Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Citroen C4 - MPG, CO2 and running costs

The Citroen C4 has an efficient choice of petrol, hybrid or all-electric powertrains; depreciation for some versions is disappointing, though

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.5 out of 5

MPG, CO2 and running costs Rating

3.8 out of 5

Price
£19,690 to £37,410
  • Striking exterior design
  • Good standard kit
  • Comfortable
  • Smaller boot than rivals
  • Not very exciting to drive
  • Clunky infotainment system
Find your Citroen C4
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Customers got an average £1000 more vs part exchange quotes
Advertisement

Citroen claims that the C4 petrol is capable of returning up to 54.6mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, although the PureTech 130 automatic cuts this down to 50.7mpg. According to the French firm, CO2 emissions range from 119g/km to 131g/km.

During our own test with a 128bhp PureTech petrol (six-speed manual) version, we struggled to match the manufacturer’s economy figures, achieving just 37.4mpg. Even allowing for variables such as different driving styles, road types and weather conditions, this is a disappointing real-world result.

Advertisement - Article continues below

A company car driver covering more miles will be better served with the hybrid version, which gets better fuel economy of 62.1mpg, and lower CO2 emissions of 107g/km.

Although the e-C4 is more expensive to buy, because it produces zero tailpipe emissions, it sits in a far lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax bracket. The EV is also currently exempt from road tax (VED) and the London Congestion Charge until 2025.

Electric range, battery and charging

The e-C4 electric hatchback is offered with a choice of 50kWh and 54kWh batteries. The former allows for a maximum range of 220 miles, while the larger unit boosts the car’s range to 260 miles.

We’ve yet to test the 54kWh e-C4, but we covered more than 3,200 miles in our 50kWh e-C4 long-term test car and averaged 3.2 miles per kWh. That equates to a real-world range of 160 miles on a full charge. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Speaking of which, the e-C4 has a maximum charging speed of 100kW, which allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in half an hour for both versions, while a typical 7.4kW home wallbox will fully charge either version in around 7.5 hours.

Insurance groups

The entry-level C4 1.2 PureTech in You! trim sits in insurance group 14, while the top-spec 154bhp Max hybrid variant is in group 22. In comparison, the Kia XCeed petrol range starts from group 17.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Meanwhile, the electric e-C4 range starts in group 21, before rising to group 24. While that is higher than the petrol equivalent, it is quite reasonable compared with some electric cars like the GWM Ora 03 and MG 4, both of which sit in significantly higher insurance groups.

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation

Citroen cars don’t typically have a reputation for holding their value on the used market, but our experts predict that over three years and 36,000 miles, the regular petrol C4 should retain between 40 to 46 per cent of its resale value, which isn’t bad. 

It’s worth mentioning that if you’re after a hybrid, you might want to consider the Toyota Yaris Cross instead. Not only is it cheaper to buy in Icon trim than the cheapest hybrid C4, but the Yaris Cross maintains 60 per cent of its value over the same time period, whereas the C4 will only be worth 40 per cent in Plus hybrid form.

The residuals of the electric e-C4 are also not great, because it is forecast to retain less than 40 per cent of its value over the same period. For context, the cheaper MG4 is expected to retain just over 50 per cent over the identical three-year period.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

New Cupra Born VZ 2024 review: a great stride for the EV hot hatch genre
New Cupra Born VZ - front
Road tests
17 May 2024

New Cupra Born VZ 2024 review: a great stride for the EV hot hatch genre

Used Citroen C4 (Mk3, 2020-date) review: comfortable hatch covers all the bases
Used Citroen C4 - front static
Used car tests
2 May 2024

Used Citroen C4 (Mk3, 2020-date) review: comfortable hatch covers all the bases

Vauxhall Astra GSe PHEV long-term test: family hatch has quite a few flaws
Auto Express products editor Kim Adams washing the Vauxhall Astra GSe
Long-term tests
1 May 2024

Vauxhall Astra GSe PHEV long-term test: family hatch has quite a few flaws

Most Popular

Mercedes says ‘no thank you’ to EQ: EV brand to be axed
Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 - EQS badge
News

Mercedes says ‘no thank you’ to EQ: EV brand to be axed

Mercedes will roll back EQ branding for its electric cars as the first generation of EV models reaches the end of its lifecycle.
15 May 2024
UK faces “epidemic” of young uninsured drivers
Car crash
News

UK faces “epidemic” of young uninsured drivers

The number of young people convicted of driving without insurance has tripled since 2021, due to sky-rocketing premiums
17 May 2024
Car Deal of the Day: SEAT Leon is an ideal family hatchback for £165 a month
SEAT Leon TSI EVO - front tracking
News

Car Deal of the Day: SEAT Leon is an ideal family hatchback for £165 a month

Excellent interior quality and efficiency make the SEAT Leon our Deal of the Day for 17 May
17 May 2024