Citroen e-C4 Review & Prices

The Citroen e-C4 is the all-electric version of the Citroen C4. Like that car, it’s an odd mashup of hatchback, coupe and SUV - with compact dimensions, a dramatically sloping roofline, but a raised ride height and chunky bodywork.

Where the standard C4 comes with either petrol or hybrid engines, the e-C4 electric car gets a choice of two electric motor and battery setups - but both of them have the same focus on comfort above sportiness, with clever hydraulic elements in the suspension and pillowy seats inside. It’s a bit like one of those sofas with the built-in electric recliners - steadfastly comfort-oriented but with a modern twist.

The e-C4 got an extensive facelift in late 2024, bringing with it new front-end styling incorporating the latest iteration of Citroen’s logo. A large roundel dominates the front end while slim grilles flanked by triple-layer LED headlights also feature. At the rear, the main change is that the boot lid now has ‘CITROEN’ spelled out across its width.

Citroen e-C4: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 218 - 256 miles
Efficiency: 4.4 - 4.7 mi/kWh
Battery size: 50/54kWh
Max charge speed: 100kW
Charge time AC: 7hr 15m 0 - 100%
Charge time DC: 30 minutes 10 - 80%
Charge port location: Left side rear
Power outputs: 136 - 156hp

Otherwise, the e-C4’s styling is still an odd blend of classes. When it comes to size, it’s not dissimilar to an electric family hatchback such as a Volkswagen ID3. However, it gets a raised ride height and high-set driving position, so you might shortlist it alongside compact SUVs such as the Kia EV3, Hyundai Kona Electric or Volvo EX30.

In terms of price, however, the e-C4 is a match for some of the cheapest electric cars on sale - with the entry-level model being akin to a basic Vauxhall Corsa Electric, BYD Dolphin or MG4 EV.

Compared to those cars, the e-C4 is quite practical. The rear seats are roomy enough and the 380-litre boot matches a Volkswagen Golf in capacity - notably, it’s no smaller than you get on a petrol C4, which isn’t always the case when an electric car is based on the same underpinnings as one with a petrol engine.

You also get a really rather pleasant interior considering the price tag. Material quality is cheap in places, but everything you touch feels a notch or two higher-quality than you might expect. The fact that much of the switchgear is shared with posher cars, such as the Peugeot E-2008, can’t hurt.

There are two choices of electric motor with the e-C4. The lower two trim levels come with the same combination you got at launch - a 50kWh battery and 136hp electric motor. The top trim level gets slightly more capacity and power, but greater efficiency means the real-world range is hugely improved. Officially, the 50kWh car will do up to 218 miles on a charge, while the 54kWh version will do 256 miles.

Whichever version you go for, don’t expect it to accelerate like a Tesla Model 3. Performance is modest, but it’s nippy enough around town and like all electric cars is super-smooth and predictable. And unlike many EVs, which ride bumps like they have suspension made of wood, Citroen’s clever hydraulic setup effortlessly irons out imperfections around town and makes long journeys very comfortable indeed - at the expense of being less enjoyable to drive down a twisty road.

If a comfort-oriented EV appeals to you, check out our best Citroen e-C4 deals. We’ve also got great deals on other Citroen models. You can find a used Citroen C4 for sale, or check out our other used Citroens for sale. And remember that Carwow’s the place to be if you’re trying to sell your old car.

Three trim levels are available, named You!, Plus and Max. You! models come with the more basic 50kWh battery and 136hp electric motor, and at just over £26,000 are extremely competitively priced against smaller EVs like the BYD Dolphin or Vauxhall Corsa Electric. They’re not exactly meanly equipped either, with LED headlights, climate control, and a 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Plus models get the same electric motor and battery but add a larger instrument display plus a head-up display, as well as sat-nav and a reversing camera. Meanwhile Max models come in at more than £30,000 but get the bigger battery and more powerful electric motor, plus keyless entry, heated seats, and extra driver assistance kit. What’s quite nice is that Citroen fits the same alloy wheels on all three models, so you’re not visually marked out for buying the cheap seats.

