Citroen C4 review – a quirky, comfortable family hatchback

Verdict - Is the Citroen C4 a good car?

Nowadays, many cars try to succeed at everything and end up becoming a jack of all trades, but a master of none. The Citroen C4, on the other hand, solely focuses on offering comfortable and practical family transportation. While it may not offer the sporty drive of a Ford Focus or the concept-car interior of its Stellantis sibling, the Peugeot 308, the C4 still manages to appeal with its pseudo-SUV styling and range of economical engines. Citroen’s family hatchback isn’t for everyone, but its relaxed manner should make school runs a breeze.

Citroen C4 models, specs and alternatives

The latest Citroen C4 is a quirky and modern take on the family hatchback. While the old model had a somewhat forgettable, more conventional design, this third-generation version offers fashionable SUV-inspired looks thanks to a lifted ride height, mixed with a long, sleek coupe-like roofline. As a result, the C4 stands out amongst other family hatchback rivals, including the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus SEAT Leon.

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Under its dramatic bodywork, the C4 has a lot in common with the closely related Peugeot 2008 and Citroen C3 Aircross, but this time they’ve been stretched to give the C4 family car dimensions. The car is available as a petrol or diesel and now for the first time, the standalone electric e-C4 model, which we’ve reviewed separately.

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The petrol models use a tried-and-tested 1.2-litre turbo engine with either 99bhp or 128bhp and will make up the majority of sales, blending decent performance with fuel economy of well over 40mpg. Both models come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 128bhp PureTech 130 can also be specified with an eight-speed automatic.

With a higher price tag, the 1.5-litre diesel produces 128bhp and comes fitted with an automatic transmission as standard. Diesel power might be an unfashionable choice, but it’s likely to appeal to high-mileage drivers, thanks to fuel economy of over 60mpg. Every C4 is front-wheel drive and comes with Citroen’s Advanced Comfort suspension for a supple ride.

Equipment levels are pretty generous, with even the entry-level You getting a 10-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors and Advanced Comfort seats. The Plus trim adds a head-up display, a reversing camera and connected navigation. Max brings keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, rear privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels.

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The Citroen C4 achieved a rating of four stars out of five when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2021. While this is behind rivals such as the Skoda Octavia, every version of the C4 should be perfectly safe for families, thanks to a suite of safety systems including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning, driver attention alert and hill-start assist.