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Dean Slavnich test drives the new Citroen C4
The new Citroen C4 is more than just a car. Its PSA’s perfect reply to questions on platform sharing as Dean Slavnich found out

Both three and five-door models wear Citroen’s new face
Citroen adopted a Zen theme when designing the interior

The importance of the Citroen C4 can not be understated. Yes, it’s a vital model for Citroen in Europe’s most lucrative segment, but more so, it is living proof that platform sharing does not automatically lead to badge engineering. A few years ago Peugeot released the highly competent 307 onto the market. The model deservedly won recognition from all quarters and was – (and still is) – judged a success in both sales and engineering terms.

Now, at long last, its Citroen’s turn and the C4 could not be more different. In fact it’s worlds’ apart from the conservative looking 307 as PSA executive board member, Robert Peugeot, explained: “We have a clear vision about our platform strategy to create more models that are different but based on the same underpinnings. It has put us in a good position to make sure Citroen uses different concepts and takes a different styling route in future.”

He added: “You can’t always get what you want, but I feel that we have achieved our target with the C4. Compared with the Peugeot 307, this is a low, very fluid vehicle.”

Peugeot is not wrong. The C4 is stylish, vibrant and distinctive from not just the 307 but any other offering in the mid-size hatchback segment. Both the three-door coupe and the five-door hatchback models have the same face, taking design cues from the recent C-Airdream and C-Airlounge concepts.

The large chrome grille is home to an even larger double chevron Citroen logo. Long gone are the days when it used to be so ‘un-cool’ to be seen in a Citroen. The C4 is proud of its badge and Citroen is very much the youth’s choice.

Adding to the dynamic style are the boomerang shaped headlamps that wrap around the front wings, a nice touch that will no doubt only enhance the cars’ appeal to the younger buyer.

It’s from the B-pillar rearwards where the two C4 models differ in style. The hatchback flirts with youthful design but ultimately delivers a more rounded look: for example, the L-shaped wrap-around rear lights run from the base of the small subtle spoiler to portray a tidy rear-end treatment. No bad thing as the five-door C4 will no doubt appeal more to family buyers.

It’s on the three-door coupe where Citroen designers have had most fun. The model looks like nothing else in its segment, truly standing apart from the jumbled mass of metal that is the Focus, Golf, Astra, Civic and Corolla.

The three-door has a dramatic swooping profile with an arched roofline that slopes gently towards the rear before plunging down to the very short overhang. If that’s not enough there’s a reverse sloping rear window that adds to the impressive swooping effect. There’s a large rear spoiler, chrome tailpipe and a swoosh looking glazed area that acts as the buffer zone between the two cone-shaped tail lamps. Impressive stuff.

Yet for all its drama on the outside, the Citroen C4 is calm and relaxed on the inside. Sitting behind the wheel and the first thing one note’s is the uncluttered look of the dash. Every switch, knob and tray has its place, all part of Citroen’s new-found love for Zen, the meditation teaching of Buddhism.

Said Peugeot: “We used Zen as part of our search for a minimalist theme. There is tension in the exterior styling of the C4, but for the interior, our aim was for improved simplicity. We wanted it to reflect Zen and to be both peaceful and simple.”

He added: “The car has a lot of innovation, but its interior is not a Christmas tree – we went for a design that was peaceful, simple and minimalist because we feel that will become a trend as people become fed-up with too many buttons and electronic systems. They want an instrument panel that is ergonomic and easy to use.”

For Citroen, practicality goes hand-in-hand with Zen, as the C4 boasts no less than 22 different storage areas and allows for plenty of head and leg room in both three-door and five-door models.

Previous Citroen models had been criticised for interior quality. The same can not be said for the C4. There’s a solid feel to the car, the door, for example, makes the right ‘clunk’ when shutting it. There’s also a unique multi-functional fixed-centred control steering wheel that allows the driver to control functions on the dash with ease. There’s also a central translucent digital display and even a scented air freshener.

In fact the C4 is packed with technology. Citroen’s Ford Focus beater boasts xenon duel functional headlamps, laminated acoustic side windows that provide extra protection against break-ins and further minimise NVH, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and speed limiter.

There’s even an advanced lane departure warning system – a first in this sector – that automatically warns the driver when the car unintentionally drifts across lanes. The warning system makes use of sensors under the bumper to detect when the car is crossing lines on the road. Should the car inadvertently drift, without signalling and at speeds over 80 km/h (50 mph), the sensors will trigger a vibrating mechanism in either the left of right side of the drive’s seat.

As well as the lane departure warning system, the C4 also boasts a plethora of other pedestrian safety features like a sub frame fitted with two impact absorbers to limit knee injuries and an energy absorbing aluminium bonnet.

Passengers inside the C4 can also rest assure as the car offers an impact absorbing system that’s made up from a strong body shell, tubular steel reinforcement bars in each door, and a lower frontal bumper beam with sub-frame extensions that spread energy resulting from a possible impact.

Matching the high standards of technology and safety features in the C4 is the ride and handling. Perhaps not quite as good as the benchmark in this segment – the Ford Focus – the C4 still gives a creditable drive, taking corners with relative ease and, with the lively 2.0i 16V engine, the Citroen proves to be a match for all competitors.

The chassis employs a McPherson type strut with a lower wishbone and an anti-roll bar at the rear. Citroen engineers have fine tuned the suspension of the range-topping 183 ps (135 kW) coupe model, adding specific springs, dampers and bump stops to ensure an even more dynamic driving experience.

As with any PSA model, the C4 comes with a range of diesel and petrol engines, the latter of which start with a somewhat lacklustre 1.4i 91ps (67 kW) unit that makes the C4 feel slightly underpowered.

At the other end of the petrol spectrum sits the 2.0i 16V auto 145 ps (107 kW) engine and the coupe-only 183 ps (135 kW) derivative that powers the sporty three-door C4 from standstill to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds before reaching a top speed of 227 km/h (141 mph).

The pick of the petrol powertrains are the 1.6i 112 ps (82 kW) unit – which will prove to be a best seller – and a third derivative to the 2.0i 16V engine that delivers 140 ps (103 kW) at 6,000 rpm and a torque curve that peaks at 140 Nm (103 lb ft) at 4,100 rpm.

On the diesel side there are three acclaimed engines to choose from: the 1.6 HDi 16V offering 92 ps (68 kW) and 159 Nm (117 lb ft) of torque, another 1.6 HDi 16V generating 112 ps (82 kW) and 177 Nm (131 lb ft) and the range-topping – and perhaps best engine in the C4 line-up – the 2.0 HDi 16V which develops 139 ps (102 kW) at 4,000 rpm and 236 Nm (174 lb ft) of torque at a mere 2,000 rpm.

This is Citroen’s perfect post-millennium package. The C4 has it all and more: from the design to the technology, ride and handling and engine choice. Questions should never again be raised over PSA’s platform sharing policy so long as the French carmaker keeps rolling out cars to this standard.