Citroen C4 hatchback - Practicality & boot space

With slightly larger exterior dimensions than a Volkswagen Golf, the C4 is styled more like a crossover with a coupe-roofline than a traditional hatchback. This is more for styling purposes than practicality, as buyers continue to flock to high-riding models with SUV looks.

Citroen C4 interior space & storage

Despite its sloping roof, there's enough room inside the C4 for four six-foot adults, thanks in part to a scalloped headlining above the back seats that increases headroom. A Renault Arkana is longer and better suited to tall rear-seat passengers. Citroen has also included plenty of interior storage compartments, implementing lessons learnt from manufacturing MPVs. No less than 16 cubbies add almost 40 litres of storage for personal items, dotted around the car.

An electric handbrake and a small gear selector (for automatic models) have also freed up space in the centre console, providing room for coffee cups, smartphones and wallets, along with an elbow rest.

Boot space

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The C4's boot measures 380 litres in volume, precisely matching the Volkswagen Golf. Folding the rear seats down frees up 1,250 litres of space, which again matches the Golf despite the C4’s swooping roofline. What's really impressive, however, is the fact this figure is unchanged even for the electric e-C4 version. Usually, the addition of a large battery sees boot space contract.

Citroen has also included an adjustable boot floor that can either be raised up to prioritise a smooth and flat loading area or dropped down to favour outright space or accommodate taller items.

Towing

The base 99bhp petrol can tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1,000kg; every other engine can manage 200kg more, whereas the electric e-C4 is not rated to tow at all.