The Citroen C4 is an alternative to the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra, which compared to its predecessor is considerably more subdued, though it still has a distinctive and rather handsome design.

With a soft and comfortable ride, the C4 won’t be setting any Nurburgring lap records, but is a thoroughly civilised way of tackling a motorway or bumpy B-road. Petrol and diesel engines are available, and it’s the latter we’d choose for their pulling power and efficiency.

Performance

The 2.0-litre HDI is the most appealing engine because it has so much power from such low revs that you never need to work it hard.

The 1.6-litre units are more important, though, because those are the ones that will attract more private and fleet customers, who are expected to opt for the 120bhp petrol and 115bhp diesel respectively.

The latter gets the C4 from 0-62mph in a leisurely 11.3 seconds, a little off the pace of rivals, but feels quite willing and refined.

Billed as an e-HDi engine, it’s available with either a six-speed manual or ETG6 automatic gearbox. We’d avoid the ETG6, because it feels ponderous to shift between gears, creating a lurching sensation as you drive.

Ride and Handling

The Citroen C4 is arguably the most comfortable hatchback to drive.

The Citroen C4 is arguably the most comfortable hatchback to drive, with a pliant ride smothering most bumps as if they didn’t exist and relatively small wheels measuring between 16 to 17-inches in diameter. Sadly this comes at the cost of handling, with little feedback in corners and more body roll than most rivals. If you spend most of your time on the motorway, or simply value a cossetting ride, the C4 is worth a look. But, models like the Focus and Golf offer comfort and impressive precision when you want to tackle some corners.

Interior and Equipment

The original Citroen C4 featured in an advertising campaign where it transformed from a car into a dancing robot, ending with the slogan ‘Alive with technology’.

If you are over six-foot tall, you’ll find there's only just enough room in the front, and not quite enough in the back, though persons of more moderate height are unlikely to have any problem. The boot, by contrast, is impressively spacious, with a capacity of 380 litres up to the level of the parcel shelf, or 408 litres if you make use of the underfloor storage, and there's also a large, and in some cases chilled, storage compartment in the centre console. Essential equipment like air-con and cruise control is standard, while VTR+ models receive chrome exterior trim, an electric parking brake, folding door mirrors, front fog lights and alloy wheels. There’s also a Selection trim with a standard panoramic sunroof and range-topping Exclusive grade with luxuries such as interior mood lighting.

Cost

We’d recommend the e-HDi 115 manual in VTR+ trim, costing just under £19k, with emissions of 97g/km of CO2 making it free to tax and excellent economy of 74.3mpg.

The C4 has a low starting price of just over £14k, but you’ll need to spend upwards of £16k to get a more desirable diesel engine under the bonnet. The range tops out at £21k for a 2.0-litre HDi 150 in Exclusive trim. In comparison the Astra ranges from £13k to £25k, while the Focus costs between £14k and £26k. We’d recommend the e-HDi 115 manual in VTR+ trim, costing just under £19k, with emissions of 97g/km of CO2 making it free to tax and excellent economy of 74.3mpg. Try to avoid the VTi 120 petrol engine, because it emits more than 146g/km of CO2 and averages less than 45mpg, making it expensive to run. Even the powerful THP 155 petrol makes more sense, because it gets an extra dose of performance to match its higher running costs.

Our Verdict

The Citroen C4 is likely to remain a niche choice in Britain, because its focus on comfort and quirky styling is often overlooked. But, for those drivers who spend lots of time behind the wheel, its soft suspension and economical diesel engines could be a positive boon. Sadly, it’s fair to say the Citroen C4 has a difficult time competing in the toughest sector in the world. The constant competition between the Golf and Focus in particular means they are two of the best all-rounders on sale.