Citroën C4: it will overtake the Peugeot 308 in Europe in March 2025

The European automotive market sales figures for March 2025 have been released, revealing a mixed picture for Citroën. While the overall market shows a slight increase, the brand with the double chevron registered another significant decline in its sales volumes. This situation, primarily explained by the notable absence of the new C3 Aircross and production constraints affecting the availability of electrified powertrains, could initially cause concern. However, behind this general observation, a noteworthy performance is shedding light on these results and providing strong reasons for optimism: that of the Citroën C4. This model demonstrates a resilience and appeal that warrant a closer look.

Citroën C4: an exemplary performance in a demanding segment

In this complex market context, the performance of the C4 and its C4 X variant stands out as a genuine bright spot. In March 2025, these models achieved a feat unprecedented in their history in Europe: they surpassed the Peugeot 308 in monthly sales volume. The figures speak for themselves: with 8,141 cumulative units for the C4 (7,166) and the C4 X (975), Citroën's compact sedans positioned themselves ahead of the Peugeot 308, which totaled 7,853 sales (including hatchback and station wagon versions). This marks a significant first on the European market, which had never happened before.

This performance is all the more remarkable given that the generalist compact sedan segment is facing significant challenges, marked by an overall decline in sales in favor of B-segment SUVs. While C4 sales show a slight decrease of 5.19% compared to March 2024, this drop is significantly less pronounced than that of its direct competitors, some of which registered declines of at least 18% over the same period. This resilience testifies to the relevance of the unique concept offered by the C4, skillfully blending the codes of a sedan, an SUV, and a coupe. Introduced at the beginning of 2025, the significant restyling reinforced this distinctive personality, and it already seems to be bearing fruit, allowing the C4 to navigate a difficult market better than its rivals. Already in 2024, the C4 had established itself as the second best-selling generalist compact sedan in Europe, proving the appeal of its proposition. The fact that it surpassed the Peugeot 308 in March 2025 is a clear confirmation of this positive momentum.

The situation of the C3: a temporary dip?

Beyond the excellent news regarding the C4, the figures for the Citroën C3 for the month of March are less flattering. With 17,281 units sold, the city car recorded a decrease of 19% compared to March 2024. This performance saw it exit the European Top 10, whereas it still held the second position in sales in February and ranked 7th in March of the previous year, then boosted by a 16% growth.

However, it is crucial to contextualize this decline. This comparison is made against the excellent scores achieved by the previous generation C3 in the first quarter of 2024. Furthermore, as Thierry Koskas, Citroën's CEO, recently highlighted, the brand has a very solid order book, with no less than 80,000 orders awaiting delivery for the new C3 and C3 Aircross alone. This considerable volume strongly suggests that the decline observed in March is more related to production and delivery constraints for the new models than to a failure in demand or lack of appeal. The gradual arrival of the new generations on the market should logically reverse this trend in the coming months.

In conclusion, while Citroën's overall sales figures in March 2025 reflect the current challenges related to launches and production, they should not hide individual successes. The performance of the Citroën C4 is particularly noteworthy. Not only is it resisting better than its direct competitors in a struggling segment, but it has managed, for the first time, to position itself ahead of the Peugeot 308 in a given month. This is a very significant symbolic and commercial victory that validates the relevance of its bold concept. The recent restyling, which further refines its offering, should logically contribute to maintaining and potentially amplifying this positive momentum in the coming months, making the C4 a pillar of the Citroën range and a real asset against the competition.