Citroen C4 (2011-2018) Review

Citroen C4 prices from £14,443  Finance from £225.38 per month

In the ever-competitive car market, fewer drivers are prepared to settle for competent family transport just because it’s affordably priced. But that was how Citroen chose to pitch its C4, hoping that hatchback buyers might overlook its shortcomings if they could save themselves a bob or two.

Drivers who did the sensible thing and test drove of any of the C4’s major hatchback competitors – including the Ford Focus, Kia Cee'd and Volkswagen Golf – soon came to appreciate that the C4 was no class act.

However, money talks. Citroen dealers delivered some tempting discounts on the C4, and today, on the used car market, the car remains competitively priced, with the most affordable from £5991 or £111 a month on Buyacar. The question is, is that enough for you to overlook its shortcomings?

As a new car, the C4 was sold in the UK from 2011 before being discontinued in 2018. Citroen gave the C4 a facelift in 2015 and improved some of the interior fittings.

It was designed to be comfortable, spacious and cheap to run, so has efficient diesel engines that can return 55mpg in day-to-day driving conditions. But there are plenty of cars on the used market that make a driver feel better behind the wheel.

It’s roomy, especially in the front, where there are plenty of storage cubbyholes. Children will find there’s plenty of space in the rear, and it comes with a pair of ISOFIX mounts for child seats, although taller passengers may feel slightly cramped, as the roof is quite low.

The 380-litre boot is average for the class. Drivers who want more space out of their family hatchback should consider the Peugeot 308 with 470 litres and Skoda Octavia with 590. There was no estate version available with the C4.

For slightly more headroom, but not much more boot space, another alternative is a used SUV, which feels much like a hatchback to drive but has a higher roof and raised driving position. The Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan are worthy consideration, and used prices start from around £10,000.

No SUV is likely to be as fuel efficient as the Citroen C4, though, especially if you choose a car fitted with the smallest 1.6-litre diesel engine. You can expect more than 60mpg in everyday driving. That's not far off a similarly-sized Toyota Prius, which is a petrol-electric hybrid.

On the road, the C4 plods steadily along, but its ride comfort is not quite in the best traditions of Citroens, some of which could glide over broken road surfaces like Aladdin’s magic carpet. A Peugeot 308 or Renault Megane would be smoother

On a winding road or through a roundabout, the C4 leans a little too eagerly, while the steering is on the light side. The upside of this is that it’s effortless when parking. At higher speeds, this does mean that the steering feels disengaged at higher speeds; you can't instinctively tell how much the wheels are turning, so it's difficult to drive precisely on twisty narrow roads - and it's not as enjoyable as many other cars in its class. If this puts you off, consider instead the Vauxhall Astra, Mazda 3 and Ford Focus, which are more engaging to drive.

Mid-spec Feel trim is reasonably well equipped, but you’ll have to go to top-spec Flair just to get rear electric windows and a touchscreen entertainment system, too. Rivals offer these features from lower down their range. Inside, the dashboard and fittings feel reasonably robust but the look and aesthetic is dowdy and downmarket compared with a Volkswagen Golf, Renault Megane or, even, the leftfield Mini Clubman.

Independent safety organisation Euro NCAP crash tested the C4, back in 2010, and awarded it five stars. It comes with two sets of Isofix mounts in the rear for securely attaching a child seat.

If your priority is to spend the least amount of money on a family car that’s as young and as low mileage as possible, there may well be some temptingly priced Citroen C4s. If not, a Ford Focus or Skoda Octavia will suit most better.

 

Key facts

Warranty	3 years/60,000 miles (from new)
Boot size	380 litres
Width	1789mm
Length	4329mm
Heigth	1489mm
Tax	£0 to £30

Best Citroen C4 for...

Best for Economy – Citroen C4 BlueHDi 100 S&S Feel

If you want your money to go furthest at the fuel forecourt, pick the BlueHDi 100, as its small diesel engine and 16in alloy wheels make this the most frugal C4. The stop-start technology increases fuel consumption but is only available with mid-range Feel models.

Best for Families – Citroen C4 BlueHDi 120 S&S Flair

Its combination of decent power and low running costs makes this the best family C4. It was only available in mid-range Flair trim and sat nav was an option, so check whether a car has it.

Best for Performance – Citroen C4 BlueHDi 120 S&S Flair

This is the quickest C4 to accelerate from 0-62mph, although the time of 10.8 seconds is far from sporty, and just 0.2sec slower than the smoother petrol PureTech 130.

One to Avoid – Citroen C4 PureTech 110 Touch

Its five-speed gearbox, steel wheels and lack of luxuries leave you in no doubt that you're driving the budget C4. That said, when new it was £2000 cheaper than the next cheapest, the BlueHDi 100, so those after a bog-standard car at rock-bottom prices could give it a try.

History

Understanding Citroen C4 names

Engine PureTech 130 S&S

Citroen calls petrol engines PureTech and diesels, BlueHDi. The figure that follows refers to the engine’s horsepower, which may also be written as PS. S&S indicates that the engine has a stop-start system that stops the engine at, say traffic lights, to save fuel and restarts it when the clutch or accelerator is pressed.

Gearbox EAT6

EAT6 is Citroen’s six-speed automatic gearbox.

Trim level Flair

The C4 is available in various trim levels, which come with different levels of standard equipment. It starts with the basic Touch. Feel is mid-level and Flair is at the top of the range.

Citroen C4 Engines

Citroen C4 Trims

Citroen C4 Reliability and warranty

Used Citroen C4

Other Editions