Citroen C4 Range [New] : WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT C4?

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The innovative C4 family hatchback has been restyled and refettled under the bonnet. Steve Walker reports

Not your run of the mill family hatchback, the Citroen C4 piles on the technology and includes some unorthodox styling features but it all hangs together rather well. The car now gets the larger C5 models more distinctive nose, plus theres a couple of higher-tech BMW-developed petrol engines borrowed from its Peugeot 308 PSA Group stablemate. The upgraded interior is now closer in quality to most some rivals and makes up for any remaining lack with its sheer wow factor. Excellent diesel engines and lots of equipment also help to tempt buyers.

Citroen confounded most peoples expectations with their C4. To the outside observer, the French manufacturer seemed to have turned away from roots steeped in the creation of quirkily innovative cars and settled into a cosy niche, selling models that were competent and extremely tightly priced but rarely dynamic or challenging. Then the C4 family hatch arrived and made the kind of impact that youd more readily associate with its plastic explosive namesake. The C4 felt fresh and distinctive and it still does but is that enough in a market where excellence is the minimum standard for big sales? With over 900,000 examples sold, Citroen have taken the opportunity to do a spot of refettling, installing a more distinctive front end and the 1.

6-litre VTi (Variable Valve Lift and Timing) and 1.6 THP (Turbo High Pressure) petrol engines that werent available when this car was first launched. As before, the mainstream C4 range is split between Coupe and Hatchback models. Coupe is Citroen-speak for 3-door, the family-orientated 5-door derivatives being called simply Hatchback.

"The C4 delivers on a lot of levels"

The engine range opens with the 90bhp 1.4-litre 16-valve petrol unit that is standard family hatch fare and then theres the more up to date 120bhp 1.6-litre VTi option above that. The ultimate petrol engine is now the 1.

6-litre THP 150bhp. In general, these high-revving petrol units are not without their charm but many buyers will be swayed by Citroens impressive HDi common-rail diesels. The 1.6-litre HDi oil-burner is remarkably quiet.

In 92bhp form, it will reach 62mph from standstill in 12.5s and if you upgrade to the 110bhp option theres a 11.2s time for the sprint and the option of Citroens 6-speed electronic gearbox. The range-topping diesel is the 138bhp 2.

0-litre HDi unit which has a 9.7s 0-60mph time. These figures might look less impressive than the petrol contingent given the premium you pay for a diesel but in real world conditions, the punchy nature of the diesels power delivery makes them feel faster. The C4 rides with impressive smoothness and composure but it doesnt quite offer the level of feedback you sometimes want from a sporty hatchback.

The variable assistance power steering has an accurate feel and the car is nicely balanced through corners. The VTS version has stiffened suspension to enhance its sporting pedigree and offers a sharper driving experience generally. The gearchange on most C4 models is a fairly sloppy affair thanks to the long-throw 5-speed box but the 2.0-litre HDi engine comes with a 6-speed box that is far superior another reason why the big diesel could be the engine to go for.

The initial impression when driving the C4 is that its makers may have overdone it on the innovation front. Digital read-outs shine back at you wherever you look and the centre of the steering wheel is fixed in position. Remarkably, however, once you get over the initial strangeness, everything works very well. You only need to divert your eyes from the road slightly to pick up the wealth of information on the main dash-top display, which now incorporates a rev counter that, if you really get your foot down, flashes red at the limit, prompting you to change up.

Features like the built-in air-freshener (VTR and above) and the optional lane departure warning system (vibrates your lower back if you drift across lanes without indicating) have a gimmicky whiff about them but the optional directional headlights (standard on VTS), which turn to illuminate bends as you round them, work very effectively. Rear visibility is hindered somewhat by the unorthodox rear window on the Coupe but parking isnt a problem as the bottom section of the split screen gives decent view of objects immediately behind the car. The interior is spacious and the Coupe provides similar amounts of rear legroom and boot space to the Hatchback. The boot opening is narrower, however, and the levers that fold the front seats forward allowing access to the rear have a habit of sticking up to catch the shins of passengers climbing in.

Ouch. Prices sit in the usual £12,000 to £18,500 bracket common to this class of family hatchback and all Citroen C4 models receive ABS with EBD and brake assist, twin front and lateral airbags plus side window airbags. Theres a multi-function trip computer, a CD stereo, remote central locking, electric front windows, electric door mirrors, power steering and cruise control with a speed limiter. This is a well equipped car and it becomes even more so as you ascend the trim level range.

In recent times, there have also been a number of technology upgrades. Citroens latest Europe-wide navigation system, MyWay, has been introduced, which features a high-resultion 7-inch colour screen, Bluetooth and USB connectivity as well as an audio system with a built-in 10GB hard drive. As tends to be the case, the Citroen C4s best fuel economy is produced by its smallest diesel engines. The 1.

6-litre HDI units return outstanding 60mpg fuel economy and youll even get over 52mpg from the powerful 2.0-litre HDI oil-burner, making it a desirable all-round prospect. Expect around 44mpg from the 1.4-litre petrol and just under 40mpg from the 1.

6 VTi, while the 1.6 THP 150 petrol struggles to make 35mpg on the combined cycle. Insurance varies between groups 4 and 15. If you find yourself uninspired by the obvious choices in the family hatchback sector, Citroens C4 continues to make a distinctive and slightly leftfield choice.

Citroen is at its best when it does things that little bit differently and the C4 is a prime example of this. The three-door Coupe and five-door hatchback are very different propositions visually but that should help the C4 appeal to the maximum number of buyers. The unashamedly high-tech approach favoured by the C4 will alienate some people while inspiring others but it makes the car quite unlike any of its rivals. Reasonable build quality and a decent drive are matched to excellent equipment levels, a smarter feel, a better range of petrol engines and some of the best diesels in the business.

With Citroens tight pricing and aggressive marketing promotions placed into the mix, the C4 delivers on a lot of levels.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Citroen C4 range
PRICES: £12,195-£18,595 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 125-200g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0HDi] 0-60mph - 9.7s / Max Speed - 119mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0HDi] 39.8mpg (Urban) 62.8mpg (extra Urban) 52.3mpg (combined)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: six airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [Coupe] Length/Width/Height 4274/1769/1458mm