Citroen e-C4 review: interior, dashboard & infotainment

The Citroen e-C4’s cabin feels like a big step up from Citroen models of old; material quality is generally pretty good across the board, with a standard set of digital dials – more on those in a moment – and a 10-inch touchscreen giving the cabin a hi-tech feel. Furthermore, clever practical touches like hidden storage ahead of the gear lever, and a tablet holder on the passenger side, make the electric Citroen hatchback well suited to family life.

Citroen e-C4 dashboard

It might not feel as dramatic as Peugeot’s i-Cockpit in the E-2008, or as funky as the BYD Atto 3, but the Citroen e-C4’s dashboard is smart and functional nonetheless. All cars get digital dials which, while this might sound futuristic, isn’t quite as revolutionary as you might expect. Sure it can show your current media playback, range and even sat nav directions (if you have that option installed), but the graphics are pretty dark overall and you can’t display much on the screen at once due to its rather small 5.5-inch diameter.

That being said, we like that the e-C4’s climate controls aren’t buried within the touchscreen, unlike its Peugeot sibling; there’s a set of physical knobs below the touchscreen, as well as a handy dial to adjust the volume of your media playback. The leather on the e-C4’s steering wheel isn’t the best we’ve felt – it feels rather rubbery – although we’re pleased to report that the wheel contains physical buttons rather than fiddly touch-sensitive controls. 

Equipment, options & accessories

Citroen seems to switch around the e-C4’s trim structure almost as frequently as the UK changes Prime Minister; at of the time of writing, there are now three to choose from: YOU!, MAX and ë-Series. Standard equipment comprises LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, power-folding mirrors, rear parking sensors and cruise control, along with active safety technology. Interior and comfort features include a 10-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, a tablet mount for the front-seat passenger, Citroen's 'Advanced Comfort' suspension and seats, plus climate control.

Stepping up to the MAX model adds flashier diamond-cut wheels and tinted rear windows for an overall more premium look, as well as built-in sat nav. Keyless entry makes the e-C4 easier to live with, adaptive cruise control is handy for longer motorway stints, and the addition of a reversing camera makes tight manoeuvres a breeze. However at over £2,000 more than the base YOU! Car, we’re not too sure if it’s worth the upgrade.

Completing the range for the time being is the sportier-looking e-Series, which switches out some of the standard car's more mundane looking trim for dark chrome, plus there are black 18-inch wheels and a black roof. Inside, you get heated Alcantara seats, a heated steering wheel and an upgraded stereo.

11

Infotainment, apps & sat nav

All versions of the Citroen e-C4 get a large 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built-in, while top-spec cars get luxuries like built-in sat nav and connected services for things such as live traffic updates. Overall, thanks to a recent update, the system is easy to use and much quicker to respond to your inputs than the rival Vauxhall Mokka Electric’s setup.