The new C4 is a good-looking, five-seat hatchback, but has Citroën played it too safe with its styling?
For many years Citroën made stunningly beautiful, quirky and interesting machines like the DS, Traction Avant (the world's first mass-produced front-wheel drive car) and the 2CV - the iconic ugly duckling. Citroën also made some truly average cars like the Xantia and BX! The latest C4 is the latest evolution of what was a reasonably good-looking car. The five-door C4 is now slightly larger, so it is spacious. It is functional, with seating for five and a good sized boot. In fact, it could be any car in the Focus/Golf-sized class.
C4's exterior pays homage to its sister car, the C4 Picasso, and the excellent C5, but it doesn't really move exterior design far on from there. There are some new creases in the body panels to imply strength and dynamism. It's safe to say the C4 will not be a future design classic - again this applies to most cars in its class, too. So, it is unfair in these times to ask Citroën to deliver a design classic C4. The only purpose of a car manufacturer is to make money for its shareholders with products it can sell, whether they are objects of automotive beauty is sadly beside the point. In Ireland, Citroën as a brand suffered from heavy discounting and the knock-on effect it had on residual values, so the new C4 will help build the brand back up again.
The original C4 was the first car in its class to give as standard cruise control and a speed limiter. It also gave us a steering wheel that revolved around a set centre boss (the airbag section remained stationary when you turned the steering wheel itself - very cool!) The new C4 loses this USP but in its place C4 gets a new party piece, namely a mood dashboard display. The driver can select from a range of subtle lighting as to how the three main dials are displayed (pictured: UK display in MPH). There are also loads of other gadgets and driving aids available.
Motors tested the car in the UK (before the snow!) on a mixture of roads and surfaces and it's no surprise to report that the French car is comfortable. C4 is composed and unremarkable - in that it is refined and well-appointed. One thing you will notice behind the new steering wheel is the level of self-centring when steering: in other words when you turn the wheel the steering wants to return to the straight forward position. This is excellent if you're driving on snow or ice as often it can be hard to know the direction your wheels are pointing in as a result of putting on too much lock (or too little). This is a quirk you will love or hate with the new C4.
While there is a comprehensive petrol and diesel engine range available in Europe's C4s, Ireland will be mainly powered by PSA's excellent and almost industry standard HDi 1.6-litre diesel - so it will be economical to run and relatively cheap to tax.
I'm a fan of classic Citroëns - aka 'a Citroënian' - and that part of me wishes the C4 was a bit more interesting. C4 is a good car but not brilliant... We may have to wait for the new 2011 Ford Focus for that.
Michael Sheridan
