Citroen e-C4 review: interior, dashboard & infotainment

In the e-C4's cabin, quality is very good and a distinct step up from Citroens of old; standard digital dials and large touchscreen give a high-tech feel, while clever practical touches like hidden storage ahead of the gear lever and a tablet holder on the passenger side make it well suited to family life.

Updates in early 2023 saw all but the base Sense version fitted with the brand’s updated ‘My Citroën Drive Plus’ infotainment system from the e-C4 X. Citroen claims it offers an “improved user experience” via the 10-inch touchscreen while also adding HD-quality images for models fitted with a reversing camera.

Citroen e-C4 dashboard

The dashboard has a wide, flat design and is centred around the similarly wide 10-inch infotainment screen in the middle, with large central air vents below. A 5.5-inch digital instrument cluster features behind the steering wheel. Overall quality is good, though perhaps not quite up there with the likes of the Cupra Born or Kia Niro EV.

Equipment, options & accessories

Citroen revamped the e-C4's trim levels in early 2022, and made further changes 12 months later, with the e-C4 range now made up of Sense, C-Series Edition and Shine Plus variants – starting from around £32,000. That’s a significant jump from before, when basic versions cost comfortably less than £30k.

Standard equipment on the entry-level Sense 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 C-Series Edition adds a bronze colour pack, 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, dark-tinted rear windows and body-coloured bumpers and doorhandles, as well as keyless entry and automatic high beam. Inside, there's a heated leather steering wheel and heated front seats.

Shine Plus comes with wireless smartphone charging, an upgraded audio system with a subwoofer and heated front seats that can be finished in either leather or leather-effect textile. These versions now cost upwards of £35,000; cheaper versions undoubtedly represent greater value for money.

Infotainment, apps & sat nav

The infotainment system in the e-C4 comprises a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a 5.5-inch digital instrument cluster – whichever version you go for. The system is logically laid out, responsive to the touch and – crucially – the heater and ventilation controls aren't in a sub-menu. Dedicated physical ventilation controls sit below the screen on the centre console and are therefore easily adjusted on the move without undue distraction.

From early 2023, the C-Series Edition and top-spec Shine Plus models got an upgraded HD screen. It’s the same size as the entry-level Sense version, but uses new software from the e-C4 X and C5 X. Citroen says it offers an improved user experience, with a more ergonomic interface and greater responsiveness. It also supports clearer HD images from the reversing camera. We’ve not tried it in the e-C4, but our experience in the newer C5 X is positive; the system is a noticeable improvement over the old setup.