So comfortable, especially in town, but not a lot of fun to drive

In town

The e-C4 is as easy to drive as any electric car around town. You get two pedals, like any petrol car with an automatic gearbox, but there are no gearchanges so you just get seamless acceleration and instant response from a standstill. This makes it really easy to nip quickly out of junctions and makes stop-start traffic effortless.

There is a ‘B’ mode for the Citroen’s gearbox, which amps up the regenerative braking when you lift off the throttle, but there’s no one-pedal driving mode like you get in a Hyundai Kona Electric so you will still need to use the brakes.

Citroen has fitted the e-C4 with its ‘Progressive Hydraulic Cushion’ suspension. They’re not for your sofa, but they add a fluid-filled element to the end of the suspension’s travel so that when you hit a big bump, the impact is dealt with gently. It’s not as squashy as the air suspension you get on a proper luxury car, but it makes mincemeat of most lumps and bumps around town, gliding over speed bumps.

The e-C4’s steering is extremely light, which is good for parking. Visibility out of the front is good but the rear window’s quite narrow and the view over your shoulder is poor thanks to the sloping roofline. You do get a ‘top-down’ camera view on mid-spec models and above, but the resolution is pretty rubbish.

On the motorway

The e-C4’s suspension is great on the motorway, too. Expansion joints, rumble strips and potholes simply don’t bother you like they would in an MG4 or Volkswagen ID3. It’s a very relaxing experience, though it can be a little bit floaty - some people might get car sick.

The suspension, combined with low wind and road noise, make the e-C4 a great electric car for covering long distances in. However, do bear in mind that the 50kWh battery pack only gives you around 140 miles of range at motorway speeds, so probably not the best for a family holiday. This is upped to about 200 miles in the bigger battery car.

Neither version is particularly rapid, but they don’t feel out of their depth at motorway speeds either - you can keep up with traffic just fine and overtake without too much concern.

On a twisty road

Here’s where the e-C4 kind of falls apart. It’s not that it’s dreadfully floppy to drive or anything, but the steering is too light and too distant from what’s happening for the driver to have any real enjoyment. Again, the soft suspension is as good at soaking up rural roads as it is dealing with mean city streets, but you’re just not going to take the e-C4 out for a drive just for the fun of it.

The extra weight doesn’t help either — the e-C4 is around 500kg heavier than a petrol C4, and it shows through the bends with duller responses and a lack of dynamism when trying to corner quickly.

It’s also worth noting that the e-C4 doesn’t give all of its power until you put it into Sport mode. If you’re in Normal mode, you get a reduced power output, and it’s quite annoying as this is what the car defaults to on startup - so unless you remember to switch into Sport mode every time, you’re never getting the e-C4’s full output of 136hp or 156hp.

Comfortable seats and good storage, but rear seats are a little cramped

There’s plenty of storage space in the front of the e-C4, not least because the compact little gear selector switch frees up plenty of room for a lidded storage box down on the centre console. You’ll also find the cupholders in there.

In front of the gear selector, there’s a double-floored storage space, which means you can stash some items under a little lid, and then pile more stuff on top of that lid. Above that, there’s another tray which is home to the wireless phone charger, although that’s only standard on the top-spec Max model.

As well as the (slightly small) glovebox, there’s a slide-out tray in front of the passenger seat, which is just the right size for an iPad or similar tablet. Above that, there’s a little pop-out bracket which will hold a tablet, making your front-seat passenger feel like they’re sitting in a much more expensive car with screens for everyone. Sort of. The front seats are exceptionally comfortable, and feel more like squashy armchairs than car seats.

Space in the back seats

The sloping roofline means that headroom is a little bit tighter than it could be in the back of the e-C4. It’s not a huge problem for those sitting in the outer rear seats, but anyone perched in the slightly higher-up central rear seat is going to notice it.

It’s not outrageously tight, but it’s certainly a little bit less roomy back there than in the VW ID3 or BYD Dolphin. The floor of the e-C4 isn’t flat, either — there’s a ‘transmission’ hump left over from sharing a structure with the petrol and diesel C4, so anyone trying to sit in the middle rear seat is going to have to share foot space with others in the back.

There are some nice touches, though — all versions come with seatback pockets, and there are USB sockets and air vents for those in the back. You’ll only get a rear armrest on the top-spec model, though.

