Citroen C4

Citroën C4 at a glance

First generation (2004–2010): hatchback and coupé

A concept version appeared in Geneva in spring 2004, and the showroom version was unveiled in Paris that autumn. Retail sales began on 2 September 2004. The C4 used the floor of the Peugeot 307 and came as a five-door hatchback and a sportier three-door coupé.

Inside, the car was known for features rarely seen in its class. The steering wheel rim turned around a fixed centre hub that carried the controls, and the speedometer sat in a translucent central display. A perfume dispenser in the dashboard and a glass roof were also offered. Lane departure warning was limited to the top trim. The boot held 352 litres, or 1,200 litres with the rear seat folded.

The suspension was conventional, with MacPherson front struts and a rear torsion beam. Unlike the larger C5 and C6, the C4 did not get Hydractive suspension. A facelift in November 2008 introduced the 1.6 VTi and turbocharged 1.6 THP petrol engines from the Prince engine family.

Euro NCAP tested a C4 1.6 SX in 2004 and rated its adult occupant protection at five stars. The car also finished second in the 2005 European Car of the Year vote and was named World Car Design of the Year in 2006. European production was based at the PSA plant in Mulhouse. A four-door saloon was built for Argentina, and a longer saloon was sold in China as the C-Triomphe.

C4 WRC: four world titles

Carlos Sainz tested an early rally C4 in 2004, but the project was paused after the 2005 season. The C4 WRC finally made its debut at the 2007 Monte Carlo Rally, where Sébastien Loeb won ahead of team-mate Dani Sordo. Loeb went on to win the drivers' championship in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Citroën took the manufacturers' title in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The DS3 WRC replaced the car for the 2011 season. Citroën also showed a hybrid concept, the C4 WRC Hymotion4, at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

Second generation (2010–2018): five doors only

The second C4 made its debut at the October 2010 Paris show and reached European dealers a month later. In Germany the 2010 price started at €15,950. There was no three-door version this time, because the new DS4 covered the more stylish end of the market. The wheelbase stayed the same as before, while the boot grew to 408 litres, 56 litres more than in the first C4, or 1,183 litres with the seat folded.

ABS and ESP were standard, and Euro NCAP awarded five stars in 2010. The tested 1.6 HDi scored 90 % for adult occupants, 85 % for children, 43 % for pedestrians and 97 % for safety assistance. The eTouch emergency call system earned a Euro NCAP Advanced award. Low rolling resistance tyres and stop-start on the e-HDi diesel aimed at lower fuel use.

A facelift followed in 2015, and the European hatchback stayed in production until 2018. Saloon derivatives lived longer elsewhere: the C4L in China until 2020 and the C4 Lounge in Argentina until 2021.

Third generation (since 2020): the coupé-SUV

Citroën revealed the third C4 on 16 June 2020. It has a raised body with a sloping, coupé-like roof and sits on the EMP1 (CMP) platform shared with the Peugeot 208 and 2008, the Opel Mokka and the DS 3 Crossback. The car is 4,360 mm long on a 2,670 mm wheelbase, and the boot holds 380 litres. Citroën's Advanced Comfort programme gave it soft suspension settings and thickly padded seats.

German sales started in September 2020, with deliveries from December. In September 2020 the PureTech 100 Live was listed at €19,291 and the PureTech 130 Feel at €23,336, both with the temporary 16 % VAT. Euro NCAP awarded four stars on 26 May 2021, with 80 % for adult occupants, 83 % for children, 57 % for pedestrians and cyclists and 63 % for safety assistance. The rating also covers the ë-C4 and the C4 X.

The C4 X, revealed on 29 June 2022, is a four-door fastback version stretched to 4,600 mm with a 510-litre boot. It was the first Citroën designed under Pierre Leclercq. In several markets, including Germany and the UK, it was first offered only as the electric ë-C4 X. A petrol C4 X joined the UK range in June 2023. Assembly of the facelifted C4 X began in Egypt on 16 April 2025.

ë-C4: the electric version

At launch the ë-C4 used a 100 kW motor with 260 Nm and a 50 kWh battery, good for up to 350 km on the WLTP cycle. Top speed is 150 km/h. An 11 kW on-board charger refills the battery in about five hours on a three-phase supply, and DC charging at up to 100 kW reaches 80 % in about 30 minutes. Wikipedia lists later versions with a 54 kWh battery and a 114 kW (155 PS) motor.

The German list price started at €33,766 in September 2020. After the 2020 national environmental bonus of €9,480, buyers paid €24,286. In the UK, Carbuyer later named it Best Used Small Electric Car in its used-car awards.

The 2024 facelift

The updated C4 and C4 X were shown in Paris in October 2024 and reached showrooms in early 2025. The changes were inspired by the 2022 Oli concept:

• a new front with the latest Citroën logo, and new LED tail lights on the C4;
• Advanced Comfort seats with thicker foam;
• a 7-inch digital instrument display and updated infotainment software;
• new mild-hybrid engines with a dual-clutch gearbox, while the manual gearbox was dropped.

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