Citroen C4 2022 review

Citroen is a brand in constant flux as it struggles once again to find a distinct identity from its sister brand Peugeot under new parent company Stellantis.

It also had a shocking year in Australia with just over 100 sales in 2021, but the brand promises new beginnings and a new crossover identity as it approaches 2022.

Leading the way is the new generation C4, which has evolved from a fancy hatchback to a more whimsical SUV form that developers hope will set it apart from related cars like the 2008 Peugeot.

Other Citroëns are set to follow suit in the near future, so is the Gallic marque up to something? We took the new C4 for a week to find out.

Citroen C4 2022: Shine 1.2 THP 114
Safety Rating
engine's type	1.2 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	5.2l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$37,990

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

In recent memory, Citroen's offerings (particularly the smaller C3 hatchback) clearly fell short of the cost target. It is no longer enough to be a niche player in Australia – we have too many brands for that – so Citroen had to rethink its pricing strategy.

The C4 Shine costs $37,990. (Image: Tom White)

The resulting C4, which launches in Australia, comes in one well-defined trim level at a price that is surprisingly competitive for its segment.

With an MSRP of $37,990, the C4 Shine can compete with the likes of the Subaru XV ($2.0iS - $37,290), Toyota C-HR (Koba hybrid - $37,665) and the equally badass Mazda MX-30 (G20e Touring - $36,490XNUMX).

For the asking price, you also get a full list of available equipment, including 18-inch alloy wheels, all-LED ambient lighting, a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation, a 5.5-inch digital display. dashboard, head-up display, dual-zone climate control, full synthetic leather interior trim and top-down parking camera. That leaves only a sunroof ($1490) and metallic paint options (all but white - $690) as available add-ons.

The Citroen is also equipped with some unusual details that are amazing value: the front seats have a massage function and are stuffed with very good memory foam material, and the suspension system is equipped with a set of hydraulic shock absorbers to smooth out the ride.

There's a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. (Image: Tom White)

While the C4 faces some stiff competition in the small SUV segment, I think it represents a pretty solid value for money if you're after comfort over hybridity. More on this later.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

It's very difficult to stand out in the busy Australian market, especially in this small SUV segment where there really aren't as many design rules as other segments.

The roof lines are very different, as are the belts and light profiles. While some may decry the fall of the hatchback in favor of these taller options, at least some of them bring fresh design ideas to the automotive world.

The rear is the most contrasting angle of this car, with a post-modern take on a lightweight profile and a spoiler built into the tailgate. (Image: Tom White)

Our C4 is a great example. The SUV, perhaps only in profile, features a streamlined sloping roofline, tall, contoured hood, scowling LED profile, and distinctive plastic cladding that is a continuation of Citroen's "Airbump" elements that gave cars similar to the previous generation. C4 Cactus is such a unique species.

The rear is the most contrasting angle of this car, with a post-modern take on a lightweight profile and nods to past C4s, a spoiler built into the tailgate.

It looks cool, modern, and I think it managed to combine sporty elements from the hatchback world with popular SUV elements.

At the time I worked with him, he certainly drew a few eyes, and at least a little bit of attention is what the Citroen brand desperately needs.

The SUV, perhaps only in profile, has a streamlined sloping roofline, a tall, contoured hood, and a frowning-faced LED profile. (Image: Tom White)

In the past, you could rely on this brand for an unusual interior, but unfortunately it also had its fair share of low-quality plastics and odd ergonomics. So I'm happy to report that the new C4 is diving into the Stellantis parts catalog, looking and feeling better, for a still interesting but more consistent experience this time around.

The modern appearance of this car continues with interesting seat design, a tall instrument panel with a higher degree of digitization than before, and improved ergonomics (even compared to some famous Peugeot models). We'll talk more about them in the practicality section, but the C4 feels just as weird and different behind the wheel as you'd expect, with a weird dashboard profile, a fun and minimalist tie rod, and well-thought-out details. like a strip that runs through the door and seat upholstery.

