By Paul Gover.
Nothing I have driven has the sublime ride comfort of a Citroen.
That even includes a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Driving in the latest Citroen C4 is a reminder of everything that’s good, and sometimes great, about the French brand.
The C4 is not popular, and not cheap, but the way it rides …
The rest of the package is also impressive, apart from the price.
Citroen has reinvented the C4, once another baby hatchback, as a crossover contender that has more in common with the Ford Puma than anything it has produced in the past. There is only one model grade, Shine, although a giant sunroof is available as an option beyond the basic $37,990 price-tag.
So it has the size and driving dynamics of a baby hatch, but the crossover styling and flexibility of a mini SUV.
If the C4 came from a brand like Toyota, it would be a sellout.
As it is, and not helped by its premium pricing, it will be a minor mover from Australian showrooms.
Yet the C4 deserves better and will deliver better to anyone who is prepared to take a look and follow up with a test drive.
The styling of the new compact Citroen is fresh and lively. It has a familiar rounded SUV shape, but the detailing is crisp and helps it to stand – just slightly – beyond the crowd.
Inside, the look is similarly fresh and also easy to work and like. There is a digital dashboard without excessive distractions, a central 10-inch infotainment screen, a heads-up display for the speedometer, and concise controls that work instead of creating – like some over-done tech contenders – confusion.
It has all the expected 5-star safety systems, with the bonus ‘coffee break’ reminder if you drive for more than two hours beyond 70km/h.
The mechanical package for the C4 is simple, with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, an eight-speed automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive.
Citroen has also bowed to the inevitable on customer support in Australia, with a five-year warranty including roadside assistance and a service package, and also loaded the car with plenty of standard equipment, from heated seats and a colour 3D navigation to LED lighting.
It also has the latest version of Citroen’s famed hydraulic suspension, using special ‘cushions’, as well as 18-inch alloys.
Driving the C4 is a reminder of everything that’s good from Citroen.
The car looks good, it gets along pretty well with a baby engine, the fuel economy moves from good into great, and it’s quiet and very comfy.
People who spend their time in Japanese and South Korean baby cars might take time to adjust to the interior systems, but it’s an easy transition.
The cabin layout is straightforward, the car scoots along nicely – better than some other dowdy three-cylinder engines – and the eight-speed auto means its also quiet on the highway with fuel economy that is easy to ease below 7 litres/100km.
The best thing about the C4, though, is the suspension. Despite 18-inch alloys that would create a rock-hard lack of compliance at other brands, the Citroen cushion system means the car rides smoothly in every – and all – conditions.
It’s not as sharp in the steering response as the Ford Puma, but it is a lovely drive for people who like to drive and an easy motor for A-to-B people.
The legroom is not great in the back, but the boot space is fine for the class and the front seats have good space. The seats themselves are too flat for me, without much shape or support, but that’s a minor niggle.
So, really, the only failure for the C4 is the pricing. Citroen has done all it can to boost the value, but for someone who sees the Puma is currently at $31,990 driveway the C4 is unlikely to make the shortlist.
That’s a pity, because there is a lot to like and enjoy in the new baby Citroen. The C4 has been re-imagine and re-invented and the work has worked.
Still, is the C4 too little and too late? Quite likely.
Is it a car I would still recommend, happily, to friends? Yup.
THE BASICS
Citroen C4
Price: from $37,990
Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 114kW/240Nm
Transmission: 7-speed auto, front-wheel drive
Position: compact crossover
Plus: comfortable, quiet, perky
Minus: brand value, resale, hard seats
THE TICK: Oui.
Score: 8/10
