After five years, Citroën is giving the compact C4 a facelift. (Photo: © Citroën)
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March 2025
A fresh look, artificial intelligence, and high levels of ride comfort keep the Citroën C4 fit for its second lease of life. We took the facelifted French car for a spin.
The third generation of the Citroën C4 has been on the market since the end of 2020. Now it was time for a facelift for both the C4 hatchback and the C4X SUV crossover . The C4X crossover, with its distinctive tailgate, has found many buyers, especially in Southern Europe and Turkey , but demand for the raised SUV is rather low in our region. Therefore, our driving report focuses primarily on the classic hatchback sedan.
Besides a fresh look inside and out, the car has seen a noticeable improvement in ride comfort . However, the powertrain options for the French Golf competitor remain unchanged. The two mild hybrids with 100 and 136 hp , as well as the all-electric versions with 100 kW (136 hp) or 115 kW (156 hp), are still available. The starting price for the three-cylinder hybrid is €23.300, while the most affordable electric version, the ë-C4, starts at €31.900.
From the outside, the French car presents a significantly revised appearance : At the front, the facelifted C4 adopts the current Citroën brand identity with its three horizontal daytime running lights and the redesigned Citroën logo in a retro style. Furthermore, the revised sedan now features horizontally oriented taillights that flow into a spelled-out Citroën name. Aerodynamically optimized alloy wheels complete the fresh look. The visual tweaks have done the C4 a world of good. The refinements result in an overall more pleasing and dynamic appearance.
The interior has also seen some changes. In the top-of-the-line Max trim, the driver is presented with a high-resolution instrument cluster that has been enlarged from 5,5 to seven inches . The multimedia touchscreen, however, remains unchanged at ten inches. Operating the infotainment system proves to be somewhat convoluted and could be simpler. On the plus side, the system integrates smartphones wirelessly and receives updates over the air.
Furthermore, the voice control now works with ChatGPT's artificial intelligence . The friendly voice answers questions on command, finds suitable restaurants and accommodations while traveling, or provides helpful assistance with general knowledge-related questions.
Our first encounter with the facelifted French car takes place in conjunction with the mild hybrid version. The three-cylinder gasoline engine delivers 136 hp and is actively supported by a 15,6 kW (21 hp) electric motor . Thus, the C4 initially starts off electrically, then the quietly purring three-cylinder engine kicks in, responding well to the throttle and revving freely.
The standard dual-clutch transmission is also impressive . It shifts smoothly through the six-speed menu. But that's not the only reason the French car proves to be such a relaxed cruiser; the revised comfort seats are also extremely comfortable . They have been reinforced with 15-millimeter thicker padding.
But the real highlight of the facelifted French car is the so-called Advanced Comfort suspension . The special feature: Citroën has replaced the mechanical bump stops of the shock absorbers with hydraulic ones. As a result, the suspension responds very smoothly even to rough surfaces, practically enveloping the passengers in cotton wool . The C4 seems to glide over potholes and expansion joints as if on clouds, and its exceptional ride comfort is strongly reminiscent of the legendary Citroën models of yesteryear, which made headlines back then with their unique hydropneumatic suspension. We think that's really great.
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