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By Jonathan Crouch

Citroen's improved C4 family hatch and saloon models seem a good bet in Hybrid form. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 39

Citroen's now-improved C4 is probably at its best with this Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 powertrain. For a full family hatch customer looking for something comfortable and characterful as an interim step towards an EV, it might be just about right.

Backgroundword count: 191

Even quirky people have a sensible side. In the purchase of an ordinary family hatch, you'd have to be just a little unusual to prefer a Citroen C4 against the usual Golf and Astra fraternity. But you still want efficiency - and to do your bit for the environment. Initially with this generation C4, Citroen encouraged you to meet those goals by paying more for the all-electric e-C4 version. But that variant costs considerably more than its conventional petrol counterpart and right at present, the EV market is stalling - for very good reasons. So another C4 electrified alternative was needed - and in 2023 we got it, the Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 version, offered in hatch and C4 X saloon forms. Like the rest of the C4 range, that derivative benefitted from visual exterior and cabin updates introduced in late 2024 to create the car we're going to look at here. You have to put fuel in in a C4 Hybrid and you can't plug it in, but it claims to be able to take care of a lot of town travel on battery power alone. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 241

The 48V Hybrid system in use here is based around the conventional C4's familiar 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine mated to a bespoke 6-speed e-DCS6 dual clutch auto transmission. Bespoke because that gearbox's casing houses the DC inverter, the Engine Control Unit and a little 28hp electric motor powered by a tiny battery secreted beneath the front passenger seat. Two versions of this engine are available, a base variant with 100hp and a slightly perkier version with 136hp. On the move, the petrol engine and the electric motor can operate together - or separately. And, unlike with a mild hybrid system like that fitted to say, a Golf eTSI, here the car can be driven for short urban distances (under 18mph) on electric power alone. The motor also assists the engine under acceleration - such as from standstill to 62mph, which (helped by 230Nm of torque) takes 8.0s en route to 128mph. Mind you, those figures are only 1.4s and 4mph faster than the equivalent un-electrified auto derivative. During deceleration, the petrol engine stops and the e-motor acts as a generator to recharge the Hybrid system's 48V battery. The battery also stores the energy recuperated by the regenerative braking system. As with any other C4, this car features a clever Progressive Hydraulic suspension set-up. Here, the 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.

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