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By Jonathan Crouch

Citroen's improved e-C4 adds a bit of colour to the EV part of the family hatch segment, thinks Jonathan Crouch.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 60

The improved version of this e-C4 continues to bring a dose of Citroen individuality to the EV part of the family hatchback segment. The smarter looks have a crossover vibe, the range is reasonable and the cabin is still the most comfortable in the class. If you're fed up with clinical family EVs, here's one that just might charm you.

Backgroundword count: 157

Citroen is a company with a reputation for trying to do things differently. Unfortunately though, the reality is that it's not always been a company able to do things differently from sister brand Peugeot. In the last few decades, a depressing cloak of conformity has characterised family offerings from the double chevron marque. But gradually things seem to be changing and Citroens are being set apart once more. First, with details things like Airbumps and squashier seats. And in more recent years with more fundamental engineering. For an example of that, take the subject of this test, the updated version of the brand's offering in the EV family hatch segment, the e-C4. Significant styling and interior updates feature with this improved design, bringing the e-C4 more into line with its segment rivals. And as before, this car plays to the things people tend to like about Citroen - innovative design, a distinctive feel and exemplary ride quality.

Driving Experienceword count: 257

Rather interestingly, this is one EV that doesn't spear away from rest like a scalded cat. That attribute's a bit pointless, it cuts across this car's laid back Gallic demeanour and it needlessly depletes battery reserves, so Citroen hasn't bothered with it here. The e-C4's a bit like Mazda's rival MX-30 in that respect. Not that the e-C4 is slow; the 136bhp electric motor in the base 50kWh version allows 62mph to be dispatched in 9.7s on the way to a maximum you'll never bother with (97mph). What you'll notice more is the relaxed gait. It's inevitably not as light on its feet through the corners as a combustion-engined C4: the weight of that battery has to tell somewhere. There's also a 54kWh battery version available, which gets a punchier 156bhp motor and goes 257 miles between charges. Your driving position is somewhere between that of a family hatch and an SUV and you get a couple of pedals, along with a small straightforward gear selector. There's no 'one pedal' driving option, like you get in a Nissan LEAF, but there's an extra B mode, which gives greater lift-off deceleration, so boosting the battery's energy-harvesting efforts so that you can get somewhere close to the claimed 222 mile range figure. The ride is very comfort-orientated, as you'd expect from a Citroen thanks to the 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.

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