SecondHandSense:IN A segment dominated by names like the Ford Focus, the VW Golf and the Opel Astra, the Citroën C4 has an uphill struggle. Brand loyalty is fierce when it comes to family cars and big manufacturers are pro-active in ensuring it stays that way. But the C4 has one major appeal others don't – its design is bold and innovative and will stand out in a crowd.
It was launched in 2004 as a replacement for the ageing and uninspiring Xsara, a car that left a lasting impression of Citroën as a dull and lacklustre manufacturer, not to mention poor quality. The overall profile of the C4 made an instant impression and Citroën knew the car had to address these image problems.
Apart from the exterior, the cabin is very impressive. A large glass area, LCD display for instrumentation and very comfortable seats make you feel a lot of thought and effort went into differentiating it from its rivals.
Front-seat comfort is good but the rear is a little cramped because of the sloping roof and it really only accommodates two. The boot is nothing to boast about. For family use, the Picasso MPV version is a better bet.
It also has good ride and handling and a refined feel to it – not necessarily extending to the use of cheap plastic. The hi-tech look is rather let down.
The most popular versions in Ireland are the 1.4 petrol and the well-proven 1.6 HDi diesel, but there are also 1.6- and 2-litre petrols. The 1.4 with 90 horse power is average but the 1.6 diesel has a better choice of 92 and 110 horse power outputs.
The C4 has a maximum five-star EuroNCAP crash test rating. However, problems with build quality have not gone away – large numbers have been recalled for an airbag fault that may prevent the driver’s airbag deploying and Citroën recalled 38,000 cars because of a problem with water entering the ABS and electronic stability unit. Not all C4s were affected but make sure to check.
A 2006 car with 1.6 diesel engine and 40,000km on the clock is on offer for €10,000. A 2007 with 1.4 petrol engine, 11,000km, alloys, air conditioning, cruise control and metallic paint is €13,950. Prices reflect the strength of the competition in this segment.
- STAR RATING:5/10