Arriving a few months after the 5-door version, the Citroën C4. Behind this automotive melting pot, the C4X contains the best of Citroën, starting with absolutely stunning comfort.
An all-round boot
Trying to sell a 4-door car on the European market can be a challenge, as this market seems reluctant to accept any proposal with a boot, at least in the lower segments. The second silhouette of the programme that gave birth to the C4 required the C4X to be an international car, so the choice was made to offer a 4-door variant in coupé style. With success, as the Citroën 4-door saloon has been very successful in Turkey since its launch, quickly becoming the brand's bestseller and one of the country's best-selling cars.
In Europe, however, the situation is more difficult with more than 11,000 units sold in Europe in 2023, or 18.86% of the Citroën C4 volume. A small but not insignificant volume, which allows the brand to strengthen its position in the compact sedan segment with more than 70,000 units sold on the European market. However, since the beginning of the year, sales of the C4X have increased by 32% on the European market, a sign of slow customer acceptance despite the obvious qualities of this 4-door saloon.
Of course, a boot is less practical than a tailgate, that's for sure, but who really needs a tailgate on a daily basis? Very few, and in the vast majority of cases, the C4X proves to be perfectly adequate, accepting to swallow the luggage of a whole family without any problems, despite the limited loading height due to the boot. However, thanks to its considerable loading length, the C4X has a boot capacity of more than 500 litres, which can be increased if necessary thanks to its ⅔-⅓ split rear seat.
In addition, the C4X offers the same level of spaciousness as the C4, one of the best in its segment, with record knee room both front and rear, giving all passengers room to move around and carry their luggage with ease. You have to be able to go beyond preconceived notions of a hatchback to adopt a C4X, but once you do, you realise how ideal this 4-door saloon can be and meet the needs of families for whom large loads are far from their daily priority. In any case, during this holiday the C4X proved to be perfect, swallowing the whole family's luggage with ease and offering more space than the 5-door C4.
Exceptional comfort
As a 4-door version of the C4, the C4X inherits all the advantages of its little sister, starting with a level of comfort that is truly exceptional. Equipped with double suspension and Advanced Comfort seats, the Citroën C4X offers the best comfort in its segment, allowing you to cover miles without feeling tired. Whether in the city, on roads or motorways, the C4X is regal, absorbing with rare talent all the irregularities of the road, whether small grooves or large bumps. Far from being a punishment, crossing France at the wheel is a pleasure at every moment, in a car that is not only remarkably welcoming to its four occupants, but also incredibly considerate, thanks to the Advanced Comfort suspension. Of course, the flexibility of the settings means a certain amount of roll, especially on mountainous roads, but the C4X is nevertheless reassuring, with handling beyond suspicion and perfect adjustment of the driving aids, the electronic crutches playing their part. office gently and at the right time.
Powered by a 130 bhp 1.5 HDi engine and mated to an EAT8 gearbox, the C4X is quiet except when changing gear, especially uphill, but most of the time the engine is discreet and the combination with the automatic gearbox, which is smooth and always changes gear at the right time, works wonders and contributes to the overall comfort of the car with an absolutely smooth ride that invites you to drive coolly, enjoying the comfort rather than going wild. The only minor drawback is the aerodynamic noise on the motorway, which can be a little annoying at 120 km/h and above, although the volume of the radio does a good job of dampening it, it can become annoying in the long run. Nothing too bad, though, as the C4X responds to all requests with pleasure, distilling an incomparable softness and comfort, ensuring space for all passengers, those in the back having a 2° higher inclination of the backrest compared to a 5-door C4, which further increases the level of comfort. In short, the C4X is truly a car for the whole family, where each member is very well accommodated, with enough space to be perfectly comfortable, in soft seats that perfectly support the body, and where everyone can enjoy the overall comfort of this 4-door herringbone saloon that makes travelling so enjoyable.
Long-distance traveller
The C4X is the antithesis of what European politicians defend with a non-hybrid diesel engine. However, these same politicians should take a long trip on board to understand the wonders that the brand's teams have achieved.
Using the aerodynamic principles of the C4, the C4X turns out to be a camel that can travel more than 900 kilometres without recharging, an autonomy that any electric car can only dream of. Despite the weight of the luggage and a road profile that is far from optimal, and above all driven without any search for savings, the C4X HDi 130 showed a remarkably controlled consumption over the 4,000 kilometres spent at the wheel, with only 5.5 litres per 100, thanks to its 50-litre tank.
Throughout this long stay, on all profiles, the C4X has always been perfect, guaranteeing an honourable performance in all circumstances, loaded or unloaded. It is certainly not a sports car, far from it, but driven like the excellent family car that it is, the C4X HDi offers enough acceleration to be able to merge or overtake in complete safety on the motorway or to climb mountain passes with vigour and without ever running out of breath. Only occasionally does the car require you to regain control using the steering wheel paddles to give it more momentum on certain sections of steep climbs.
In conclusion, it goes without saying that I was delighted to make this trip in the C4X and that throughout the journey it never disappointed me, on the contrary, it always enchanted me and ultimately won me over. It is true that a 4-door hatchback is not common or culturally acceptable and that we have to overcome our fears, but what a joy it is to drive on a daily basis as well as on long journeys, in the city or on the motorway. With a camel's consumption that allows a range of almost 1,000 kilometres, the C4X proves to be a formidable machine to swallow the kilometres that it will make you do with a remarkable sense of welcome and in the best comfort. Livable, comfortable, soft, well finished and correctly equipped, it is difficult to find fault with this 4-door saloon, which is quite unique on the market but has rare talents.
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