2022 Citroen C4 Shine review

A new alternative to some of the most popular vehicles in the country has arrived with style and flair few can match.

2022 Citroen C4 Shine.

If you think all modern small cars look and feel the same, this could be the car for you.

Here is everything you need to know about the Citroen C4.

VALUE

The Citroen C4 was once a city hatchback to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and Mazda3. But with the arrival of the latest model it’s added some SUV bling to separate it from the small-car crowd. Black cladding around the lower edges of the car and a slightly higher ride height give the five-door more visual aggression.

The C4 is a blend between a small car and an SUV.

Throw in bold lines and detailing and a sleek coupe-like tailgate and it makes for a compact car that stands out in traffic.

There’s only one C4 model. Known as the Shine, it sells for about $43,400 drive-away. If you want any colour but white it’s another $690.

The C4 Shine comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, smart-key entry, dual-zone ventilation, heated front seats, a head-up display, a small digital drive display and a 10-inch infotainment screen.

COMFORT

Citroen has spent the past few years returning to its roots with an emphasis on comfort – and there are encouraging results in the C4.

The suspension is towards the plusher side, helping it smother most bumps better than other small SUVs. It’s a set-up in keeping with the cruisy nature of the car.

It is available in one grade only.

The front seats, too, are cosseting and supportive.

It’s a shame some of the plastic finishes don’t have the same attention to detail; from a distance the colours and materials look top-notch, but close up they don’t always match the best in the business.

There are some interesting (and plentiful) storage options up front, although we’re not convinced about the tablet holder bracket built into the glovebox.

It’s a tad clunky and it’s difficult to imagine passengers preferring it to holding their smart device in their hands.

SAFETY

The C4 ticks all the safety boxes although still only gets a four-star ANCAP safety rating. That’s mainly because it doesn’t have a centre airbag between the front occupants. The rating is misleading because ANCAP hands out five-star ratings to older cars without such protection.

The cabin is well thought out with some nice quality touches.

Elsewhere, the credentials are good, with an overhead camera (although sharper resolution would be nice), autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot warning.

One omission is rear cross-traffic alert, which warns the driver if they are backing out into oncoming traffic.

DRIVING

A tiny 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo hides beneath the bonnet.

While that may be enough to scare some people off, the experience behind the wheel suggests there’s little to worry about.

There’s loads of useful pull from very low in the rev range. After a brief think while the turbo spins to life it delivers for zippy acceleration, along with a characterful engine note.

An eight-speed automatic transmission generally plucks the right ratio and allows the engine to demonstrate its charm. It’s not fast, but it’s brisk enough, something helped by a body that weighs only a fraction more than 1.2 tonnes.

Despite the emphasis on comfort the C4 also steers nicely, although there’s little in the way of feedback.

A tiny turbo engine has a surprising amount of grunt.

You can add more weight by selecting a sportier drive mode, although the resultant increase in throttle sensitivity then seems out of whack with the rest of the car.

VERDICT 3.5/5

A snug and elegant French antidote to the more conventional contenders at this end of the market. But you pay for the privilege and have to learn to love its quirks.

ALTERNATIVES

Renault Arkana, from about $46,900 drive-away

An acquired taste with a coupe silhouette and SUV space. Zippy 1.3-litre engine is frugal but the cabin is uninspiring.

Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo, from $41,990 drive-away

Twin-clutch auto occasionally stumbles but elsewhere the driving manners are top notch. Spacious and functional interior.

Mazda MX-30 G20e Astina, from about $40,000 drive-away

Classy cabin gets quality Bose audio but is best suited to two because of the rear-hinged back doors that make rear-seat entrance trickier.

CITROEN C4 SHINE VITALS

PRICE From about $43,400 drive-away

WARRANTY/SERVICE 5 years, unlimited km, $2485 for 5 years

SAFETY Six airbags, auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, lane-keep assist

ENGINE 1.2-litre 3-cylinder, 114kW/240Nm

THIRST 6.1L/100km

BOOT: 380 litres