Review
The C4 was meant to mark the point at which Citroen took on the rest of the family hatchback segment on equal terms, and there's certainly plenty to like about this well equipped, competitively priced car.
The angular styling has plenty of car park presence, although in the manner of more radical Citroens that have preceded it, we doubt that it will age particularly well. And once inside the cabin is spacious and well designed, although some of the materials and switchgear feel a bit flimsy compared to rivals. It's not particularly spacious by segment standards, either - with passengers relegated to the back suffering from a lack of legroom and headroom.
On the road the C4 drives well thanks to its combination of a pliant, well-damped ride and reasonable enthusiasm for corners. Motorway refinement is no better than average, though, and the sportier versions suffer from lots of road-roar on their low profile tyres.
There are lots of different engines to choose between, although the coarse, tight-feeling petrol motors are a way off the high standards set by better rivals. The powerful, smooth and economical diesel engines are where the smarter money goes - with the 1.6 litre 110 bhp HDI being the pick of the bunch.