Citroen e-C4 Review

The Citroen e-C4 is a good value electric car that’s comfortable and relaxing to drive but has a shorter range than some rivals

Strengths & weaknesses

The Citroen e-C4 is an electric car based on the C4. It does away with the petrol and diesel engines of that model and instead you get a battery pack and an electric motor that allows for around 220 miles of driving range between charges.

The battery can be charged up in around seven and a half hours using a dedicated home charger, or if you’re out and about the charge time to 80% at a rapid charger (100kW) is just half an hour (the last 20% takes longer to complete, as it does on all cars).

The e-C4 uses technology shared with other models including the Peugeot e-2008 and DS 3 Crossback E-Tense. Those models could be considered as rivals for the e-C4, and there’s also the Volkswagen ID.3 and Skoda Enyaq iV to think about as well.

The motor produces 136hp and since it’s very quiet while driving, especially around town and at lower speeds, the e-C4 is more relaxing and smoother than the petrol or diesel Citroen C4. It’s nippy too, as the power is instant even from low speeds, so it’s quite fun to drive in the same way as any other electric car.

It’s also comfortable and easy to drive, plus there’s plenty of room inside both for passengers and luggage. It’s a relaxing car to spend time in and if you are looking for a good value electric car that’ll work well as family transport then it’s well worth considering.

Read on to find out more about the Citroen e-C4 and to decide whether it’s right for you, including details on which versions are best for different types of driver.

Should I get a Citroen e-C4?

Comfortable and relaxing to drive
Practical and spacious cabin
Quick to charge up

Doesn’t feel settled on twisty roads
Doesn’t have as much range as some rivals
Not a good choice for keen drivers

The Citroen e-C4 is a much more appealing car than its petrol- and diesel-powered equivalent, the C4. This is because electric power plays to the e-C4’s strengths; it’s a relaxing, comfy car that doesn’t pretend to be sporty at all. It’s designed to make driving as smooth and quiet as possible, so you can get to your destination with the minimum of fuss. The 220-mile range will be plenty for most people, especially as the e-C4 can charge up rapidly on public chargers in the rare event of a longer trip.

The e-C4 is good value, easy to drive, practical and well-equipped, so it’s a worthy competitor to the Peugeot e-2008 and Volkswagen ID.3. It’s more comfortable than the Nissan Leaf, meanwhile, and more distinctive to look at than the Hyundai Kona Electric, so the Citroen certainly has its place in the market.

Citroen e-C4 (2021-present): models explained

Citroen e-C4

BuyaCar prices from £14,495
Monthly finance from £251.79*

Citroen C4

BuyaCar prices from £14,495

Citroen e-C4

The Citroen e-C4 is an electric family car. It looks a bit like an SUV, putting it up against models such as the Skoda Enyaq iV, but it’s pitched as more of a traditional family hatchback, which would make it into a rival for the Volkswagen ID.3. It sits in a middle ground between the two, so it will have quite a wide appeal in terms of styling.

The e-C4 has a 136hp electric motor and a 50kWh battery, which allows for a driving range of about 220 miles from a full charge, according to official figures. It can go from 0-62mph in 10 seconds and can charge at a rate of 100kW, which allows for a top-up to 80% charge in half an hour. At a normal home charger it will take seven and a half hours to charge up, and most owners will typically do this overnight.

Citroen C4

The Citroen C4 is the petrol- and diesel-powered model. It has a choice of both fuel types as well as manual and automatic gearboxes, and we’ve covered it in more detail in a separate review. It has a lot in common with the e-C4, especially when it comes to looks and equipment, but the engines mean that it’s a very different consideration overall.

The trim lines in the C4 and e-C4 are the same, so you get all the same kit on an equivalent petrol or electric model. This means that you can directly compare the cost of petrol, diesel and electric versions to work out which best suits your needs.

