Citroën ë-C4 X Electrical evaluate: Stretch out

In the event you’re taking a look at these footage of the Citroën ë-C4 X Electrical and have already learn the Citroën ë-C4 review that appeared a few years in the past, you is likely to be questioning what is going on on.

Take a look on the entrance finish of the Citroën ë-C4 X Electrical and it is unimaginable to identify something totally different from the sooner automotive. Nonetheless, issues get barely totally different as you head across the again of the saloon, the place there is a bona fide boot, versus a hatchback.

The Citroën ë-C4 X Electrical can be, because the title suggests, an EV-only version of the automotive, so it is not doable to get a petroleum equal should you’re nonetheless not offered on an all-electric family saloon.

Even supposing it is acquired a boot, the Citroën ë-C4 X Electrical is not brief on house both, so should you can stay with no hatchback in your life, however nonetheless want room for all these household gadgets once you go on a run, this might be the automotive for you.

Spot the distinction

The ë-C4 X Electrical is not a headturner, however the general design of the outside is nice sufficient, albeit barely innocuous. When it comes to choices, there’s the Sense, Sense Plus and Shine with the lower-level trim choice delivering rather a lot for not large cash at slightly below £32K, as much as simply over £35K for the Shine Plus instance seen right here.

It is a kind of automobiles that leaves you feeling quite detached about it from some angles, however actually fairly enthusiastic when seen from others. The again finish, for instance, appears actually good because of some properly executed taillights. Identical goes for the entrance finish actually, with some cool LED headlights and accented trim prospers on the bumper.

Citroen

The stance of the ë-C4 X Electrical is sort of purposeful too because it rides fairly excessive, though the best way the roofline flows all the way down to the boot on the again does really steal a little bit of headroom once you’re stepping into the rear seats. There’s positively much less fuss behind this automotive in comparison with the model with the tailgate, and whereas it is simpler to see out the again than the Citroën ë-C4, you will nonetheless be glad of the on-board reversing digital camera.

Alongside the perimeters, there are giant chunks of plastic that reduce up into the doorways from the sills, in addition to across the wheel arches and these really work fairly effectively. In the event you select one of many brighter colors this impact is even higher as you get a pleasant line in distinction. With the darker colors, like the instance we examined, the impact is much less dramatic. However, put all of it collectively and the ë-C4 X Electrical would not boast any jaw-dropping design touches, nevertheless it is a fairly fairly factor.

Citroen

Inside matches the invoice

Citroën tends to hit the spot with the seating in its automobiles and the ë-C4 X Electrical is not any exception, particularly should you’re within the entrance and have the plusher Alcantara trim of the highest spec Shine Plus mannequin. Nonetheless, the consolation ranges drop a bit within the again. Whereas there’s loads of legroom, the roof top does get compromised considerably by the roofline.

Citroën

If there’s 5 of you, the individual within the center will get the brief straw, as this is not a patch on the seats both aspect of it. Anybody with three fussy youngsters may wish to look elsewhere. Issues choose up once more once you get to that boot although, with a capacious 510 litres to play with.

Our automotive got here with sat-nav however the base-level automotive would not have it, so preserve your smartphone useful if heading within the route of the most cost effective choice. There’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay anyway, so it is no large deal.

Citroen

Aside from that, the 10-inch centrally-mounted touchscreen incorporates all the things you’d count on, though it appears barely much less user-friendly than it needs to be. Fortunately, there are some bodily controls under it for dealing with the local weather settings, which is all the time a blessing.

This being a family-oriented automotive means there are additionally loads of locations for drinks, telephones and there is even a laptop computer shelf on the passenger aspect entrance if you have to work throughout these all-important espresso stops.

Citroen

Good for cruising

No matter your chosen trim stage, you will discover that power-wise, the setup stays the identical with the ë-C4 X Electrical. Which means an analogous driving expertise in any of the mannequin variants with the 100kW motor, equipped by that very same 50kWh battery, which delivers respectable efficiency. The truth is, this is similar setup as seen in different Stellantis group automobiles that features the Peugeot and Vauxhall manufacturers. Due to this fact, the controls look very acquainted. It is hardly thrilling, thoughts, and the ë-C4 X Electrical is sort of a big automotive, however there’s sufficient juice to maintain get on a regular basis driving duties achieved.

Citroen

The promise of over 200 miles of vary makes the ë-C4 X Electrical interesting although. Nonetheless, until you nurse it rigorously alongside the motorway, you will quickly begin to see that falling.

That is compounded much more should you begin placing the pedal to the steel. Getting from 0 to 62mph is not precisely quick both, at 10 seconds, however the automotive feels sprightly sufficient once you’re on minor roads, regardless of its sizable physique. The trip high quality is a highpoint although, in that sometimes Citroën approach, because of a spongy suspension and a few assist from the 18-inch wheels.

Citroen

Granted, the kind of trip delivered by the ë-C4 X Electrical is not going to be for everybody. In the event you take it simple the automotive is ok, particularly once you try a few of these ridiculous visitors calming lumps that check the mettle of automobiles decrease to the bottom.

The trade-off with the bouncy suspension is once you try corners quicker than is smart – the ë-C4 X Electrical tends to throw its weight and bulk about and creates a little bit of a rollabout impact. As soon as you’ve got grown accustomed to this and work round it, the ë-C4 X Electrical is ok, simply so long as it is not requested to do something too quickly.

Okay vary and respectable charging

In the event you’re anxious about vary, the Citroën ë-C4 X Electrical is a kind of automobiles that sounds prefer it’ll be happy with a barely bold determine of 222 miles coming from the producer. Naturally, actual world use means it’s lower than this, however should you pootle round within the automotive it’s doable to take advantage of the battery and motor setup for a decent return on the ability entrance.

Citroen

It’s simple and comparatively fast to cost too, with a capability for as much as 100kW charging. That’s not dangerous and might get you from 10 to 80 per cent in round half an hour, so the ë-C4 X Electrical is ideally fitted to these frequent stops wanted by households on longer runs.

Verdict

The ë-C4 X Electrical is a reasonably good choice should you’ve acquired a rising household, with youngsters whose legs are seemingly getting longer by the day. The additional size of this automotive delivers some high quality legroom within the again, which makes it ideally fitted to anybody with their offspring in tow. The boot is large and straightforward to load, plus the inside has all the things wanted to maintain most people glad on a prolonged journey. The vary appears respectable sufficient, however this does begin to slip should you push the automotive and it is loaded to the hilt with stuff.

Maybe the largest concern for the ë-C4 X Electrical is the competitors it faces. An ideal instance of that is the MG4 EV, which we reviewed just lately and which is round 10K cheaper. That automotive packs in a formidable specification, numerous vary and delivers wonderful worth for cash and nonetheless prices lower than the ë-C4 X Electrical. Contemplating Chinese language automobiles aren’t usually famous for his or her design values, the MG4 EV is definitely extra memorable to have a look at than the ë-C4 X Electrical. And that is only one instance.

However, should you love a little bit of consolation and discover the whiff of a French producer exhausting to withstand, the Citroën is a good all-electric automotive to a minimum of take into account and maybe check drive, earlier than you half with the money.