4 A LITTLE EXTRA CHARISMA (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_citroenc4_2021

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 88

This third generation C4 proved to be a far more creditable offering for Citroen in the family hatchback sector. The French brand hoped that this car could play its part in rejuvenating this segment by integrating SUV style and the option of full electric power into traditional family hatch design. Plus there was a clever suspension system to make this contender feel really Citroen-esque. If you're fed up with clinical family hatchbacks and want an affordable, charismatic one from the 2020-2024 period, here's one that might charm you.

Modelsword count: 9

5dr family hatch (1.2 petrol /1.5 diesel / EV)

Historyword count: 397

"This car", said Citroen CEO Vincent Cobee back in 2020, "is Citroen to the core". The third generation C4 C41-era model's task was to return the brand to credibility in the Focus and Golf-dominated family hatch sector. The previous MK2 B7-era C4, launched in 2010, hadn't been particularly Citroen and wasn't particular successful either, selling mainly on low price - and towards the end of its life not even on that. In 2017, Citroen tried to replace it with an evolved family hatch-orientated version of its C4 Cactus crossover, but that didn't work either. This third generation C4, launched in mid-2020, tried to play the crossover card too in terms of some aspects of its visual appeal, but unlike with the previous C4 Cactus, in buying one, you won't feel you're being forced into an SUV rather against your will. Instead, this C4 plays to the things people tend to like about Citroen - innovative design, a distinctive feel and exemplary ride quality. Though this C4 was intended to be a Focus-sized family hatch, under the skin it sat on a stretched version of the Stellantis Group's CMP supermini platform. The reason why was that these underpinnings were able to support all-electric drive, which appeared here in the form of an e-C4 battery-powered model the brand offered as an alternative to the conventional petrol and diesel variants. Most customers though, stuck with the PureTech petrol versions. So, at last with a modern Citroen, here we were being offered innovation that was more than skin deep. Which was appropriate given the historical significance of some of the nine generations of compact Citroen car model lines that preceded this one; the very first Andre Citroen-inspired C4 of 1928; the Ami models of the '60's; the futuristic GS of 1971; and the stylised BX of the '80's. More recent compact Citroen hatches - the ZX of 1991, the Xsara of 1997 and the previous two generations of C4 (in 2004 and 2010) - were rather less memorable. But this car set out to remind us of what a Citroen of this kind really ought to be. The C4 and e-C4 hatches were joined a year later by C4 X and e-C4 X saloon models. And all these C4 models sold until late 2024, when the line-up was significantly facelifted. It's the pre-facelift versions of the C4 we look at here.

What You Getword count: 606

So, how is Citroen going to be Citroen - different, individual, trend-setting - in the modern family hatch market? The individualist look for the original version of this third generation C4 gave us our first answer to that question. The idea with this C-segment family five-door was to deliver the crossover look the European market was by 2020 craving, without the traditional SUV drawbacks that lead to inefficiency - things like a big frontal area and an overly raised ride height. This C41-era design was the result, ostensibly a family hatch but also almost an SUV coupe in the style of, say, a Kia XCeed or a Toyota C-HR. It was an interesting look - no question. This generation of C4 has been called the most individualist family car to wear this maker's double-chevron badge since Citroen's GS model of the Seventies and if you're old enough to remember that car, you might recognise elements of it in this C41 design's rear three-quarter view. There's also plenty of signature Citroen design, much of it borrowed from the brand 'CXperience', 'Ami One' and '19_19' concept cars, particularly at the front, where the bonnet is high and horizontal and the V-shaped lighting design is evolved from the company's previous double-stage headlight signature. In profile, you'll note the swept-back rear roof line, the interesting kink at the base of the rear C-pillar and the large wheels which can be up to 18-inches in size. Overall, it's a good-looking car, designed by the stylist who fashioned Citroen's last truly innovative model, the C6. Interesting details are everywhere, especially at the back where the two-piece rear window claimed inspiration from the C4 Coupe of 2004, with a rear spoiler that splits the tailgate glass. From launch, Citroen described this car's interior differently as being 'comfortable and cosy'. It'll certainly be comfortable if you stretched to a model with the thicker 'Advanced Comfort' seats upon which you perch with a slightly higher vantage point than the family hatch norm. Through the oddly-shaped three-spoke wheel, you view a pared-back version of the quite innovative digital instrument panel used in the first generation version of the brand's C5 Aircross SUV, whose read-outs you flip through here by jabbing the left indicator stalk. The lower part of the centre console stretches broadly away in front of you into a deep smartly backlit area at the base of a centre stack topped by a large, glossy 10-inch infotainment touchscreen which includes virtually all the media features you could need. Plus there's little to fault about the ergonomics, unless you object to the slightly restricted view rearwards that comes as part of Citroen's decision to fit that split rear tailgate screen. Let's consider the rear. Your expectations here might not be that high, given that this C4 is 4.35-metres long, which isn't huge for a Focus-sized hatch. But once inside, space is actually quite reasonable on the rear seat. Citroen reckoned from launch that knee room back here was close to being 'best-in-class' (which isn't true at all), but it was pretty close to the class standard and will be fine for a couple of adults on medium-length trips The boot is reasonably sized at 380-litres (about the same as a Focus or a Golf), though the fact that this model's Peugeot 308 close cousin can give you 32-litres more betrays that car's use of a more class-appropriate basic platform. At least the capacity you do get is the same whether you want this car with a combustion engine or full-electric power. Push forward the 60:40-split backrest and you can improve the space on offer to 1,250-litres.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227