Citroën C4
Reinvented family hatch gets striking looks and the option of electric power On sale January 2021 Price from £23,000 (est)
CITROËN HAS A long history of making cars that are both characterful and comfortable, from the sweeping lines of the very rst C4, introduced in 1928, to the C4 Cactus from 2014, with its distinctive outline, novel rubber Airbump body protection panels and airy,practical interior.and now,the 10thgeneration C4 has an identity all of its own.
Pumped-up wheel arches and a steeply sloping roo ine combine to give it a coupé SUV look in pro le, while – as with other modern Citroëns – super-slim daytime running lights are set high in its nose.
From the rear, a gently angled tailgate, a small rear spoiler and an oversized bumper that juts out behind the car serve to emphasise the SUV impression.and that counts for more than just its looks, too; taller than a conventional hatchback, the C4 is also said to provide a high driving position and good ground clearance.
The striking new model replaces both the C4 Cactus and the already-discontinued C4 hatchback in a bid to compete with popular family cars such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.an electric version called the ë-c4 will be available, along with conventional petrol and diesel options.
The ë-c4 is powered by the same 134bhp electric motor and 50kwh battery that we’ve already seen in the Peugeot e-2008. In the ë-c4, they provide an of cial range of 217 miles.the battery can be replenished using a 100kw rapid charger, achieving an 80% charge in just 30 minutes.
Internal combustion engine options include a range of turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrols with 99bhp, 128bhp and 153bhp, as well as 108bhp and 153bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesels.the lowestpowered petrol and diesel engines can be speci ed with a six-speed manual gearbox only, while the mid-range petrol model can be manual or automatic and the most powerful petrol and diesel variants are automatic only.
The new C4 features the Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension that we’ve already experienced on the C4 Cactus and C5 Aircross large SUV; certainly on the latter, this system provides a very comfortable ride. Citroën has also paid lot of attention to seat comfort, with well-padded cushions, lumbar support adjustment for the front seats and centre armrests front and rear to make occupants feel like they’re sitting in armchairs.there’s even an optional seat massage feature for extra driving relaxation.
The C4’s interior is dominated by matt
‘Taller than a regular hatchback, the C4 is said to provide a high driving position as well as good ground clearance’
black surfaces, which are enlivened by a choice of matt chrome or high-gloss black inserts for the air vents, centre console, dashboard and steering wheel.the new frameless digital dashboard looks simple and uncluttered, as does the 10.0in touchscreen for the infotainment system.to minimise driver distraction there’s a large, coloured head-up display, as well as physical buttons below the infotainment screen to control the dual-zone air conditioning system.
Citroën’s trademark at-bottomed steering wheel is present once again, but unlike the C3 Aircross, with its quirky paddle-like handbrake lever, the C4 has an electronic parking brake.
No fewer than 16 storage compartments are dotted around the C4’s interior with a total of 39 litres of space – roughly
One of the best driver’s cars, in the class with great handling and quiet cruising manners.
the equivalent of a carry-on suitcase.as well as multiple cubbies, there’s a wireless smartphone charging area in the centre console and a double tablet holder that can be folded out of the dashboard. Bulkier items can go in the 380-litre boot, which is similar in size to those of rivals such as the Focus and Golf and bene ts from an adjustable oor and a low loading lip.
Safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and a driver fatigue monitoring system.
Prices haven’t been revealed yet, but we’d expect there to be a slight increase over the C4 Cactus, which currently starts at £22,145 and can be bought for as little as £17,698 through our New Car Buying service.
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