Citroen C4 X
Six months of family motoring have proved the Citroen’s a good all-rounder
SO, the time has come to say goodbye to our Citroen C4 X and, to tell you the truth, I’m going to miss it quite a bit. Why exactly? Well, for lots of reasons that I’ll go into here, although I’ll admit that it wasn’t exactly love at first sight.
When Auto Express originally tested the all-electric e-C4 X back in March last year, we highlighted the extra luggage capacity on offer compared with its C4 hatchback sibling, but were left wondering whether the buying public would really take to the niche styling of a fastback-styled saloon.
Our petrol car arrived back in October 2023, and first impressions were a little muted. The C4 X felt a bit ‘unnecessary’; a bit of extra boot capacity and a slightly redrawn rear end compared with the existing hatchback model was something that no one was really asking for. However, it wasn’t long before the X ’s crossover looks began to grow on me, and it even prompted the odd question from people when out and about – interested to discover whether it was “some new kind of 4x4”. Reader: it’s not.
But the C4 X is certainly unique, and looks particularly striking in profile. Our car’s standard 18-inch alloys and Cumulus Grey metallic paint set off the bodywork well, although over the six months of ownership it’s been a bit disappointing to see the black plastic along the lower edge of the doors, rear bumper and wheelarches losing its lustre and fading slightly.
Inside, the cabin is a somewhat sombre affair with a lot of dark materials. Enough has probably been said about the infuriating use of piano-black trim in car interiors; my top tip is to either keep a microfibre cloth in the glovebox, or better still just lower your standards – that way you won’t become irrationally upset at the default patina of smudges, dust and grime that builds up within only a few weeks.
That said, the space on offer in the C4 X is great, both up front and for those in the rear seats, despite that sloping roofline. In fact, the C4 X was a delight to use as a family car, easily managing the daily school runs and weekend jaunts with the dog.
Longer journeys really put a spotlight on Citroen’s continued commitment to overall comfort; after completing a 550-mile round trip from Kent to Liverpool, I felt as fresh as a daisy, with none of the usual aches you might expect after more than 10 hours (with breaks) behind the wheel.
Another aspect which helped along the way was Citroen’s Drive Plus on-board tech, which includes a one-year subscription to features such as live traffic info and a speed camera alert function – it worked faultlessly during my time with the car and seamlessly integrated with the sat-nav system.
The C4 X is not a particularly fun car to drive, certainly in our test car’s 128bhp 1. 2-litre PureTech petrol form. But that’s like asking a highly strung sports car to deal with the vagaries of city driving – it’s just not what it was designed to do.
Of the C4 X ’s three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – the latter feels a bit redundant, only adding unwanted noise and adversely impacting the overall refinement as the automatic gearbox holds on to the revs for longer before changing up. If you’re prepared to focus on a smoother, more relaxed driving style, then the car will offer its own rewards. Real-world fuel economy of around 50mpg is achievable on a motorway cruise, and even with a lot of shorter journeys during the last few months of its time on our fleet, I still saw an indicated 41.7mpg. Not bad at all.
You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, goes the old saying. And while it may not be the most dynamic model, at a time of unprecedented change in the automotive industry, the Citroen C4 X stands for comfort, simplicity and ease-of-use. It’s a straightforward, well priced family car that has proved utterly reliable during its six months with us. I will certainly miss it.
“Real-world fuel economy of around 50mpg is achievable on a motorway cruise in the C4 X”