These elements are welcome and help separate this Citroen from its Peugeot siblings. He will need this in the future as he now also uses most of his switchgear and screens with his sister brand.

There is a detailed strip that runs through the door and seat upholstery. (Image: Tom White)

This is pretty much a good thing as the 10-inch screen looks good and fits well with this car's design.

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

The C4 brings some interesting elements of practicality. There are a few areas where it's even better than the improved layout of the latest Peugeot models.

The interior feels spacious, and the C4's relatively long wheelbase provides plenty of room in both rows. The adjustment is good for the rider, although it's worth noting that the seats have a strange combination of manual adjustment for forward and backward shifting, as opposed to electric seat height and tilt adjustment.

Comfort is superb with memory foam-padded seats wrapped in thick synthetic leather. I don't know why more cars don't use this approach to seat design. You immerse yourself in these seats, and you are left with the feeling that you are floating above the ground, and not sitting on something. The feel here is unmatched in the small space of an SUV.

The massage function is a completely unnecessary addition, and with the thick seat upholstery, it didn't add much to the experience.

There's also a weird little two-tier shelf underneath the climate unit with a removable base for extra storage underneath. (Image: Tom White)

The seat bases aren't too high either, unlike some SUV class cars, but the dashboard design itself is very tall, so people below my 182cm height may need some extra adjustment to see over the hood.

Each door has large bottle holders with a very small bin; double cup holders on the center console and a small box on the armrest.

There's also a weird little two-tier shelf underneath the climate unit with a removable base for extra storage underneath. I feel like the top shelf is a missed opportunity to place a wireless charger, though connectivity is handy with a choice of USB-C or USB 2.0 to connect to a wired phone mirror.

A big plus is the presence of a full set of dials not only for volume, but also for the climate unit. This is where Citroen wins over some of the new Peugeots that have moved climate functions to the screen.

Somewhat less remarkable are the digital instrument cluster and the holographic head-up display. They seem a little redundant in the information they display to the driver, and the digital instrument cluster is non-adjustable, which makes me wonder what its point is.

The back seat offers a remarkable amount of space. (Image: Tom White)

The C4 also has some interesting innovations on the front passenger side. It has an unusually large glove box and a neat pull-out tray that looks like something out of a Bond car.

There is also a retractable tablet holder. This odd little thing allows the tablet to be securely attached to the dashboard to provide a multimedia solution for the front passenger, which can be useful for entertaining big kids on long trips. Or adults who don't want to talk to the driver. It's a neat inclusion, but I'm not sure how many people will use it in the real world.

The back seat offers a remarkable amount of space. I'm 182 cm tall and had plenty of knee room behind my driving position. The fine seating continues, as do the patterns and details, and that kind of attention to detail you don't always get from the competition.

The trunk holds 380 liters (VDA) the size of a sunroof. (Image: Tom White)

Headroom is a bit limited, but you also get dual adjustable air vents and one USB port.

The trunk holds 380 liters (VDA) the size of a sunroof. It's a neat square shape with no little cutouts on the sides, and it's big enough to fit Cars Guide a set of demonstration luggage, but leaves no free space. The C4 has a compact spare wheel under the floor.

The trunk is big enough to fit in our complete CarsGuide luggage demo kit. (Image: Tom White)

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

The only trim level of the C4 has one engine, and it's a good engine; peppy 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo engine.

It appears elsewhere in the Stellantis catalog and has been updated for the 2022 model year with a new turbo and other minor improvements. In the C4, it produces 114kW/240Nm and drives the front wheels via an eight-speed Aisin torque converter automatic transmission.

There are no dual clutches or CVTs here. It sounds good to me, but is it good for driving? You will have to read on to find out.

The C4 is powered by a peppy 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. (Image: Tom White)

Будьте в курсе carsweekly guide newsletter

How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

Despite the small turbocharged engine and the abundance of gear ratios in this drivetrain, the Citroen C4 left me a little disappointed when it came to actual fuel consumption.

The official combined consumption sounds reasonable at just 6.1 l/100 km, but after a week of driving in real combined conditions, my car returned 8.4 l/100 km.

