The first time you spark up a Citroen C4 VTS and spin the wheel is a revelation. Not because the steering feels astonishing in any great regard, merely because the centre boss of the wheel remains fixed, staring back implacably. At first, it's a little disconcerting. Get used to it and you'll wonder why nobody thought of it before. Citroen tend to be very good at creating exactly this innovation - simple yet practical.

Practical? Clock how any functions Citroen have put onto the steering wheel and you'll realise that this is a valuable safety feature. Rather than taking your eyes off the road to locate a wheel-mounted button, the controls are always within easy reach. What's more, the fact that a wheel boss rotated has meant that designers had to fit circular air bags. Given that human beings aren't round, a more elongated bag to protect the head and thorax would be a much better idea; something the C4's wheel now permits.

Practicality and safety may seem a rather odd way to introduce a ripsnorting hot hatch, but then the C4 VTS ploughs a rather unconventional furrow. Two three-door 'Coupe' models are offered. The quickest car in the line up is a punchy 150bhp 1.6 THP petrol model, but the bigger seller could continue to be the 140bhp 2.0-litre HDi diesel version. The old Xsara VTR HDi was always a cracking car in terms of value and the C4 VTS HDi takes the baton and runs with it, the asking price of around £19,000 looking very buyable, even if the car is more expensive than the petrol powered VTS, which retails at around £17,500.

The latest, facelifted Citroen C4 Coupe models are tasked with appealing to buyers who may be younger and are after something both sporty and stylish. If you're familiar with the original C4 Coupe, then the changes to the 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 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.

"The VTS looks as if it's just leapt fresh off a stylist's Mac"

Fitted with 17-inch wheels as standard, the VTS looks as if it's just leapt fresh off a stylist's Mac. This variant features a spoiler at the rear, and safety and security are bolstered further with the fitment of acoustic laminated side windows and a volumetric and perimetric alarm. Active safety is enhanced with ESP and Traction control standard on both models, while xenon Dual Function Directional headlamps improve the driver's field of vision when cornering in the dark.

Making life easier, both VTS models come with rear parking sensors as standard, with front parking sensors an option. The interior benefits from a leather trimmed steering wheel with chrome inserts, heated and folding door mirrors as well as footwell and door sill lighting. A five CD autochanger is concealed neatly in the front central armrest. Citroen claim class-leading aerodynamics, the drag coefficent of just 0.28 paying dividends not only in performance and economy but also in keeping the all-important CO2 emissions in check.

Performance of both models is strong. The 150bhp 1.6 THP VTS will accelerate to 60mph in 8.4 seconds and see the other side of 130mph, with combined fuel economy pegged at 40.9mpg and carbon dioxide emissions rated at 164g/km. The diesel version is a little slower off the mark, notching off the benchmark sprint in 9.7 seconds and maxing out at 129mph, although it gets its own back with a stunning combined economy figure of 53.3mpg and emissions of just 140g/km. There are so many diesel compact cars that, when the final sums are complete, require you to log intergalactic mileages to justify their price premium over their petrol engined equivalents but the C4 VTS isn't one of them. The engine's 236lb/ft of torque also shows the petrol engined car's 177lb/ft the way home. I think you're starting to realise where the smart money's going here.

This being Citroen, we can take a whole host of innovations for granted and the C4 doesn't come up short. An involuntary lane departure warning system has been developed that aims to prevent drivers from losing concentration or dozing off at the wheel. Moving dual function Xenon headlamps offer improved lighting when cornering and provide a neat historical throwback to the DS model.

No car in this class can shift serious numbers unless it scores well on the safety front and Citroen is aiming for a full set of stars in the EuroNCAP safety tests. The multi-function steering wheel houses a whole host of the controls from the centre console, ensuring that the driver is in touch with the control of the vehicle at all times. Despite the multitude of functions marshalled by the tiller, there's still room for an airbag that Citroen claims offers better protection than any of their prior designs.

Building in features more often seen on luxury cars is an ongoing theme, the C4 featuring laminated side window glass. Not only does this aid safety in the result of an accident, it also provides enhanced protection against crime and even boosts the cabin's acoustic qualities. Manufacturers of car stereos have long lamented the fact that with a high proportion of echoing surfaces, the car's interior is one of the most acoustically challenging environments in which to create great sounding music reproduction. It has been found that the insulating layer of clear plastic inside a laminated windscreen produced less acoustic scatter than the harsher echoes that rebounded off a more brittle toughened screen.

The innovations don't stop there. The C4 even features a scented air freshener built into the dashboard to prolong that fantastic new car smell. One of the nicer detail touches is a translucent instrument cluster that adjusts to ambient light levels, giving a clear readout whatever the light conditions. Many cars offer LCD screens that are virtually impossible to read in daylight and if you switch your headlamps on so that other cars can see you coming, the problem can get worse. Thankfully Citroen have spent some time and money coming up with a solution.

Some sports hatches are virtually impossible to justify on any rational basis, but in building a safe, spacious and practical funster, Citroen should be applauded. This is the current state of the art.

TOP 2 C4 DEALS

The results below show the top C4 deals on buyacar

	Citroen C4 2.0HDi 16V VTS 3dr Coupe
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £5,354	Price £13,138
	Citroen C4 1.6i 16V THP VTS 3dr Coupe
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £4,594	Price £12,528