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Citroën C4 First Drive


Citroën C4 First Drive

Author: Isaac BoberDate: 19 October 2011
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Citroën C4 2011

FIRST THROUGHTS: This new Citroën C4 is a more attractive package, inside and out, than the old model, and a whole lot better to drive, too.

With a handful of either new or refreshed models due out within the next 12 months it’s fair to say that Citroën is going to become a whole lot more noticeable Down Under. Indeed, by the end of next year it should have a model in all of the volume-selling segments of the market.

And this is the first cab off the rank, the new Citroën C4. Rather than just being an evolution of its predecessor, this new model saw the designers and engineers pretty much start from scratch.

Slightly bigger than the car it replaces, this new C4 looks more premium inside and out, offers a range of engines, is priced aggressively (from $22,990) and rides and handles a whole lot better than the old car.

On offer at the local launch was a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol (88kW at 6000rpm and 160Nm at 4250rpm), mated to a six-speed manual, and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (82kW at 3600rpm and 270Nm at 2000rpm), which was also mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission.

These engines will be joined, in the next month or so, by a turbocharged petrol and a turbo-diesel hybrid (more on them when they’re released).

The turbo-diesel is clearly the quieter (indeed it’s probably the quietest small car diesel engine on the market – as much down to the quality of the engine as it is to Citroën’s improved NVH), gruntier and more fuel-efficient engine (4.6L/100km Vs 6.2L/100km).

That said, the C4’s nat-atmo petrol engine is a cracker that sounds great and doesn’t mind being revved, but then you’d expect that of an engine co-developed with BMW.

Both engines feel friskier than their raw numbers would suggest. And that’s all down to snappy throttle response and decent slabs of torque delivered early on. The entry petrol is mated to either a five-speed manual, or a four-speed auto, while the diesel runs either a six-speed manual or a six-speed robo-manual.

Stopping performance is pretty good, but the pedal isn’t particularly progressive and that makes it difficult to modulate at both high and low speeds.

Touch the brakes lightly and they snatch, becoming irregular in their action from there on. And while the steering is light it’s nice and direct and is on par with everything else (at this price point) in this segment.

Because the C4 isn’t a hot hatch, Citroën’s engineers obviously opted for a softer suspension tune and that’s good news for us because it means the C4 soaks up the worst our pockmarked roads can throw at it.

That’s not to say the new C4 is soggy, and Citroën has obviously learnt a thing or two from World Rally, because it offers impressive body control and decent damping.

There are three trim levels on offer in the C4 starting with the entry-level Attraction which gets six airbags, electric front windows, six-speaker audio system, air-conditioning and remote central locking.

The Seduction is next and adds fog lights with cornering function, dark tinted rear and rear side windows, Bluetooth, automatic handbrake, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and rear electric windows.

The Exclusive is the top of the tree and features blind-spot monitoring, massaging front seats, climate-control air-con, auto wipers and lights, and customizable colour instruments.

On the safety front the C4 is well equipped with a Euro NCAP five-star safety rating as well as ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and ESP.

Citroën’s Intelligent Traction Control is also standard, sixe airbags and remote central locking with deadlocks and child seat anchorage points are fitted as standard.

In terms of pricing, Citroën is fishing in the right waters with the entry-level petrol auto (Attraction) kicking off at $22,990, the C4 Seduction, the next cab off the rank is priced at exactly the same $22,990 yet includes a six-speed manual and a host of extra features.

The entry level turbo-diesel, which also sits in the Seduction range sells from $26,990. And from there the price steps up in increments before capping at $32,990 for a hybrid/turbo-diesel in Exclusive trim.

VERDICT: Citroën seems to have nailed the look of the new C4, both inside and out, and it now feels like a more expensive car, which is exactly what those looking for something Euro, at this price point, want. The two drivetrains we sampled were plenty good enough and the handling is a huge improvement over the old model.

Specifications

 Citroen C4 Attraction/SeductionCitroen C4 Attraction/Seduction
CategorySmallSmall
Year20112011
Body Type5-door hatchback5-door hatchback
Pluses
  • Good looks inside and out;
  • pricing;
  • backseat legroom;
  • ride and handling
  • Good looks inside and out;
  • pricing;
  • backseat legroom;
  • ride and handling
Minuses
  • Steering is light;
  • brakes have no feel, aren’t progressive and are hard to modulate
  • Steering is light;
  • brakes have no feel, aren’t progressive and are hard to modulate
Country of ManufactureFranceFrance
Prices

$22,990 (Attraction, petrol, auto) to $32,990 (Exclusive, diesel, automatic)

$22,990 (Attraction, petrol, auto) to $32,990 (Exclusive, diesel, automatic)

Number of cylinders44
Engine size1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder L1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel L
FuelPULPDiesel
Engine aspirationNaturalTurbo charged
Driving wheelsFrontFront
Claimed max power (kW)88 kW @ 6000 rpm82 kW @ 3600 rpm
Claimed max torque (Nm)160 Nm @ 4250 rpm270 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Transmission4-speed automatic6-speed manual
Fuel consumption (ave)4.2-6.2 L/100km4.2-6.2 L/100km

Tags:

Citroen, C4 Attraction/Seduction, Small, 5-door hatchback , Reviews, 5-door-hatch, Medium, Small, C4, $15,000-$25,000, Car-review, First-drive, Motoring Feed

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