Tested: Citroen’s vital new C4 hatchback

It’s one of Europe’s best known brands, but that hasn’t translated to success Down Under. This bold new take on a familiar formula could change that.

Citroen’s new C4 is a fresh take on the hatchback. Picture: Supplied.

The new Citroen C4 could be the last throw of the dice for the brand in Australia.

The quirky French maker sold just 32 cars last month, with a line-up that is down to just three models.

The price of its new high-riding hatchback won’t help its cause much either.

Citroen has followed the growing trend of eschewing cheaper entry-level models for pricey, fully loaded machines.

The C4 is available in one well-equipped Shine grade with prices starting from about $42,500 drive-away. That’s a fair chunky of change for a small car.

Passengers are treated to leather appointed seats, which are heated in the front. The driver is treated to a massage function, but oddly the seat is only partly electronically adjustable. It’ll go up and down and the backrest will tilt forward and back but you’ll need to slide the seat forward and back yourself.

Citroen’s new C4 is a mix hatchback and SUV styling cues. Picture: Supplied.

Convenience features include automatic LED headlights, rain sensing wipers and puddle lights to help you see in low light.

Inside there is a 10-inch central touchscreen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are menus either side of your display that take up large chunks of the digital picture, so in practice you’re left with a much smaller readout.

There’s also a 5.5-inch digital display in front of the driver and a head up display projected on the windscreen that displays your speed and the prevailing speed limit.

There are plenty of USB ports upfront and one in the back, while rear air vents are a welcome inclusion.

Cabin finishes are a bit hit and miss. There are lots of hard plastic surfaces in the cabin, which is disappointing in a vehicle this price.

The cabin is a mix of soft fabrics and hard plastics. Picture: Supplied.

The C4’s warranty is the standard five-year/unlimited km coverage, while servicing is relatively expensive at $2485 over five years.

The car received a four-star ANCAP safety rating; it performed well in crash tests but was marked down mainly for the lack of a centre airbag.

The C4 will automatically brake if it detects a potential collision with a car, pedestrian or cyclist. It will also alert you to a car in your blind spot and pull you back into your lane if you wander.

The previous generation C4 was the classic hatchback shape, but this new model looks more like an SUV, with bold lines, edgy 18-inch alloy wheels, chunky black guards running along the base of the vehicle and plenty of chrome highlights.

The boot is 380 litres, which is small by compact SUV standards. Blame the sloping roofline for that.

Back seat room is decent, but taller passengers may want more head and leg room.

The Citroen’s sloping roof eats into rear headroom. Picture: Supplied.

Citroen Australia says the C4 blends compact hatchback dynamics with the character and robustness of an SUV. In reality, it’s a mixed bag.

Power comes from a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that makes 114kW and 240Nm. The torque is delivered low in the rev range giving it decent oomph off the mark.

Power is adequate, with the C4 rarely feeling out of breath when powering up hills or overtaking on the freeway.

The eight-speed auto can feel a little twitchy at lower speeds but does a good job of flicking through the ratios to find the engine’s sweet spot in most situations.

The move from hatch to an SUV has taken some of the shine off the driving experience: the taller profile causes a fair bit of lean through corners.

Soft suspension makes for a smooth ride. The C4 manages to iron out road imperfections of all shapes and sizes better than most in its class.

It is a capable highway cruiser and its compact size makes it easy to manoeuvre in tight car parks and city streets.

Fuel use is respectable at a claimed 6.1L/100km.

VERDICT

The C4 is stylish and fashionable, but there are question marks about its value and practicality.

VITALS

Price From about $42,500 drive-away

Engine 1.2-litre three-cylinder, 114kW/240Nm

Warranty/servicing five-year/unlimited km, $2485 over five years

Safety Auto emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot and lane-keep assist

Fuel use 6.1L/100m

Spare Space saver

Cargo 380 litres

Originally published as Tested: Citroen’s vital new C4 hatchback