Review of the new Citroen C4 1.6 Vti

Citroen's C4 was let down in its original form by some rather unremarkable petrol engines. While some of them continue at the bottom of the range, most customers looking to run their C4 from the green pump will opt for the 120bhp 1.6-litre VTi engine we look at here. Nor should they be disappointed. This unit, along with a package of restyling and quality changes, has kept this car in contention in the crowded family hatchback sector.

Rarely has one engine powered three so very different cars. The 120bhp 1.6-litre VTi petrol unit, developed jointly by BMW and the PSA Group, is used in the MINI Cooper, the Peugeot 308 and in the car we're looking at here, the latest version of Citroen's hi-tech C4 family hatchback. What's even stranger is that it manages to suit three very different characters of car: small and sporty (the MINI), relaxed and long-legged (the Peugeot) and... well... How would we characterise the Citroen C4 we're looking at here? Perhaps it's exactly what most buyers want: an accomplished all-rounder.

At its original launch in 2004, the C4 felt fresh and distinctive and it still does. As before, there's a choice of Coupe and Hatchback models. 'Coupe' is Citroen-speak for 3-door, the family-orientated 5-door derivatives being called simply 'Hatchback'.

If you didn't know that this engine was borrowed from the MINI Cooper, then there's a chance you might guess the fact at the wheel of a spiritedly driven C4 1.6 VTi. Sixty zings by in ten seconds on the way to a top speed of just over 120mph, but those two figures don't really give you much idea of the real world speed of this car. A more telling statistic is the fact that 90% of this car's maximum torque is available all the way through the rev range from under 2,000 through to 6,000rpm. That's turbo diesel-like pulling power and it could be attractive if your average mileage is so low that the HDI diesel's price premium simply doesn't add up.

"The most significant thing about the C4 facelift is that it has changed this car from being a family hatchback you only bought if you wanted a diesel engine.."

The initial impression when driving the C4 is that its makers may have overdone it on the innovation front. Digital read-outs shine back at you wherever you look and the centre of the steering wheel is fixed in position. Remarkably, however, once you get over the initial strangeness, everything works very well. You only need to divert your eyes from the road slightly to pick up the wealth of information on the main dash-top display, which now incorporates a rev counter that, if you really get your foot down, flashes red at the limit, prompting you to change up. Rear visibility is hindered somewhat by the unorthodox rear window on the Coupe but parking isn't a problem as the bottom section of the split screen gives decent view of objects immediately behind the car.

If you're familiar with the original C4, then the changes to this facelifted version won't come as too much of a shock. There's a redesigned, curvier bonnet to make it look more like the large C5, whilst the grille benefits from restyled integrated chevrons. The front bumper has also been revamped and the number plate repositioned for what Citroen hope is 'a stronger, sportier, more dynamic look'. The rear lights of the C4 Coupe are now finished in transparent crystal, there are fresh wheel designs and paint colours, plus in the pursuit of 'added elegance', chrome inserts are featured on some models.

Inside the cabin, the rev counter has been relocated to the innovative translucent central display unit. A plush grain is now featured on the dashboard and doors which, along with the smarter decor, makes for a more upmarket feel, while the integrated scented air freshener deals with unwanted odours.

The interior is spacious and the Coupe provides similar amounts of rear legroom and boot space to the Hatchback. The boot opening is narrower, however, and the levers that fold the front seats forward allowing access to the rear have a habit of sticking up to catch the shins of passengers climbing in. Ouch.

Prices start at just over £15,000, which means that spec for spec, a 120bhp 1.6-litre VTi C4 can be yours for a premium of well under £1,000 less than the weedy entry-level 90bhp 1.4-litre 16v model. That seems like decent value. There's also the widest choice of spec of any engine in the C4 range. You can buy a C4 1.6 VTi with all of the five-door hatchback model's main trim levels - VTR, VTR+ and Exclusive - and as a three-door Coupe.

All Citroen C4 models receive ABS with EBD and brake assist, twin front and lateral airbags plus side window airbags. There's a multi-function trip computer, a CD stereo, remote central locking, electric front windows, electric door mirrors, power steering and cruise control with a speed limiter. This is a well equipped car and it becomes even more so as you ascend the trim level range. In recent times, there have also been a number of technology upgrades. Citroen's latest Europe-wide navigation system, MyWay, has been introduced, which features a high-resultion 7-inch colour screen, Bluetooth and USB connectivity as well as an audio system with a built-in 10GB hard drive.

CO2 emissions for the 1.6-litre VTi models are 159g/km - or 165g/km if you go for the automatic version. That's not too far above the 140g/km you'd achieve in the comparable 2.0-litre HDi diesel model. And fuel economy? Well, you can expect 30.4mpg on the urban cycle, 54.3mpg on the open road extra urban measurement and 42.2mpg in combined motoring.

The most significant thing about the C4 facelift is that it has changed this car from being a family hatchback you only bought if you wanted a diesel engine. In many ways for many buyers, this 1.6-litre VTi petrol version might end up being a better choice than its petrol counterpart.

Aside from that, all of the other C4 virtues hold true: it's quirky but endearing in a way we once feared the brand had lost forever. Modern Citroens should be more than simply re-badged, restyled Peugeots. You couldn't say that of this car's Xsara predecessor but the C4 returns Citroen to its natural place in the family hatchback pecking order. And with this engine? Quirky and sensible in one package? That's about the size of it.

TOP 4 C4 DEALS

The results below show the top C4 deals on buyacar

Citroen C4 1.6i 16V VTi VTR Plus 5dr Hatchback
Price £14,587 Click for a C4 Review	Save £1,408
Citroen C4 1.6i 16V VTi Exclusive 5dr Hatchback
Price £15,339 Click for a C4 Review	Save £1,456
Citroen C4 1.6i 16V VTi VTR Plus 3dr Coupe
Price £15,230 Click for a C4 Review	Save £597
Citroen C4 1.6i 16V VTi VTR 3dr Coupe
Price £14,461 Click for a C4 Review	Save £549