While in the broader context of small SUVs (a segment that is still filled with naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engines), that's not too bad, but it could have been better.

The C4 also needs unleaded fuel with at least 95 octane and has a 50-litre fuel tank.

My car returned 8.4 l / 100 km. (Image: Tom White)

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 6/10

This isn't such a good story. While the C4 comes with today's expected set of active safety features, it fell short of a five-star ANCAP rating, scoring just four stars at launch.

Active elements on the C4 Shine include automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and driver attention warning.

Some active elements are conspicuously missing, such as rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and more modern elements such as cross-traffic alert for the AEB system.

What was the cost of this five-star rating car? ANCAP says the lack of a central airbag contributed to this, but the C4 also failed to protect vulnerable road users in the event of a collision, and its AEB system also had negligible night-time performance.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10

Ownership has always been a tricky topic for fancy Euros like the C4, and it looks like that continues here as well. While Citroen offers a competitive five-year, unlimited mileage warranty on all of its new products, the cost of service suffers the most.

While most Japanese and Korean brands are competing to really bring those numbers down, the average annual cost of the C4, according to the chart provided, averages $497 over the first five years. That's almost double the cost of the Toyota C-HR!

C4 Shine needs to visit a service center once a year or every 15,000 km, whichever comes first.

Citroen offers a competitive five year unlimited mileage warranty. (Image: Tom White)

What is it like to drive? 8/10

Driving the C4 is an interesting experience because it behaves a little differently on the road than most of its rivals.

It really leans into Citroen's newfound comfort-focused niche with seats and suspension. This results in an overall experience that is a bit unique on the market, but also quite enjoyable.

The ride is really good. It's not a fully hydraulic system, but it does have two-stage dampers that smooth out bumps and most of the nasty stuff that comes in contact with the tires.

It's weird because you can hear the big alloys crashing into the road, but you end up with almost no feeling in the cabin. What's more impressive is that Citroen has managed to imbue the C4 with the feeling of floating on the road while maintaining just enough "real" driving position to make it feel like you're sitting in the car, not in it.

You can hear big alloys smash into the road, but ultimately you barely feel it in the cabin. (Image: Tom White)

The overall result is impressive. As mentioned, the comfort extends to the seats, which really feel smooth and supportive even after hours on the road. This also extends to the steering, which is very easy to set up. It's a little unsettling at first as it seems to have a large dead zone in the center, but it's also speed dependent so as you travel it regains a significant amount of sensation. You can also manually bring back some stiffness by setting this car to sport driving mode, which is unusually good.

This means you can navigate tight spaces with ease while maintaining enough sensitivity to enjoy driving when you need more. Smart.

Speaking of fun, the redesigned 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine is a hit. It has a distant but entertaining gritty tone under pressure, and rushes forward with enough urgency not to leave you truly power hungry.

The C4 really leans into Citroen's newfound comfort-focused niche with seats and suspension. (Image: Tom White)

It's not what I'd call fast, but it has a raucous attitude coupled with a well-running torque converter car that makes it genuinely entertaining. When you press it, there's a moment of turbo lag followed by a clump of torque that the transmission allows you to wait out before decisively shifting into the next gear. I like it.

Again, he's not fast, but he hits hard enough to leave you with a smile as you tuck your boot in. Having this in a car otherwise so focused on comfort is an unexpected treat.

The dashboard can be slightly modified, as well as visibility from the cabin. The small opening at the rear and the high dash line can make some drivers feel claustrophobic. While the engine is fun to work with, turbo lag can also be annoying at times.

Brief cons aside, I think the C4 driving experience really brings something unique, fun and comfortable to the small SUV space.

Verdict

It's weird, wonderful and fun, in many ways. I think every segment could use a weird alternative like C4. Citroen has successfully transformed it from a hatchback to a small SUV. It won't be for everyone - few Citroens - but those willing to take the risk will be rewarded with a surprisingly competitive little package that stands out from the crowd.