Citroen e-C4 review

Citroen e-C4 verdict

The Citroen e-C4 is a small electric family car that majors on comfort and refinement. Now sharing its powertrain with the Jeep Avenger, the electric Citroen has greater electric range than ever before, with the old smaller battery still available for more cash-conscious EV buyers. It’s not particularly enjoyable to drive, though, and many rivals surpass the Citroen in terms of car park kudos and interior tech. Nevertheless, the Citroen still manages to feel unique – despite its derivative underpinnings – and there’s also the choice of the sleeker e-C4 X if you'd rather trade the e-C4’s hatchback tailgate for a little extra style and passenger space.

Range details, specs and alternatives

The Citroen e-C4 has been around for a little while now. Based on the same fundamental platform and running gear as the Peugeot E-2008, Vauxhall Mokka Electric and DS 3 E-Tense, the e-C4 forgoes traditional SUV looks in favour of a raised fastback-like design, similar to the likes of the larger and more expensive Polestar 2.

Regardless, there are plenty of compact electric SUVs around that compete with the e-C4, including the budget-minded MG ZS EV, plus the slightly larger and also more expensive Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV.

At launch, all e-C4s featured a 50kWh battery, connected to a 134bhp electric motor that powered the front wheels. This, Citroen says, is sufficient for up to 219 miles on a charge. However, from mid-2023, Citroen updated the e-C4 range to include the option of a bigger 54kWh battery and a more powerful 154bhp motor taken from the Jeep Avenger, among others. This means a useful range boost to around 260 miles.

Both versions can charge at up to 100kW from a suitable rapid charger, and despite its greater capacity, even the bigger battery can charge from 10-80% in around 30 minutes thanks to greater efficiency and more modern tech. That's competitive in this area of the market.

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Having been around for a few years now, Citroen has gifted the e-C4 a few tweaks over time, including the addition of a new higher-resolution infotainment system on certain models from February 2023. A few months prior, Citroen released a second bodyshape for the e-C4, called the e-C4 X; from the front the two look identical, but at the rear, the e-C4 X swaps out the standard car’s hatchback tailgate for a longer, saloon-style fastback opening. It’s not expected to be as popular with UK buyers, but the bigger boot means it’s not without appeal.

Staying on the theme of updates, Citroen has once again decided to refresh the e-C4’s model range. There are now three trim levels to choose from: YOU!, MAX and ë-Series. Every car comes with LED lights, 18-inch wheels, as well as Citroen’s Advance Comfort Suspension. This does what it says on the tin, prioritising a plush ride that makes the e-C4 a fantastic urban runaround – more on that in the ‘Performance, motor & drive’ section of our review. A 10-inch touchscreen is also standard, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, in addition to a suite of safety systems.

Stepping up to MAX trim adds a couple of style upgrades including tinted rear windows and diamond-cut alloys. It also gets keyless entry and a reversing camera, which are both nice quality-of-life features. Finally, opting for the ë-Series trim is the only way to get the larger 54kWh battery. This gets luxuries like heated front-and-rear seats, a heated steering wheel, an upgraded stereo and a bi-tone exterior colour scheme. We think the entry-level YOU! model is the sweet spot in the range – unless you want the extra range of the bigger battery, that is.

Click here to see why you can trust DivingElectric reviews, or for a more detailed look at the Citroen e-C4, read on for the rest of our in-depth review…