“A comeback for Citroen’s compact sedan”, says the advertisement with a hint that PSA has given us back the good old Citroen characteristics. We have driven a new Citroen C4 with a petrol engine so that we can compare to previous models.

Crossover Coupe

The new C4 falls into the “crossover coupé” category. I don’t recall Citroen doing anything like this before. We have to go all the way back to models like the GSA and BX to find coupé-like combi-coupes, although they weren’t built as tall as the new C4. Tall cars are very popular at the moment – ​​and they are also well prepared for electric drivetrains, such as the ë-C4.

I am back in a corner of France which is close to both the Mediterranean and Spain. Our local Citroen dealer does not encourage their customers to buy electric cars – not yet. Now we are driving a C4 with the 1.2 liter PureTech engine. Citroen’s new combi-coupe is very popular here. I actually feel somewhat privileged.

More French than its predecessor

When I drove the previous generation Citroen C4 , I expressed how similar the C4 was to other cars in the Golf class – comfortable without being too soft. When I later drove the C4 Cactus, I noted the long suspension travel, and that the car floated over the road like a flying carpet while being steady around the corners without rolling sideways. The C4 Cactus was equipped with Citroen’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions – which the new C4 also has. The concept calms down the damping towards the extremes. The new C4 has the feeling of a flying carpet as soon as you drive off, but in contrast to the C4 Cactus, the car leans over significantly in the curves, like earlier French cars did. Some like it – some don’t. It is about comfort versus driving pleasure. I don’t shout “oh là là” at the way the car rolls. It makes me take it easy around the corners, although many customers probably like cars with French character. What is not at all charming, is the absence of steering feel. External forces on the car, such as side winds, – or changes that can affect the road grip – are not conveyed through the steering. This is the car’s biggest weakness.

The drivetrain

We have driven the same drivetrain in other cars from Stellantis, including in the new Citroen C3 aircross with automatic transmission. Our car has a 6-speed manual gearbox. The PureTech engine provides a solid torque, so you don’t have to shift a lot – but the 130 horses don’t feel very responsive from idle. The engine needs plenty of revs to pick up speed.

A special characteristic of this drivetrain is that when driving at motorway speed, a squealing sound comes from the gearbox, similar to the sound you get when reversing quickly. We have experienced the same in other cars with the same drivetrain – most recently in the Opel Mokka PureTech. The sound is easily audible, without being annoying. It feels a bit nostalgic. I first experienced this type of sound in a Renault 4 I had in the late 70s.

Roominess

Not only does the crossover design makes the model suitable as an electric car – it also provides plenty of space and a good sense of space in the compartment. The luggage compartment holds 380 liters under the luggage cover. It is easy to load luggage, but the sloping rear door steals space in height. We still found room for our dachshund’s dog cage without folding down the seats, but suitcases must be transported lying down. Beauty comes with a price.

Life with C4

We drove the Citroen C4 as a rental car for a few weeks in France. I have just returned home from driving my daughter and her fiance to catch their plane home from  the airport in Perpignan. There are direct flights between Perpignan and Stansted, London. On my way back home, the car’s navigation system indicated a queue in the morning rush hour due to some accident. The Citroen C4 is a good everyday car. I sit comfortably, the noises are well damped, there is a good radio and many places to put things away. A reversing camera shows the location from all angles and from above when I have to squeeze the car into French parking slots built for 2CVs.

Last Sunday morning we drove to a place where we could walk along the vineyards to the village of Maureillas-las-Illas. This Sunday there was a Sardan dance performance and a brass band playing in the town square. Our walk took 1 hour each way. Of course, we could have taken the car all the way, but many French people like to spend their Sundays mornings to walk or use their bicycles for a Sunday lunch at a restaurant or have picnic under a tree.

Facts about the Citroen C4 PureTech 130

Dimensions and weight

External dimensions – L, W, H: 436 x 180 x 153 cm
Wheelbase: 267 cm
Net weight: 1287 kg (without driver)
Payload: 393 kg
Number of seats: 5
Luggage compartment: 380 liters
Trailer with brakes: 1200 kg
– without brakes : 670 kg
Roof load: 80 kg

Drivetrain

Engine: 1.2 PureTech 130
Power: 130 HP
Torque: 230 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed manual BVM6
Front-wheel drive

Performance

Top speed: 200 km/h
0-100: 8.9 seconds

Consumption

Stated consumption WLTP combined: 0.53/10 km
Measured consumption: 0.61 (total since new)
Measured on single journeys: 0.57 – 0.65/10 km

Tires

Size: 195/60 R18
Type: Summer tires
Brand: Michelin Primacy

About the car

Assembly plant: Villaverde, Spain
Owner: Sixt.es
Model: 2023
Mileage: New car
Km driven: Long-term lease
Source: citroen.es , vegvesen.no