Citroën ë-C4 X review: Comfort and refinement in abundance, but the price…

Comfort and refinement in abundance, but the price…

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For anyone yet to discover the Citroën ë-C4 X, it is the four-door saloon version of the familiar ë-C4 (and C4), introducing a new body shape to the French brand’s family car range: a fastback, in Citroën’s own terminology.

With an extra 240 mm in length over the five-door, two-box C4 - measuring 4.6 m overall - it also stands out for its 510-litre boot, an increase of 130 litres.

The ë-C4 X does not, however, adopt the more conservative appearance usually associated with this type of bodywork. Like the C4 we already know, its styling clearly draws on SUV influences. In other words, it presents itself as a kind of crossover saloon, much like the larger C5 X - a recent direction not only for Citroën, but also for the Stellantis group.

Electric-only for now

The ë-C4 X arrives in Portugal solely with an electric powertrain, as its name suggests. It is exactly the same setup already used in the ë-C4, featuring a front-mounted motor producing 100 kW (136 hp) and 260 Nm.

Those figures are more than adequate for dealing with the ë-C4 X’s weight of more than 1,650 kg. It will not amaze anyone - taking 9.5 seconds from 0-100 km/h in Sport mode - but the immediate availability of its power, a trait shared by all electric cars, makes it easy and pleasant to drive.

Its 50 kWh battery is also unchanged, with an official range of 360 km between charges - marginally better than the hatchback due to lower aerodynamic drag (Cx 0.29). That is something we will only be able to verify in a longer test.

However, during this national launch event and first drive, we learned that the ë-C4 X will be joined by the combustion-engined C4 X in the coming weeks, as is already the case in other European markets.

That means petrol and diesel versions will be added, using the familiar 1.2 PureTech engines with 100 hp and 130 hp, along with the 1.5 BlueHDi with 130 hp.

Whereas the electric ë-C4 X is offered in four trim levels - Feel, Feel Pack, Shine and Shine Pack - the combustion-powered C4 X range will not have such extensive choice.

For instance, the 1.2 PureTech 100 hp will only be offered with a manual gearbox in entry-level Feel trim. The 1.2 PureTech 130 hp and 1.5 BlueHDi will both be available exclusively with an automatic gearbox.

New infotainment system

Inside, the ë-C4 X is, predictably, much the same as the C4 already familiar to us, although there are some changes.

Citroën’s latest infotainment system, called My Citroën Drive Plus and first introduced in the larger C5 X, now makes its way into the C4 X. It is operated through a 10-inch central screen, which proved to be of good quality, although I would have liked it to react and operate more quickly in response to my inputs.

The system itself can be tailored to individual preferences through a widget layout, and is relatively straightforward to navigate.

Citroën ë-C4 X comfort takes priority

As expected, comfort on board is the defining characteristic of this Citroën ë-C4 X. That is down not only to the Advanced Comfort seats, with their additional padding, but also to the similarly named suspension with progressive hydraulic cushions.

Even with standard 18-inch wheels, ride comfort remains consistently high, with the car doing a very good job of absorbing most road imperfections.

There is no noticeable gain in second-row space despite the “X” being 240 mm longer. This is because the wheelbase is exactly the same for both body styles. Citroën has, nevertheless, reclined the seat backs further - they now sit at 27° - which moves occupants’ knees slightly farther away from the front seats.

That said, comfort is assured whichever seat you occupy, further enhanced by the high level of refinement inside. This is thanks not only to the quiet electric powertrain, but also to effective sound insulation and solid build quality. At motorway speeds, though, some wind noise can be heard coming from the door mirrors.

Comfortable, yes, but…

The emphasis on comfort does, however, come at the expense of the Citroën ë-C4 X’s driving dynamics and handling.

From a driving perspective, the steering would benefit from more feel and weight - even if only in Sport mode, which is not greatly distinct from Normal mode. In terms of handling, I would also like greater control of body movements when the pace rises and the road surface deteriorates.

In these conditions, there is considerable body movement, which ultimately works slightly against the comfort that defines the Citroën ë-C4 X.

Its behaviour is predictable and safe, but I did notice some losses of traction when exiting certain bends - effectively managed by the traction and stability control systems. The instantaneous 260 Nm places some demands on the tyres, which in this case are geared more towards efficiency than grip.

One final note concerns the brake pedal. As with many other electric and hybrid vehicles, its feel and responsiveness leave something to be desired. There is nothing to criticise about braking power itself, but it is difficult to judge how much pressure to apply because of the management of the transition between regenerative (electric) and hydraulic braking.

Does it use much energy?

It is always difficult to assess energy consumption during these first drives, which are usually brief and involve driving that is not always “normal”.

But after approximately 100 kilometres - a route including urban roads, motorways and secondary roads - the trip computer showed just over 17 kWh/100 km, not far from the official 16 kWh/100 km combined WLTP figure.

How much does it cost?

The Citroën ë-C4 X enters the Portuguese market in four trim levels: Feel, Feel Pack, Shine and Shine Pack.

Every version comes with 18-inch wheels, automatic climate control, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, LED headlamps, a raised centre console with armrest and cup holders, a leather steering wheel, a 10-inch central touchscreen and rear parking sensors.

Moving up through the trim levels adds electrically adjustable and heated seats - front and rear - and even massage functions. They can also be trimmed in Alcantara. The number of driver-assistance systems can rise to 20, enabling Level 2 semi-autonomous driving.

Despite the generous equipment specification, it is difficult to justify the €40,185 asked for the most affordable ë-C4 X - on average €350 more than the five-door ë-C4.

It is far from the most appealing price, especially when an electric American saloon costing under €40,000 is now on sale, offering even more space, performance and range.

As with other offerings such as the Citroën ë-C4 X, this electric car is likely to make more sense for businesses and fleets than for private buyers, where the tax incentives are much more attractive.

That said, there are plenty of arguments in this model’s favour, and the market appears to recognise them. In Portugal, the C4 led the C-segment family saloon class in 2022, with the electric ë-C4 accounting for 40% of all sales.

The ë-C4 X promises to strengthen that lead and, even once the combustion-engined versions arrive, this is expected to be the best-selling variant, according to forecasts from the French brand’s representatives in Portugal.