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Which Citroen e-C4 to buy: trim levels

Trim Equipment Deals
Sense Plus Limited stock: Sense Plus is the entry-level trim on the e-C4. It gets automatic LED headlights, rear parking sensors and autonomous emergency braking, plus keyless go, sat-nav with online traffic data and temperature pre-conditioning when on charge.
Shine From £14,495: Shine gets you a heated steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, an upgraded safety braking system, traffic sign recognition with speed limit detection and tinted rear windows.
Shine Plus From £16,995: The top-spec model is called Shine Plus, and gains an upgraded stereo system, wireless smartphone charging, heated seats and leather upholstery.

 
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Citroen e-C4 batteries and range

There’s only one choice of motor and battery pack in the Citroen e-C4 range, which makes this decision very easy indeed. The 50kW battery is able to provide around 220 miles of range per charge and comes with a 136hp electric motor.

This means it can go from 0-62mph in 10 seconds - which is quite a leisurely figure for a car of this type - though it feels faster than that when you’re behind the wheel. This is because you get a surge of acceleration when you press the throttle, getting you up to speed neatly - it’s only at higher speeds that the acceleration drops.

While this battery is able to charge quickly using a wallbox charger or a public charge point, it’s worth remembering that if you have to use a three-pin plug then it will take around 24 hours to charge fully.

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Best Citroen e-C4 model for…

There’s really not much choice in the Citroen e-C4 range, since there’s only one battery and motor combination and three trim levels to choose from. This means that if you’re buying used, you can be sure that no matter which model you can find, it’s still a good choice.

This is because all models are well-equipped as standard - see the trim level section above for more details - so higher-spec versions aren’t essential to get important items such as sat-nav and smartphone connectivity with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Citroen e-C4 Sense Plus: The Sense Plus trim level offers a good balance of equipment and price, as it’s the entry-level model. It still has all the equipment you really need, but is the cheapest model.
Citroen e-C4 Sense Plus: Since all models are identical apart from the equipment you get as standard, there’s no need to choose a different model for family life - just go for the best-value version.
Citroen e-C4 Sense Plus: All Citroen e-C4s have identical performance so again we’ve chosen the same model. 0-62mph takes 10 seconds, which isn't particularly quick and the e-C4 is set up for comfort rather than performance, so don’t buy an e-C4 if you’re expecting a sporty drive.
Citroen e-C4 PureTech Shine Plus: There’s no bad choice in the e-C4 range, but we don’t think the top-spec car is as good value as the lower-spec versions. If you really want the added kit and you're happy to pay extra though, it might still be worth it.

 

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Citroen e-C4 rivals

There are lots of rivals to consider if you’re looking for an electric car that costs around the same money as the Citroen e-C4. The Citroen is halfway between a hatchback and an SUV, so that means it has even more potential rivals, too.

If you prefer a smaller, lower model then the Volkswagen ID.3 and Nissan Leaf are excellent alternatives that offer just as much range, good charging capabilities and plenty of tech. They’re comfortable to drive as well.

If you’re after an SUV, then there are even more options. The Skoda Enyaq iV is a great option, though it’s a bit more expensive, and there’s the Peugeot e-2008, Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro. The MG ZS EV is another option if you have a smaller budget, too.

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Citroen e-C4 practicality: dimensions and boot space

Citroen e-C4 dimensions

The Citroen e-C4 is around 4.4m long, 1.8m wide and 1.5m tall, which means it’s a pretty average size. There are bigger and smaller rivals, and you can read more about the car’s full size and shape in our dimensions article linked to below.

The e-C4 has a roomy interior and there’s plenty of space in the back even for adults, although shoulder room is tight when three people are in the back seats. There’s more than enough room for kids, so it’s a good family car, and access to the seats is easy enough too.

CLICK TO READ OUR FULL STORY ON CITROEN E-C4 DIMENSIONS

Length 4,355mm Width 1,800mm
Height 1,520mm Weight 1,561kg

 

Citroen e-C4 boot space

The Citroen e-C4 has the same size boot as the petrol- and diesel-powered C4, which means there is 380 litres of volume, which can be expanded to 1,250 litres with the rear seats folded down.

