New Citroen C4 and C4 X – Barcelona Test: Brand new, hybrid and electric

The first two of the 8 new models to launch or within 2025, I had the opportunity to drive to the Sitges area, a few kilometers outside Barcelona, in an area that combines ideal mountain and sea in a neat and clean environment. The new Citroen C4, but also the variant of C4X, are two cars of the new era of the French brand. I remember the far 2004, when in Biaric, France I first drove the C4, which took the baton from Xsara, how impressed I was on the one hand by the design, and on the other hand by the fact that the French presented two body styles, a Coupe three-door and a Hatch five-door. CORVERSE Citroen did not stay there, as she launched other variants on the market, such as a four-door Saloon version and the famous C4 Picasso in a shorter and longer version, both in a multiforme MPV body. In 2010 Citroen renewed the C4 and followed another dynamic change in 2017, while 2020 came the entirely different, 3rd generation of the model, combining two worlds, Coupe and SUV, with Citroen flanking the 5-door version with a four-door that called it C4 X and featured it on the market in 2022. At the same time, the advent of electric drive did not leave Citroen indifferent, which also presented the purely electric versions e-C4 and e-C4 X of 134 horses with a 50 kWh battery that gave autonomy 350 km. To get to today, as after the unveiling of the brand new C4 and C4 X, the 4th generation, last autumn at the Paris Motor Show, came the moment of launch on the market. So, in the Sitges area, I drove both bodies, which this time do retain the purely electric versions, but upgraded hybrid technology makes conventional versions very economical in both acquisition, purchase and use. New appearance The C4, with its elevated attitude, combines the dynamism of a Coupe with the discreet adoption of certain stylistic features of an SUV. It is 4.35 m long, 1.8 m wide and 1,525 m high. On the other hand, C4 X, with 4.580 m long (the same width and height as C4), combines the elegance and fluidity of a fastback, the finesse of a spacious 4 door, and the appearance of an SUV, namely three worlds. Both bear the new Citroen signal in front, at the center of a redesigned grill, while the thin front LED lighting bodies have a characteristic light signature consisting of three distinct horizontal sections, to distinguish from a distance. Front flashes have LED technology, and are integrated directly into the bottom of the light signature. With all this, the front bumper incorporating a modern introduction and with a detail in the vertical front light bodies, the aerodynamic performance of the car improved. The 18-yard rims and LED lights back, with the rear completely revised, complete a very harmonious silhouette, in both bodies. Technology and comfort At two points the designers and engineers focused on the new C4 and C4 X. The first was technology, adopting a brand new digital instrument panel with a 7-inch high-definition display right behind the steering wheel. This screen is connected to the networked 3D navigation system, optional in the Plus version, and standard in the Max version. Combined with the 10-inch touch screen and the colored head-up-display system that displays basic car information on an emerging screen, they create a new reality in the pleasant cabin, which has a small, relatively steering wheel available to the driver as well as natural switches for air conditioning. Start with switch while we find USB and Type ports C for connection -0 charging external sources, automatic gearbox and electric handbrake. C4 and C4 X offer a last generation infotainment system with fast and ergonomic 3D navigation, the interface also has physical speech recognition with the ‘Hello Citroen’ command, the system can be easily upgraded through the ‘over the air’ function, and ChatGPT, which will also be available in Greece in the near future. At the second point where engineers stood, it was comfort, as the innovative Advanced Comfort post was placed, which we have known in recent years from other Citroen models. This technology uses the solution of Progressive Hydralic Cushions (hydraulic cut-off), which absorb the anomalies of the pavement, giving the feeling that the car is moving on a magic carpet. Of course, on the well-paved roads of Spain you did not have to see this, but in Greece with worse roads in urban and periurban environments, driving Citroen with this suspension, you really do not feel vibration. The suspension is combined with fantastic Advanced Comfort technology seats, which have been redesigned and have additional foam filling with 1.5cm thickness, provide improved side support, while you can adjust the driver seat to height and waist. With the same wheelbase, 2.67 m the new C4 and C4 X offer comfort for 5 adult passengers, with 380 litres of trunk capacity in C4 and 510 liters in C4 X, whose back of the rear seats is adjusted to a slope of degrees, for restful posture of the body. Hybrid drive sets New C4 and C4 X is equipped with hybrid technology 48v. At two different power levels, with Hybrid 136 at the new C4 and C4 X, and Hybrid 100 at the new C4, this technology can reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions up to 20%, while in urban environment, within the city, at low speeds, 50% of driving can be done by electrification function, reducing carbon footprint and operating cost. In Hybrid 136 version, the 3-cylinder, turbo engine of 1.199 cm yields 136hp (100kW) at 5,500 Sal. and 230Nm torque at 1.750 Sal. The motor collaborates with a modern permanent magnet electric motor, yielding 21 kW (28 horsepower) and 55 Nm torque, which helps him start, and charges the battery during braking, minimizing brake wear. The system is complemented by a strap for the 48V starter for quick start of the internal combustion engine, a 6-bar electric double clutch e-DCS6, and a 48V lithium ion battery, 432Wh mounted under the front left seat, keeping the passenger and trunk space unchanged. The Hybrid 100 version with an improved 1.2lt gasoline engine, yields 100hp (74kW) at 5,500 Sal. with a torque of 205 Nm at 1.750 Sal.. Citroen e-C4 X Pure Electric Editions In 2020, Citroen was one of the first car companies to offer 100% electric range in a Saloon model of the small and medium-sized category C, with two strong options that still form part of Citroen’s philosophy today. Thus, it offers the new e-C4 and e-C4 X with electric versions of 115kW (136hp) and 100kW (156hp), which offer autonomy up to 420 and 360 km, respectively, where choosing a 54kWh battery, in the first version and 50kWh in the second, combined with fast charging, reduce costs, weight and consumption, while facilitating long-distance coverage. Innovation in Citroen is the fact that it added the V2L technology, or “Vehicle-to-Load”, with which electrical versions not only get power, but can with adapter also give, charging a computer, an electric grill or anything else charged by plug. Citroen C4 Hybrid Security Technology New C4 and C4 X are supplied with up to 20 advanced driving aid systems such as the Active Safety Brake, the impending collision risk warning (Collision Risk Alert), the Highway Driver Assist, the custom Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, the blind spot monitoring system, the traffic lane diversion warning, and more. In addition to the color head-up display, there is a rear-view camera with a top rear view covering a 180 degree wide-angle arc on the touch screen, and a 360 degree regional visibility system around the vehicle, with a real-time image relay, to assist the driver during short-speed manoeuvres. In conclusion, the new C4 & C4 X are already in Greece and are available at a starting price of 23,900 euros for the C4 in the hybrid 100hp YOU version and 25,900 euros in the hybrid 136hp YOU version for C4 X. Electric publications cost from 22,969,35 euros e-C4 and from 23,954,84 e-C4 X (with state subsidy).