Boot space

At 380 litres, the e-C4’s boot is actually really good for a budget-priced electric car. It’s just 5 litres less than you get in a Volkswagen ID3, but notably larger than the 363 litres you get in an MG4, the 345 litres in a BYD Dolphin or the paltry 267 litres in a Vauxhall Corsa Electric.

The sloping roofline does mean that large, boxy items won’t fit, though - if you’re planning to use the e-C4 for an impromptu tip run then be careful with the closing the boot or you might find the corner of your fridge-freezer smashes the glass.

Well-built but feels a little old-fashioned in places

Compare the Citroen e-C4’s interior to the all-screen Volkswagen ID3 or even the unconventional BYD Dolphin and you might wonder where Citroen’s reputation for the avant-garde has gone - it’s boringly sensible. That’s actually great news for everyday usability, though, as unlike many alternatives it comes with plenty of physical buttons rather than forcing everything through a touchscreen.

Of particular note is a big panel of climate controls - much easier to use than messing about trying to change the temperature with an onscreen slider or touch-sensitive button. You also get straightforward steering wheel controls.

There are screens, of course. Every model gets a 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is high-res and much easier to use than on the pre-facelift car. Some of the menus are still a bit of amaze, but you should be able to find the functions you’re after without too much trouble - and you can easily create shortcuts from the homescreen to your more frequently used features.

There’s also a straightforward shortcut button to shut off some of the Citroen’s more annoying mandatory safety features, which is always welcome.

All models get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allowing you to bypass Citroen’s interface with ease, though it’s worth noting that only top-spec Max cars get a wireless charger to complement this.

The base-spec You! model gets a cramped and ugly 5.5-inch driver’s display, while Plus and Max models get a higher-res 7.0-inch unit - but neither are particularly sophisticated or configurable. You can’t show a full-screen map, for instance.

What’s nice is that, while Citroen has used some cheap materials, overall the feeling of quality is much higher than you get from a similarly-priced EV like an MG4. Everything you touch feels good and it’s screwed together very solidly, with no squeaks or rattles.

Good range, until you take it on the motorway  

There are two motor and battery options for the e-C4. You! and Plus models come with the same setup the pre-facelift car had from launch, pairing a 50kWh battery to a 136hp electric motor. Max models get a newer and more efficient setup, with a 54kWh battery and a 156hp electric motor.

The 50kWh setup offers up to a claimed 218 miles on a charge. The truth is, that number is only achievable if you’re mostly driving around town - in motorway driving, expect around 140 miles, and even less in winter weather. Unless your needs are very modest, it’s definitely best to upgrade to the bigger battery, despite the extra cost.

The 54kWh battery doesn’t sound much bigger on paper, but it has a claimed range of 256 miles and thanks to a much more efficient electric motor it will come a lot closer to that figure. On purely motorway driving you can expect around 200 miles, and in mixed mileage more like 220 miles.

The charging rate of 100kW isn’t spectacular but it’s good enough, and as the battery isn’t massive it means you can add a healthy 10-80% charge in less than 30 minutes.

Alternatives such as the MG4 can go further for less money, but the basic Volkswagen ID3 or BYD Dolphin are pretty comparable, offering official ranges of 241 and 265 miles respectively.

As with all electric cars, the e-C4 is exempt from road tax and attracts very favourable Benefit-in-Kind company car tax rates.

When tested by Euro NCAP the C4 range scored four out of five stars, tested back in 2021. Alternatives do have five-star ratings, and more recent ones too. However, scores for crash protection of adults and children were strong.

The C4 isn’t short of safety equipment though, with all models offering the basics - autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping aids and driver attention alerts are all standard. The Max model gets additional driver assistance kit including the ability to semi-autonomously drive itself on motorways.

Citroen offers a three-year, 60,000 mile warranty on the whole car as well as an eight-year, 100,000 mile warranty on all the powertrain components including the battery. 

Citroens of old didn’t typically have the best reliability record but that’s a reputation that’s been quashed in recent years. Citroen was named the fifth best brand to own in the 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, and the C4 range came top overall of the 2023 survey - a fantastic result.