This is about the same as the Volkswagen ID.3 offers, but the boot lip is higher up so it can be harder to load in heavy items. The boot floor is helpfully flat, though, so sliding long luggage in and out is nice and easy.

CLICK TO READ OUR FULL STORY ON CITROEN E-C4 BOOT SPACE

Seats up 380 litres Seats down 1,250 litres

 

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Citroen e-C4 reliability

The Citroen e-C4 is an electric car and since there are fewer moving parts than in a petrol or diesel model, it’s likely to be much more reliable. It’s still a very new model and there’s not much data available on reliability yet, but since it shares parts with other Peugeot and Vauxhall models, it should be relatively simple to maintain.

Unfortunately, Citroen owners ranked the brand in 28th place out of the 29 manufacturers that appeared in the 2021 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. This shows that Citroen customers in general weren’t very happy with their cars or the customer experience.

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Citroen e-C4 warranty

The Citroen e-C4 comes with a factory warranty of three years or 60,000 miles. This is an industry standard and it’s the same as you’ll find on plenty of other models, electric or petrol- and diesel-powered. It doesn’t match the seven-year warranty offered with Kia models or the 10-year cover on Toyotas, so if you plan to buy an older version or want to keep the car for longer while under the manufacturer warranty, consider models from these brands.

You can increase the cover to five years or 100,000 miles using an official add-on from Citroen at extra cost when the car is new. The batteries in this electric model are covered for up to 100,000 miles (or eight years), which ensures they retain at least 70% of their original capacity. If they fall below this level, Citroen should replace or repair the batteries to ensure this minimum capacity level is met.

3 years 60,000 miles

 
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON USED CAR WARRANTIES

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Used Citroen e-C4: should I buy one?

If you are looking for a relatively affordable electric family car then the Citroen e-C4 is an appealing option. It has a reasonable, if not class-leading, 220-mile range from its modestly sized battery pack and it can be charged up quickly if you need to do longer trips. Performance is fine and you get plenty of standard kit for your money, too.

The best part about the e-C4 is its comfort, which is excellent. It’s great if you hate bumpy roads and potholes, because it soaks them up really well and the quiet motor means it’s relaxing and easy to drive in traffic as well. The seats are supportive too, so it’s a pleasant car to commute in.

The e-C4 isn’t very exciting to drive, but it’s relaxing and quite practical, so it’s well worth considering if you’re a pragmatic driver looking for something sensible and with low running costs.

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Best Citroen e-C4 deals

Citroen e-C4 Sense Plus

BuyaCar prices Limited stock

Citroen e-C4 Shine

BuyaCar prices from £14,495
Monthly finance from £262.75*

Citroen e-C4 Shine Plus

BuyaCar prices from £16,995
Monthly finance from £284.96*

There are only three versions of the e-C4 so here are the best deals on them. The entry-level model is the Sense Plus, which we think is the best value option. It comes with lots of kit including a large 10-inch touchscreen media system. It’s worth keeping an eye out for any used models have been fitted with an 11kW charger, which enables the car to charge faster when home charging.

The Shine trim adds a heated steering wheel to the e-C4, plus it has a different look thanks to the 18-inch alloy wheels. You get more safety equipment as standard on this model so it’s a good option if you want things like traffic sign recognition.

Shine Plus is the top-spec model in the range and comes with adaptive cruise control, leather upholstery and wireless smartphone charging. These are all nice to have but not essential, so this is not quite as good value as lesser models.

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*Representative PCP finance - 2018 Ford Fiesta 1.0 ST-Line Hatchback:

  PCP representative example     APR rates available    
  Cash price £12,000 APR 7.90%   Value of loan From  
  Fixed monthly payment £218.12 Annual mileage of 8,000pa   £25,000+ 6.9%  
  Total cost of credit £2,755.55 Term 48 months   £12,000-£24,999 7.9%  
  Optional final payment £4,285.79 Loan value £12,000   £8,000-£11,999 8.9%  
  Total amount payable £14,755.55 Deposit £0   <8,000 9.9%  

 

BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.