When you think of Citroen’s C4, you might think of the compact of days long past, or the unique Cactus, but neither of those are the harmonious fusion between hatchback and SUV that the C4 has become in 2022. It’s a great crossover that nails the brief on bold and new.
Citroen has got it right when it comes to external aesthetics, interior comfort, and technology, bundling it all up in a compact yet spacious package. It even unlocks and locks itself as you approach or walk away.
Available only in the Shine specification, it’s well proportioned, with an understated grille and subtle contoured bodylines. A nice set of 18-inch Aeroblade alloy wheels suit the C4 well, and the wheel arch space gives it SUV character.
The spoiler at the bottom of the rear tailgate window looks nice too, but does hamper visibility when looking in the rear view mirror. At 4.35m long and 2.03m wide, the Citroen C4 is also quite spacious, and yet well-sized for inner city driving and parking.
We were able to get into tight parking spots without much issue, thanks to the top down 360-degree camera, which kicks in when you engage the reverse gear. Inside, the cabin has a real technological and sophisticated vibe about it.
Nice firm seats for the driver and passenger are wrapped in Black Sienna leather with Zephyr Grey stitching. There’s no gear stick in sight either. Instead, you have a guilloche metal control panel. Simply push D or R to set the car into motion.
It refines the clean look and feel. There are two cup holders on hand too, but they’re narrow and deep, which is great for slender water bottles, but not so good for your standard McCafé coffee cup, which doesn’t reach the bottom.
On either side of the console, you have a USB-C and USB-A charge port, but only the former will let you connect your phone to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The USB-A port is for power only.
A nice tray right between the charge ports makes for the perfect spot for your phone. Perched in the centre of the dash is a large 10.0-inch high-definition infotainment screen, which is really handy for navigation.
The 6-speaker sound system is also impressive, thanks to the high-level acoustic insulation pack included by Citroen. There is also a cleverly designed tablet holder, which slides out for the passenger and mounts firmly to the dashboard.
We trialled this with one of our own iPads and found that it wasn’t compatible with an older version of the tablet. Unless you have a specific model of tablet that fits into this holder, you may not find it very useful. We did like the pop-up head-up display though.
It shows how fast you’re going, the speed limit, and navigation instructions if you’re using the native system. You can even wear your polarised sunglasses and still be able to view it.
There was one small issue with the traffic sign recognition software though, in that it has trouble reading the variable digital speed signs found on motorways and freeways.
On the road, the 2022 Citroen C4 Shine is punchy and responsive, courtesy of its nifty 3-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The combination delivers 114kW of power and 240Nm of torque.
Manoeuvring and handling are amazing thanks to its progressive hydraulic cushion suspension. It tips the scales at just 1,269kg and can reach 100km/h in 8.5 seconds. Fuel economy is a claimed 6.1-litres/100km, and the C4 Shine has a 50-litre fuel tank.
The 2022 Citroen C4 Shine also comes with a bunch of safety technology (although it did get a 4-star ANCAP safety rating), including multiple airbags, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, an electronic stability programme, and ABS.
It’s a pleasure to drive, and comes in a range of colours, including Polar White, Iceland Blue, Pulse Orange, Onyx Black, Steel Grey, Platinum Grey, and Elixir Red. You can pick one up from just over $42,000 drive away, depending on your colour choice.
If you’d like to build and price your own, you can do so on the Citroen Australia website.
Our test vehicle was supplied by Citroen Australia. To find out more about the 2022 Citroen C4 Shine, contact your local Citroen dealer.
