CITROEN'S EXTRA X-FACTOR (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Citroen continues to redefine what a compact family saloon can look like with this C4 X. Jonathan Crouch looks at the improved version.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 67

The C4 X is 'the best of a hatchback, with the modernity of an SUV and the timelessness of a saloon', according to Citroen. Or you could simply see it as a sedan version of the brand's quirky C4 hatch. Either way, it's an ambitiously styled EV or combustion-powered four-door family saloon that's compact yet spacious, with a simply enormous boot. And here, it's been usefully improved.

Backgroundword count: 188

X seems to mean different things to different brands. Citroen doesn't see the letter as designating an SUV. Instead, for them, it references what the brand calls 'the crossroads of different universes', a melding together of different genres, the sort of thing we've already seen in the company's large C5 X. With the C4 X, the styling brief was rather less ambitious, but it still hoped to blend hatchback, crossover and sedan genres together into one appealing compact shape that a first glance, could fall into any of those three categories. By the time of this car's original 2022 launch, we'd already seen something similar (but rather more dramatic) with cousin Stellantis Group Gallic brand Peugeot's 408, but the C4 X was a more straightforward design that sat on a different, simpler, CMP platform and was offered with a wider variety of powertrains, including a full-electric model. As you might expect, everything is based on the C4 hatch, but from the B-pillar back, things are a great deal more spacious and interesting. Citroen revealed a wide-ranging update to this car in Autumn 2024. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 233

The C4 X does of course drive just like the C4 hatch and, as with that car, the brand hopes that the way this car rides is what will sell it to you. It features a clever Progressive Hydraulic suspension set-up. Here, the car's springs and shock absorbers work in concert with hydraulic compression and rebound stops, which are supposed to slow body movement over bumps and tarmac tears. You'll want to know about the engines. As part of this update, Citroen has dispensed with most of the pre-facelift model's un-electrified PureTech engines, so now if you want an affordable combustion-powered C4, your main choice is to opt for the brand's 48V mild hybrid tech. This was available before in Hybrid 136hp form, a variant now also joined by a more affordable Hybrid 100hp model. In both cases, the brand's familiar 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol unit is supported by a 28hp 48-volt electric motor energised by a tiny 0.4kWh battery pack. The full-EV e-C4 options haven't changed, so as before you choose between 50kWh/136hp base version (with a 222 mile range) or a 54kWh/154hp model (with 257 miles). To boost this capability, the car can recover energy when decelerating or braking. And there are three drive modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport' - that can vary the level of engine power and the energy draw from the air conditioning to boost driving range.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227