[Review] Citroën C4 Hybrid 145 on test: an excellent choice.

A few days after test-driving the new electric Citroën C4, I had the opportunity to try out the compact sedan with the engine that is set to be the best-seller: the Hybrid 145. This new hybrid engine is now well known and allows the C4 to offer the best of itself by taking advantage of its natural efficiency. After spending 15 days at the wheel, I can share my thoughts on this popular C4. [Review] Citroën C4 Hybrid 145 on test: an excellent choice.

A pleasing style

This facelift has undoubtedly made the Citroën C4 more stylish. It now has a significantly more modern and dynamic front end, giving it a much more assertive personality. This contrasts radically with the previous version, which had rather bulging eyes and LED bars that could have given the impression of being outdated.

Here, the very slim headlights blend into the black grille, visually widening the car and giving it a more vertical and elevated front end. This allows the C4 to modify its profile slightly.

Thanks to its visually higher front end and visually lower rear end, the C4's profile changes slightly, becoming less sloping, more grounded and more elegant.

With its new body colour, Manhattan Green, combined with a black roof, the new C4 has a much more modern look than before. This style aims for simplicity and visual expansion, and above all allows the unique concept of this C4 — half sedan, half SUV — to be better highlighted.

The latest registration figures in Europe show that this successful restyling is convincing customers, which is excellent news for the C4.

The changes inside the C4 are much more limited, consisting of new seats, a 7-inch instrument cluster and a larger glove compartment. The famous tablet holder has been removed, as it was not used much. However, after the presentation of the new C5 Aircross, it is disappointing that the brand was not able to refresh the interior more substantially; it remains rather dark despite the light grey seat backs and light roof lining. This interior lacks warmth, especially compared to the brand's latest models. I would have liked Citroën to replace the grey fabric on the dashboard with a darker colour, as this would have brightened up the interior and made it feel warmer. Despite this, the C4's interior plastics are rather good, with a slight foam effect on the dashboard cover and harder plastics on the lower parts. Overall, the quality of the materials is good and the assembly is solid.

The C4's engine is well-suited to the car.

I was thrilled by the electric version of the C4, which I described as the best C4 ever. The electric engine's smoothness, linearity, and lack of noise and vibration maximised the comfort of the chevron-shaped saloon, enabling it to perform at its best.

Eager to experience this hybrid version, set to be the best-selling in the range, I wanted to see how the engine would blend with the C4's usual features. And what can I say? It's pure joy! The combination of this hybrid engine and the C4's qualities is a daily pleasure that transforms every journey, no matter how short, into an enjoyable experience. You'll be eager to drive this version at every opportunity.

The interior of the C4 has undergone fewer changes, with new seats, a 7-inch instrument cluster, and a larger glove compartment. The tablet holder has been removed as it was rarely used. However, after the presentation of the new C5 Aircross, it's a shame that the brand didn't refresh the interior more, as it remains quite dark despite the grey seat backs and light roof lining. This interior lacks warmth, especially compared to the brand's latest models. I would have liked Citroën to replace the grey fabric on the dashboard with a darker colour, as this would have brightened up the interior and made it feel warmer. Despite this, the C4's interior plastics are rather good, with a slight foam effect on the dashboard cover and harder plastics on the lower parts, and the overall quality is high.

There is no need to revisit the well-known 145 hybrid engine at Stellantis. It combines a 136 horsepower petrol engine with a 28 horsepower electric motor housed in the 6-speed automatic gearbox, providing a total power output of 145 horsepower. This is all supported by a small 0.43 kWh battery, which can be easily recharged thanks to the efficient energy recovery system. Citroën promises that 50% of city driving time will be done in 100% electric mode. I can assure you that this level is easily achievable, but above all it can be significantly exceeded once you have mastered driving efficiently with this hybrid technology. On my 95-kilometre test lap, which combined city, national/departmental and motorway driving, the C4 Hybrid 145 achieved an average fuel consumption of 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres, including an impressive 4.5 litres in the city, where electric power accounted for 66% of the journey time. This represents a reduction of 2 litres compared to the C4 HDI 130 EAT8 tested on the same route, and a fuel consumption reduction of 50% compared to the C4 PureTech 130, which can be thirsty in the city. The advantages of the hybrid engine are therefore clear, especially since it also improves driving sensations compared to the previous 130 petrol version by eliminating the main defect, namely the engine noise during the first three gear changes. Here, on the contrary, the start is made in electric mode, therefore smoothly and silently, before switching to the thermal engine — essentially to pick up speed. As soon as the maximum speed is reached and/or the accelerator is released, we switch back to electric mode and can drive several hundred metres without any difficulty. This hybrid version is not confined to parking lots, as is often said.  Even without practising eco-driving, you can easily take advantage of the electric motor over fairly long distances by making optimal use of the technology. For example, I was able to cover 2 kilometres in the new C3 Aircross at 70 km/h. I wasn't able to achieve the same performance with the C4 mainly because another car got in my way and I had to stop and restart, switching on the combustion engine.

The C3 Aircross's performance confirms that the 145 hybrid engine is best suited to the C4. I was able to test it across the entire range, but the C4 is the best match for the 145 hybrid engine, combining the natural efficiency of the chevron-shaped saloon to achieve reduced fuel consumption and providing the extra smoothness of the electric motor for enhanced comfort in this highly successful C4. The first quality of the brand's compact saloon is hard to overlook, as the comfort offered is excellent in all circumstances and on all types of terrain, at all speeds and at all states of charge. Each journey is a pleasure, with the cabin transforming into a protective bubble, isolated from the outside world. However, it would be unfair to reduce the C4 to its comfort alone, as it has other qualities too, notably its spaciousness in the front and rear, where passengers of all sizes will benefit from generous space and wonderful comfort. The only drawback is that Citroën has not taken the opportunity of this restyling to provide USB-C sockets at the rear, instead offering only a single USB-A socket. It's a shame that the C4 is being overlooked in favour of the C3 Aircross.

In conclusion, I spent 15 wonderful days aboard the C4 Hybrid 145. I remain convinced that the electric version is the best, but the combination of the hybrid engine and the chevron saloon is undoubtedly the best in the range. I look forward to trying the new C5 Aircross. Of course, this is only a restyling, with Citroën focusing on the exterior modifications to the C4. The interior modifications are too minimal to bring warmth or a technological upgrade, particularly in terms of connectivity, with too few outdated USB sockets. However, the brand certainly offers a compact saloon with unparalleled comfort and smooth driving, as well as unique interior space for each passenger and reduced fuel consumption, making this C4 Hybrid 145 a great proposition in the compact saloon segment.