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New 2020 Citroen C4 and e-C4: prices start at £20,990

The new Citroen C4 gets an SUV-style design, new tech, and full range of powertrains

  • Petrol and diesel C4 models available along with electric e-C4
  • On sale now
  • Features a new striking coupe-like crossover design

The new Citroen C4 and electric e-C4 are now available to order in the UK. The cheapest petrol model starts at just under £21,000, while the e-C4 starts at £29,180 after the plug-in car grant (PiCG) has been applied. It’s Citroen’s first model to be offered with a choice of conventional petrol and diesel engines and with a pure-electric powertrain.

2020 Citroen C4 and Citroen e-C4 prices and specifications

There are four trim levels available for the C4, although the e-C4 misses out on the base ‘Sense’ trim. Sense kicks off the range with LED headlights, a 10-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors and two-zone climate control, while Sense Plus adds a head-up display, sat nav with local online services and a reversing camera for £2,000 more.

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Shine costs a further £1,000, at £23,990, and brings extra safety technology, auto high-beam and keyless entry, while the e-C4 in Shine trim also gets a heated steering wheel and costs £30,130. Top-spec Shine Plus gets a premium audio system, part-leather upholstery, heated seats and wireless phone charging; prices start at £27,590 for the C4 and £31,330 for the e-C4.

Styling

The design is a significant departure from the outgoing C4 Cactus SUV, with an eye-catching blend of hatchback, crossover and SUV styling. This gives it a diverse range of rivals, ranging from hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus and Mazda3, to crossover and SUV-style models like the Kia XCeed, Peugeot 2008 and Ford Focus Active.

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It’s safe to say that the Citroen C4 will stand out, with a sharp design that combines elements of a high-riding SUV and a hatchback. Like the recently facelifted Citroen C3, the front end borrows several design cues from the 19_19 concept car. However, the top rung of daytime running lights is slimmer than we’ve seen before. It also looks like there’s a second LED bar in the redesigned headlamp cluster, while the Citroen chevron badge continues into the grilles.

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With a sculpted bonnet, razor-sharp body creases and a roof that looks like it’s floating thanks to contrasting black windscreen pillars, you could easily mistake the C4 for a concept car. The eye-catching styling continues around the back; the tail-lights are joined by an LED light bar that connects to the spoiler mounted across the rear windscreen. With the C4’s coupe shape, the rear windows are reminiscent of the rather unusual Citroen C6 saloon.

Electric Citroen e-C4 models are marked out by unique badging and blue accents on the front and sides. There are no exhaust pipes, and the charging port is located under the fuel filler cap.

Interior

Like the C4 Cactus it's expected to replace, the new Citroen C4 and e-C4 will feature the company’s Advanced Comfort ethos, with every model getting the firm’s new progressive hydraulic suspension as seen in the C5 Aircross SUV. This setup uses a hydraulic compression system to slow the car’s body movement over bumps, reducing the impact felt by passengers.

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Inside, it’ll be luxurious rather than pared-back, with comfort lounge-style front seats and lots of soft-touch materials and actual door handles (not just fabric straps). There’s a new touchscreen with crisp graphics, a head-up display and a digital instrument cluster, and it seems the climate control can now be changed using physical buttons as well as via the touchscreen. We also spot a sunken rocker switch instead of a bulky gear lever for automatic models. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both included.

Practicality

The dimensions of the C4 are noticeably larger than those of a VW Golf but its sloping roof means it doesn’t offer any vast improvement in practicality. You get 380 litres of boot space in all models, which exactly matches the Golf, but Citroen mentions 16 additional storage compartments throughout the interior that add an extra 39 litres of space.

The start of 2020 was said to mark the beginning of Citroen's 'electrification offensive', with the promise that every new car and van model would be offered with an all electric or plug-in hybrid option in addition to petrol and diesel engines. According to Citroen, the strategy was ‘devised to give consumers the flexibility to choose their desired model, and then the method of propulsion most relevant to them.' The first model launched under the new plans was the hybrid Citroen C5 Aircross SUV.

2021 Citroen C4 petrol and diesel engines

Unlike the C4 Cactus that shared its PF1 underpinnings with the Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross, Citroen told us the new car will sit on the smaller CMP platform already used for the Peugeot 2008 SUV and smaller Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa superminis. This is newer, more lightweight and flexible, as it was designed to accommodate petrol, diesel and electric powertrains.

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The petrol and diesel engines are the PSA Groupe’s familiar turbocharged 1.2-litre PureTech and 1.5-litre BlueHDi engines. The 1.2-litre petrol is available in outputs of 108bhp, 128bhp or 153bhp, depending on the trim level you pick. A 108bhp diesel engine will be available, despite declining diesel sales. An automatic gearbox will be fitted on the most powerful engines, and will be optional on the diesel. Pick a diesel with an automatic gearbox and you get an extra 20bhp.

2021 Citroen e-C4 electric motor

Alongside the petrol and diesel powered models, the new C4 will be available as a fully electric model called the e-C4. As we expected, Citroen’s first electric crossover will have a 50kWh battery, shared with the Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa-e. The range is the most impressive out of all the cars that use this powertrain, perhaps due to the e-C4’s swoopy styling. Up to 217 miles is promised from a full charge, and 100kW fast charging will give 80% charge in half an hour. A full charge takes seven hours from a wallbox.

It’s not quite as quick as the mechanically similar Peugeot e-2008 - 0-62mph takes 9.7 seconds, compared to nine seconds for the Peugeot but it should be plenty for most buyers, especially as Citroen is primarily focused on comfort. Other electric rivals will include the Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback, the Mazda MX-30 SUV and the forthcoming Vauxhall Mokka-e.

Want to know more about Citroen's SUV line-up? Why not read our in-depth reviews of the Citroen C3 Aircross and Citroen C5 Aircross.

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