The Citroen C4 Refuses to Play the Sportiness Game Everyone Else Is Playing
The review is consistent and admiring on one specific point: while nearly every rival chases sporty handling credentials, this car deliberately doesn't, and the resulting comfort-first character is genuinely well executed.
An Unclassifiable Shape With a Very Clear Priority
Not quite a hatchback, not quite an SUV, and not particularly interested in being sporty either. Reviewers keep noting how refreshingly single-minded this car's comfort focus is, even if its shape defies easy categorisation.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Crossover hatchback (C4) or "fastback" (C4 X) |
|---|---|
| Engines | Mild-hybrid petrol (99bhp/134bhp), non-hybrid petrol, fully electric |
| Electric range | Up to 257 miles (54kWh battery) |
| Fuel economy (hybrid) | 51.1–62.1mpg claimed |
| Suspension | Advanced Comfort hydraulic cushion technology |
Full Review Summary
Top Gear
Top Gear praised the Advanced Comfort seats' extra 15mm of foam and bigger bolsters, added at the 2024 facelift, as genuinely improving long-journey comfort, and rated the hybrid versions' ride as well-judged even if the fully electric e-C4 and e-C4 X feel too soft and wallowy by comparison. They found the car falls apart the moment you try to drive it quickly, with body control degrading noticeably, but praised this as an entirely reasonable trade-off for a car that's explicit about prioritising comfort over sportiness. Their long-term test of the petrol version specifically praised the engine's whisper-quiet, anonymous character alongside a smooth eight-speed automatic, though flagged the sloping roofline as compromising rear headroom and making child seat fitting a genuine annoyance.
Strengths
- Genuinely comfortable ride, especially in hybrid form
- Distinctive, well-resolved styling despite defying easy classification
- Quiet, refined petrol hybrid powertrain
- Physical climate controls retained alongside the touchscreen
Weak points
- Handling degrades noticeably the moment you drive with any enthusiasm
- Electric versions feel too soft and wallowy compared with the hybrids
- Sloping roofline compromises rear headroom and child seat access
- Ageing, occasionally sluggish infotainment menus
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who genuinely prioritise ride comfort over handling sharpness and don't mind a shape that doesn't fit neatly into "hatchback" or "SUV." The mild-hybrid petrol is the pick of the range — reviewers consistently rate it as better resolved than the electric versions.