The most comfortable in the class?

There is not much that distinguishes the Citroën C4 from its competitors in this class. With the PSA group's superb e-HDI powertrain, high level of equipment and level of safety, the C4 belongs in the top group of the class. The C4 is experienced as a comfortable car – perhaps the most comfortable in its class?

Look and feel

I have always liked the design of the new C4. The previous model was a good car, but it had some design quirks. Here in the new C4, everything is as standard as a Volkswagen. If you come straight from a Golf or Passat, you will find a surprising number of similarities. Same feeling of quality. Same electronic handbrake solution. Blue light in the dashboard - which Volkswagen has otherwise done away with... The seats look like Volkswagen, but the bright partial leather seats in the Exclusive version feel a little more comfortable.

Inside the car, I notice large window areas, apart from the visibility to the rear which is as bad as all cars of this type.

I got to test drive a version with GPS. The choice of materials in the dashboard and panels, as well as the large screen, contribute to a good feeling of quality.

Minus for strong glare in the instruments. The main instrument with speedometer is completely unreadable on a bright summer day with lots of sun.

Driving pleasure

The C4's engine/driveline is based on the latest version of the PSA group's HDI initiative. An e-HDI of 90 horsepower is more than enough to drive effortlessly everywhere. The gearbox's five steps cover the Norwegian speed ranges well so that the engine can run at favorable revs everywhere. The engine pulls very well at low revs. When driving long distances on foreign highways, I felt no need for a sixth gear.

The car's chassis is more comfortable than sporty. But it still feels like the car is fully capable of handling all extreme situations if needed. The gearbox is precise but not click-clack, and does not invite sporty driving. Nor does the steering invite sporty driving. This is a car for road cruising.

Comfort

The seats in the Exclusive version are comfortable. They are slightly softer than many competitors, but still provide sufficient lateral support. The chassis is thought to be comfortably set up, but not so much that it affects the driving characteristics. You actually get a bit of a big car feeling when the car is at speed.

Low noise level in all speed ranges contributes to the good feeling of comfort. Likewise, the equipment level with two-zone automatic air conditioning, automatic lighting, rain sensor, retractable mirrors - to name a few.

Place

In the back seat I get the feeling of sitting a little high, but it could also be that the large side windows are deceiving me. Legroom in the back seat is good, even when I'm sitting behind a driver's seat adjusted for a 1,88 meter person.

The trunk is easy to use and feels more spacious than it actually is.

Security

Passive safety is at the top level. Blind spot warning in the side mirrors and seat belt warning for the rear seat are also standard on the Exclusive version. Distance detectors at the front and rear are connected to the large screen and provide visual notification of the parking distances around the car.

You can also order your C4 with high-tech adaptive lights and the AFIL system, which wakes you up if the car changes lanes without using indicators.

Economy

Very low operating costs. Low fuel consumption. You can order a service package that gives a full overview of the maintenance costs. Purchase price in the 250-300 price range is nothing to complain about as these are very well equipped cars. Citroën does not have a tradition of keeping trade-in prices high, but since the C000 shares a powertrain with Peugeot, Volvo and Ford among others, I think trade-in prices will remain at an acceptable level. C4 deserves a five here!