Used Citroën C4 2010 - 2018 review
Category: Family car
The Citroën C4 is too far behind its rivals to consider, despite its competitive pricing
What's the used Citroën C4 hatchback like?
There was a slight sense of disappointment in 2010 when this second-generation Citroën C4 was launched. You see, after years of Citroën churning out some rather stale-looking cars, the first-generation C4, unveiled in 2005, was a bit of a revelation, with a curvy five-door model and a striking three-door sporty coupé.
This five-door-only replacement looked a lot more conventional and, while the car certainly had one or two other dynamic virtues, it had been its design that had let the car down in this hotly contested class.
It even faced competition from within its own stable, with the launch of the upmarket DS range and Citroën’s own C4 Cactus, a five-door hatchback-cum-SUV that added back some of the design flair lost between the C4's two generations.
On the road, this latest C4 is softly sprung and can wallow, but it can also be caught out and crash heavily into larger bumps. It’s also rather uninspiring to drive, with imprecise handling. There are plenty of petrol and diesel options, but while most of them offer decent punch and reasonable economy, none of them stands out in this class.
The C4 was always heavily discounted from new and its used values are now relatively low, making it perhaps a more attractive proposition. Is it worth taking a punt on, though, when the competition is so good? Read on through our guide to find out.
Ownership cost
What used Citroën C4 hatchback will I get for my budget?
You’ll get quite a lot of C4 for your money. At the time of writing, it’s possible to pick up an example for less than £4000, but it’ll have a high mileage. Start at between £4000 and £6000 and you’ll find a good clean 2011 or 2012 car with an average mileage for the year and a full history. £6000-£8000 will buy you 2014 cars in excellent condition, while £8000-£10,000 secures you a 2015-2016 car, bought from a franchised dealer and with a full service history.
How much does it cost to run a Citroën C4 hatchback?
On paper, the diesel-engined 1.6-litre HDI is the most economical, with a claimed fuel consumption of an amazing 85.6mpg in one version, while others manage an official 78.5mpg. Figures for the rest of the diesels in the range average a claimed 60-70mpg. The petrol-engined cars can’t compete with that, of course, although the latest 1.2-litre Puretech engine does give the C4 on-paper figures of up to 60.1mpg in some versions, while the more sporting 1.4 VTi in the VTR versions manages 46.3mpg.
Insurance groups are reasonable, too, at between 19 and 26. Servicing is required every 20,000 miles, and for used cars there is fixed-price servicing, which starts at £115 for an interim service or £149 if it includes an MOT, and £195 for a full service or £229 with an MOT.
Our recommendations
Which used Citroën C4 hatchback should I buy?
The 1.2 Puretech 110 is the cheapest option and, unsurprisingly, one of the least powerful. The three-cylinder 1.2-litre engine is turbocharged, which makes it flexible if not quite as punchy as the Puretech 130.
The 1.6 BlueHDI 100 is the entry-level diesel engine and is most fuel-efficient and cleanest when fitted with a start/stop system. It’s no ball of fire, but there’s enough power for urban environments. It’s our pick. The 1.6 BlueHDI 120 is effectively the same powerplant as the BlueHDI 100 but with a little more poke. Emissions still sneak below 100g/km if you opt for 16in wheels, even if you select an automatic gearbox.
The 2.0-litre BlueHDI 150 engine is the biggest engine you can get in the C4. Despite having 148bhp, it’ll still emit only 98g/km of CO2 if you go for 16in wheels, with fuel consumption that is barely any worse than the smaller diesels.
Our pick of the trims is Touch. This may be the entry point into the range but Citroën hasn’t skimped on equipment. Standard kit includes air conditioning, heated electric door mirrors, front electric windows and cruise control. Feel is the midpoint of the range and adds alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, stop/start technology on certain engines and a DAB radio with Bluetooth hands-free. Flair is the top-of-the-range model and adds a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth media streaming, rear parking sensors, rear electric windows, chrome door mirrors, dual zone climate control and auto lights and wipers.
Our favourite Citroen C4 1.6 BlueHDI 100 Touch
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Citroën C4 hatchback?
The Vauxhall Astra has low CO2 emissions and is decent to drive, with good economy. The interior’s decently practical, too. The diesel engines can be gruff and the low-speed ride is a little firm, but there are plenty of used bargains to be had on the forecourts.
The Seat Leon has a range of strong yet economical engines, especially smooth petrol ones, with low running costs and plenty of standard kit. Some of the interior plastics feel a little cheap, but the Leon is a great car to drive and to travel in, and it’s still a remarkably good used car buy.
The Skoda Octavia is spacious and practical and has a classy interior. It has a range of punchy engines, it’s good to drive and is competitively priced, especially used. It’s cheap to run and the interior is nearly a match for the Volkswagen Golf in terms of quality.
