Review | Citreon’s Smooth Operator, the e-C4 X
When you’re a car designer and you’re dealing with the blueprint for an electrically powered vehicle which needs to be as efficient as possible, one of the first things you’ll be aiming for is to make it as slippery as possible when it’s travelling through the air.
If you come up with something which has the aerodynamics of a house brick, you’ll probably be looking for a new job pretty soon.
One idea is to head to the local wind tunnel to try and find a profile which creates as little resistance as possible. Consequently, you’ll probably end up with something that a lot of you reading this will have very close to hand.
Grab hold of your computer mouse (I can’t stand those touch pads on a laptop) and look at it in profile. There you go, it is the shape that we’re starting to see more and more frequently in 21st Century cars. Like this Citroen e-C4 X for example.
Don’t be fooled by the swooping shape. This is a four-door saloon which comes with a boot. If you prefer a hatchback, go for the e-C4, but without an X.
And, as Citroen has done with other models, it has hints of being a bit rough and ready with a higher riding stance and some plastic cladding.
Oh, and the ‘e’ letter, just in case you haven’t guessed, means it’s 100 per cent electric.
Citroen is now part of the Stellantis Group, so there’s a lot of sharing of bits and pieces. This e-C4 X sits on the same platform as various Peugeots and Vauxhalls. It helps keep costs to a minimum.
As with every electric car, it’s all about the range and how quickly it’ll charge.
Power tops out at 134bhp which gives you a 0-60 time of 9.5 seconds and a top speed of 93mph, so it’s no flying machine but, to be honest, it’ll be quick enough for most folk. Citroen reckons that you can manage 222 miles on a full charge in ideal conditions. I managed 178 miles with 10 per cent remaining in the battery so you shouldn’t be too far shy of 200 miles overall. My journey included a mix of motorway and town work. If you can find a rapid charger, you’ll go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in around half an hour. A typical wallbox will get to 100 per cent from flat in around 7 and a half hours.
The ride is typically Citroen DNA. It’s smooth, cushy and relaxed, erring on the soft side. Citroen doesn’t do family cars that are sporty. If you want a car which can get your pulse racing, look elsewhere. However, I suspect those sort of folk won’t be interested in buying a Citroen anyway. If ease of driving is high on your list of desirables, then you’ll love the e-C4 X. You can adjust the driving characteristics slightly by juggling the Eco, Normal and Sport switch, but I just left it in Normal.
The interior is really smart. Citroen has upped its game when it comes to the fixtures, fittings and general build quality. You ride along with only a bit of wind and tyre noise to keep you company and t’s an extremely quiet place in while the miles are eaten up.
The cabin is roomy and, although the boot space is large, you do need to be aware of a fairly narrow opening. We’re used to the yawning gap when opening a hatchback, so to be faced with a small-ish boot is tricky if you’ve got something chunky to load.
In terms of kit, there are three trim levels - Sense, Shine and Shine Plus. You get all of the essentials, sat nav, air con, LED lights and the rest, with most things accessed via a smart colour touchscreen. Thankfully the heater controls are knobs and buttons. Phew. The seats are extremely comfortable and there are loads of cubby holes. Visibility is good although the rear window is quite narrow, a bit like looking through a letterbox.
Prices start at £31,995 for the Citroen e-C4 X in Sense trim. If comfortable, easy-going, motoring is what you like, this car will be right up your street.
And if you like the style and shape of a saloon, the e-C4 X is one of what is a limited market choice in the UK.
Words: Graham Courtney
Pictures: Citroen
