Citroen C4 Review 2024

Citroen C4 At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
If you're looking for a car that'll turn heads in the Tesco car park, the Citroen C4 is a much better choice than more conventional alternatives. It's not much of a compromise, either, with a decent cabin and frugal petrol and diesel engines.

+Quirky alternative to a Ford Focus. Very comfortable car with impressive cabin. Decent value for money.

-Not everyone will like how it looks...

On average it achieves 0% of the official MPG figure

The Citroen C4 is a bit of an oddball choice. The brand reckons it rivals sensible family cars like the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf – but it's got more than a bit of 'coupe-SUV' about it. Think of it as an alternative to the Renault Arkana and you won't be a million miles away.

While it might not be an easy car to pigeonhole, it does have an ace up its sleeve. Like other Citroen models, it puts a strong emphasis on comfort – with so-called 'Advanced Comfort' seats and clever Progressive Hydraulic Cushion Suspension. Unlike other Citroen models, though, it's actually a very convincing attempt – the Citroen C4 is very comfortable, even if you opt for the electric e-C4 model with all its heavy batteries.

Most Citroen C4 models are powered by the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine as a wide range of Peugeot and Citroen cars.

This is available with three different power outputs (100PS, 130PS and 155PS) and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. There's also BlueHDi diesel engine with 110 or 130PS but, with diesel currently out of favour, this will only really worth looking at if you cover a high amount of motorway miles.

A flipside of the C4's comfortable approach is that it's not as fun to drive as a Ford Focus or SEAT Leon. The high-riding C4 will lean quite a lot in corners, but it feels safe and assured and the tyres provide plenty of grip. You'll be thankful of the soft suspension as soon as you clout a pothole, though – and all C4 models are fitted with 18-inch alloys, so you can't even ruin the ride with big wheels if you wanted to.

All Citroen C4 models are well-equipped, with even the most affordable Sense trim featuring LED headlights, a 10-inch media display (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and a whole host of driver-assistance tech (including a city braking that'll slam the anchors on if it detects an impending collision).

The entry-level car does without an alarm (oddly), so we'd look for a Sense Plus model. This also adds a head-up display, navigation, fancy LED interior lighting and a reversing camera. Above that, there's the Shine (with its tinted windows, keyless start and even more driver-assist features), and the Shine Plus (topping the range with part-leather seats – heated in the front – a wireless phone charger and clever Highway Driver Assist). 

No matter which Citroen C4 model you opt for, it represents excellent value for money. Prices start from around £21,000, which is less than a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus, and around the same kinda money as Kia's also-a-bit-niche XCeed. The most you can spend on a fully-loaded petrol or diesel Citroen C4 is around £29,000.

Ask Honest John

What comfortable car would you recommend that's easy to get in and out of?

"My wife and I are both suffering from ageing we are looking for a car which is easy to gain access and getting out. We have looked at a Skoda Kamiq, Honda Jazz and the Kia Niro. Would you have a suggestion? We want a comfortable and quiet drive as we do 2 hour drives twice weekly. We have a maxinum of £25,000."
If you can find the latest Kia Niro (launched in 2022) within budget, that would be a great choice. The hybrid model is a very efficient small SUV with easy access and comfortable seats. Otherwise, a Honda Jazz Hybrid would be a good option - it's very popular with older drivers for the reasons you mention. As a left-field alternative, take a look at a Citroen C4 - it's very comfortable and represents excellent value for money.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What's the best hatchback for comfort?

"What is the most comfortable hatchback?"
Citroen does comfort pretty well - the Citroen C4 could be a good choice. Alternatively we'd recommend a Skoda Octavia or Toyota Corolla.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What's the best car for soaking up potholes?

"My local roads are becoming ever more potholed. What's the best car for comfort on poor quality roads?"
Citroen tries to focus on comfort with mixed results. The C3 Aircross isn't as comfortable as you'd expect, but the Citroen C4 and C5 Aircross are both very comfortable. Also look at Skoda models – they're usually softer than other VW Group alternatives. Try to avoid cars with big alloy wheels and low profile tyres as these are usually firmer than cars with small wheels.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Citroen C4 cost?