Citroën C4 Puretech 130

It was last summer that Citroën lifted the veil on a car that counts in its range, the third generation of its C4 compact sedan. If the second C4 was a wise evolution of its elder, Citroën chose to reverse the table. It is indeed a whole new idea of ​​what a car in this segment should be that I tried.

It's hard not to start this review with what made his presentation quite talkative and which didn't fade during the first meetings: the drawing. Very often, we like to wait to “see for real”, excluding press photos or even trade shows (RIP), to freeze our opinion on the curves of a new model. This time, the initial shock is not mitigated by the environment: Citroën is changing its style… but unfortunately not for the better. The brand's current design philosophy was nevertheless very consistent: original but soft, friendly and playful lines.

Now, and the all-new C5X confirms it, it's big front, big rear and raised body. It seems that the brand wanted to please everyone by offering a sedan, yes but an SUV. I fear, to my great regret, that it will upset everyone. Sedan enthusiasts (those who stay) will find it too high and massive and SUV enthusiasts will prefer a real SUV. I pass over the huge black pieces of the rounded rear whose consistency must have been lost in limbo. It is said, I do not like.

But the design does not make the car, especially a car that is above all utilitarian and not passion. I will also be told that the first Peugeot 3008 did not have an easy physique either and that it was a great success. So let's move on, let's climb into the cabin, the right place, the one where you can't see the bodywork.

Modern and without ostentation, the interior of the C4 is rather welcoming. In our Shine version (almost the highest in the range), the first impression is quite flattering. The dashboard is dominated by a large central screen. There is the PSA Stellantis software, with intuitive navigation and whose tactile responsiveness suffers no criticism. The surface treatment limits fingerprints and some controls are found on the steering wheel. We may be surprised by the driver's screen, very small pokey.

But the head-up display is more than enough when driving and we quickly forget this initial surprise. The central console is adorned with lacquered plastic. It's very elegant… but it marks very quickly. My car had 500km on the clock and already 500 fingerprints. Pity. The upper plastics are nicely crafted and pleasing to the eye. It's less the case with lower quality and slightly cheaper hard plastics.

A compact sedan, the C4 is not intended to transport a large family. However, its rear seat can allow two adults to travel comfortably with sufficient space. The seats are pleasantly firm. The driving position is a bit difficult to find for a tall guy like mine (over 1m80). The trunk has a practical double bottom.

It is the well-known PureTech 130 coupled to the EAT8 box that equips our trial version. The 3-cylinder behaves in the C4 as in the other models. A bit noisy in the revs, especially when cold, but with plenty of torque for everyday driving. I know him well, he equips my personal car. The EAT8 is very soft and contributes to the general atmosphere once in the cabin: you feel good there.

Citroën has once again built a model of balance between the rigor of the suspensions and a very high level of comfort. The car holds its trajectory perfectly even when you rush it. The steering is smooth and precise, you can pick up the pace with confidence, even though that's not the car's philosophy at all. Only downside, the ECO mode (there is also a NORMAL mode and a SPORT mode) is really too restrictive. By preventing the downshift too often, you lose the benefit of the turbo and the torque it brings during pick-ups. Frustrating but probably very effective in reducing consumption.

On the equipment side, there is not much missing with a debauchery of technology, the area in which manufacturers want to advance. The C4 is equipped with Apple Car Play and Android Auto with induction charging (optional). A large tablet, support for your own tablet, unfolds above the glove box for the passenger. We have a little “wow” effect but on reflection, this limits the size of the always practical glove box.

Autonomous driving is also included with a regulator managing safety distances, capable of braking for you. Note that the braking in question can be a little abrupt, the software apparently not yet being able to understand that a car in front of you is in full acceleration phase. On motorway journeys, the system proved to be very efficient in normal conditions, much less so in heavy traffic.

So, to conclude, what about this third generation C4? The car has no major flaws and will offer everything that most potential buyers are looking for: comfort, safety, plenty of equipment, reasonable options (except for this somewhat annoying habit everyone has of charging for the color), equally reasonable consumption and the possibility of buying (soon) an all-electric version. It is at less than 30,000€, options included, that our top-of-the-range model is displayed. The specifications of the vast majority of B-segment buyers are therefore met.