Citroen e-C4 review

Citroen e-C4 verdict

The Citroen e-C4 is a small electric family car that focuses on comfort and refinement. Now offered with the bigger battery found in its DS 3 E-Tense sibling, the e-C4 is more usable and practical than ever before, without losing its title as one of the UK's most affordable EVs. The Citroen feels unique – quite a feat when many electric cars today share the same running gear – but it’s not different for the sake of it; instead the e-C4’s quirks only add to its charm.

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 slightly unconventional looking e-C4 is a small family electric car that primarily rivals zero-emissions hatchbacks like the Volkswagen ID.3, Nissan Leaf and MG4 EV.

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

At launch, all e-C4s featured a 50kWh battery, connected to a 134bhp electric motor that powered the front wheels. That battery and motor combination will return, Citroen says, 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 DS 3, among others. This means a useful range boost of up to 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 infotainment system on certain models from February 2023. A few months previous, 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.

There are currently three trims to choose from for the e-C4: Sense, C-Series Edition and Shine Plus. Every car comes with LED lights, 18-inch wheels and a reversing camera, 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.

Higher-spec models bolster the kit count with keyless entry, diamond-cut wheels and heated front seats, as well as extra safety kit. Even the top-spec trim comes in at under £35,500, though it's not yet clear how much of a premium the bigger battery will command.

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For a more detailed look at the Citroen e-C4, read on for the rest of our in-depth review…