Citroen has given its C4 hatch a mid-life brush-up with the introduction of two new petrol engines, a range of economy tweaks for the HDI diesels and an is-it-new-or-not facelift.
It looks like a subtle makeover for the Citroen C4. Talk me through the changes
The C4’s nose gets a revised bumper and grille and a repositioned number plate, that according to Citroen imbues the C4 with a ‘stronger, sportier, more dynamic look’. But then you probably picked up on that straight away.
The bonnet – now more curved and rounded – is also new. The rear lights are now clear-lensed, there are three new alloy wheel designs, two new paint options and upper-crust models get a sprinkling of chrome accents.
Inside Citroen has fiddled about with the plastics and moved the rev-counter to the translucent central display unit. Just as well the changes are minimal – the C4, particularly the three-door variant is still a strikingly stylish thing.
Please tell me the rest of the money was spent on the bits you don’t see…
Yes indeed it has. The C4 now comes with two new petrol engines – the 1.6 VTi and the 1.6 THP – which have been co-developed with the BMW group. The all-alloy VTi unit features continuously variable valve timing and develops 120bhp – good for a 10 second sprint to 60mph and a 121mph top speed.
Available with manual or automatic transmission, its novel valve lift system means 90 percent of its torque – 118lb ft – is available between 2000 and 6000rpm. On the combined cycle, the manual returns 42.2mpg and posts a CO2 rating of 159g/km, which is down 6 percent on the outgoing engine.
Click ‘Next’ below to read more about the facelifted Citroen C4
And the new Citroen C4’s other engine?
The 150bhp THP unit – that’s Turbo High Pressure – is rammed with advanced technology including direct-sequential-injection, continuously variable inlet valve timing and a twin-scroll turbocharger.
Tuned for low-rev response, the engine pumps out 177lb ft of torque from 1400 to 3500rpm. With an 8.4 second dash to 60mph and a 131mph top speed, it’s no slouch, yet still returns 40.9mpg on the combined cycle and emits 164g/km.
What’s happening with the Citroen diesels then?
Although the HDi units remain unchanged – apart from the 2.0-litre model gaining a particulate filter as standard, that is – the cars themselves are now fitted with advanced low rolling-resistance Energy Saver tyres from Michelin.
They don’t exactly slash your fuel bill in half (economy for both 90 and 110bhp 1.6-litre diesels improves from 62.8 to 64.2mpg), but when you take into account that Citroen sold 6000 C4 diesels in the past 12 months, the savings quickly add up. The new range is on sale now, with prices ranging from £12,685 to £19,895.