Citroën's new C4 - worth a second glance

ROADTEST CITROËN C4 1.6HDI 90HP VTR+ 5DR: TRADITION DICTATES hatchback buyers are a conservative lot. We regularly gripe about the lack of imagination from established players in this segment but they retort with sales figures that make a mockery of our complaints.

These are the cars that sell to the masses, the so-called “heart and soul” of the nation. If Tony Blair won his elections courtesy of ‘Mondeo man’, the professional hand-shakers running in our election should have their beady eyes fixed on hatchback households. Capture that market, and the Dáil seat is safe.

For Citroën it means all the recent revivals of models such as the C3 and the return of the DS range were merely warm-ups for the main event. The C4 is the car they need to get a proper foothold in the Irish market.

It’s easy to get lost in the noise, and that’s certainly been a problem at the chevron brand. Talk about hatchbacks and the words Golf, Focus and, more recently, Mégane – due to the discounts on offer – roll off the tongue. After that, suggestions are wide and varied. Citroën joins the ranks of the also-rans in this category. This car is meant to change that. So could it be the brand’s saviour in Ireland?

On first glance, this is a good-looking car. It might not be radically different from the model it replaces, with the same bulbous profile, but more aggressive styling lines and curves give it a more impressive presence, particularly the front grille.

The template for the firm’s current crop was a collection of striking concept cars from the middle of the last decade that put the brand firmly at the forefront in design terms. Much of that effort has been toned down for the mainstream, with the DS range given greater licence to experiment. Perhaps executives were fearful buyers were not that willing to strike out with French design flair, particularly after the lukewarm sales response to Renault’s ass-shaking Mégane from the early 2000s.

This Citroën is fetching, without dividing opinions. It actually looks better on the road than in photos. The test car is what Citroën calls “babylon red” – a pricey €650 addition, but worth it if only to set off the styling.

More good news is that Citroën has taken the time to rework the cabin, with the dials all the cleaner and clearer for their efforts. The steering wheel is awash with buttons, but it’s a more restrained affair than the confusing mess of the current C4 Picasso. You have to wonder, however, why half the centre of the wheel needs to be devoted to buttons and knobs for cruise control when other companies can offer all the same features – and more – on a single stalk. The same question arises on the dash: there are multiple controls and menus for, ultimately, radio, fuel economy displays and brightness controls for the interior cabin. There’s a lot of gadgetry showboating going on, without a great deal of substance.

On a positive note, there’s impressive rear seat legroom, with a decent boot. For family motoring on a budget, the good news from the C4 – and from many of its rivals – is that the modern hatchback offers comparable space with family saloons from a few years back. If you’re downsizing from a saloon from 2007 or before, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

On the road, everything about the C4 is soft and sublime. From the throttle to the gear change, it’s all silky smooth. It’s a feeling of lightness you often get with French cars. The problem is that it’s not always what you want.

It’s great around town, requiring little effort to drive, but smooth, light handling can become spongy and unfeeling when you want to push the car along on the open road.

At higher speeds, steering doesn’t sharpen up enough for our liking. This might seem surprising given the impressive rallying pedigree the brand has. You can be sure the C4s that race are pinpoint accurate with enough steering feel to make you think your hands are actually gripping the front wheel struts.

Have no doubt, this is no engineering faux pas – this neutral feel is part of the C4 road car’s intended DNA. It aims to offer a more comforting and easy drive than some rivals. It remains a good car to drive, but doesn’t quite match the likes of the Ford Focus – either current or upcoming – in terms of responsiveness. For those looking for a comfortable, easy drive, it ticks the box, but we prefer the more assured handling of either the Ford or VW.

Fuel consumption on the new C4 is impressive, while power doesn’t pay much of a price for this fuel economy.

It’s not as quick as the Focus but it is well up there with the rest. The official 0-100km/h time doesn’t really reflect its ability, but at motorway speeds it could do with a sixth cruising gear and you need to drop into fourth for overtaking manoeuvres.

Citroën has priced the car competitively, and up against big-name rivals it offers better equipment for the money. Starting at €18,990 for the 1.4-litre petrol, it’s remarkably well-priced, particularly if you take off the various discounts and scrappage deals on offer.

Our test car was the higher specification version and still came in at less than €22,000. You will certainly pay more if you opt for similar features on the equivalent Golf or Focus.

Citroën has fallen off the radar for a lot of buyers and the C4 is certainly worth more consideration than it’s likely to get unless the brand increases its profile. It’s not the sporty hot hatch the French might want you to think it is, but it’s solid, smart and family-friendly and its styling is among the sharpest in the hatchback segment.

Its biggest challenge is not to win over buyers in the final sale, but to get them to test it in the first place. And it most certainly does enough to warrant that.

Factfile

EngineFour-cylinder inline diesel putting out 90bhp @ 4,000rpm and 230Nm of torque from 1,750rpm with five-speed manual transmission

0-100km/h12.9 seconds

L/100km (mpg)urban – 5.2 (54.3); extra- urban – 3.6 (78.5); combined – 4.2 (67.3)

Emissions(motor tax): 110g/km (€104)

Bootspace: 380-1,183l

Price: €21,790

Specification: ABS with brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist; ESP stability and traction control; hill start assist; daytime front running lights; 16" steel wheels; cruise control with speed limiter; radio/CD with six speakers. VTR+ (€1,800) adds: rear parking sensors; front foglights; 16" alloys; chrome strips; tinted rear windows; refrigerated central storage console; Bluetooth. Exclusive (only available on 110bhp 1.6 diesel) adds: 17" alloys; dual-zone air-con; footwell lighting; rain-sensitive wipers; customised colour instrument panel; adjustable sound alerts; LED reading lights; electric parking brake.