered in Max trim from £30,150.
The C4 X line-up isn’t as varied, with only Plus trim including the Hybrid 136 and smaller battery e-C4 X. Max specification replaces that smaller battery option with the larger battery.
Engines, performance & drive
Prioritising comfort and ride quality above all else in the Citroen C4 has been a success for the most part, but those looking for entertainment behind the wheel will be better served elsewhere. The automatic gearbox has been less successful, though, with laggy response times. Read more about the Citroen C4’s engines, performance and drive…
MPG, emissions & running costs
The Citroen’s fuel efficiency is pretty good in petrol and hybrid form, and the range of the e-C4 is competitive too. The Hybrid versions offers lower emissions, but company car drivers will be better off looking at the electric versions instead for a much lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax bill. Depreciation is a little steep compared to some rivals. Read more about the Citroen C4’s MPG, emissions and running costs…
Interior, design & technology
If you want a family hatchback that stands out, the Citroen C4 is worth a look. The 2024 refresh brought Citroen’s latest family face, but the interior technology isn’t the most seamless or impressive – especially the infotainment system. Read more about the Citroen C4’s interior, design and technology…
Boot space, comfort & practicality
You pay the price for that sloping roofline when it comes to boot space, which isn’t exactly class-leading. There’s plenty of space for tall adults in the front or in the rear of the C4, though. The ‘Advance Comfort Seats’ do help to absorb imperfections on rough roads. Read more about the Citroen C4’s boot space, comfort and practicality…
Safety & reliability
Owners have praised the Citroen brand in the Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, and the C4 shouldn’t give owners too many problems, with its technical make-up all standard fare from the Stellantis group. Safety scores could be better, though. Read more about the Citroen C4’s reliability and safety…
Frequently Asked Questions
Three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.