Citroën ë-C4 X review

By Sam Phillips

12 Jan 2023

Move Electric rating: three stars out of five

Sell it to me in a sentence…
Rocking the sleek lines of a fastback coupe and the practicality of a saloon, the new Citroën ë-C4 X is a good-looking family electric car that's comfortable and easy to drive.

Hang on, isn’t that an ë-C4 with a bigger boot?
Well - sort of. The French brand’s latest EV uses the same CMP platform - from parent firm Stellantis - as the ë-C4, and is virtually identical at the front to the ë-C4 hatchback.

From the B-pillar backwards is where Citroën says things differ, with the ë-C4 X gaining a new elongated back end in the form of a saloon boot. Despite being longer than the ë-C4 at 4600mm, the new model has the same wheelbase as the hatchback version, meaning all the additional length comes solely at the rear.

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And according to Citroën passengers in the back now get extra of knee room, which is aided by rear seats that are reclined by 27 degrees - and the boot has the capacity of 510 litres. That’s a whopping 130 litres more than the regular ë-C4.

This all sounds promising, but how far can it go?
Packed underneath the ë-C4 X’s sleek silhouette is a 50kWh battery that helps the car along to a range of up to 222 miles; that’s marginally better than the hatchback version which can do 218 miles.

In the real world, you’re more likely to get nearer to 170-180 miles of range, but that could drop to around 150 miles during the colder months. That’s not to say that the ë-C4 X isn’t efficient.

On our 53-mile test route around Madrid - which included a mix of urban, motorway and rural driving - the Citroen EV achieved 4m/kWh, which is a solid figure for a car of this size and weight.

Plug the ë-C4 X into a DC 100kW charger and you can boost the battery from 10-80% in around 30 minutes. That’s handy if you tend to use your car for longer commutes or journeys.

A 7kW home wallbox charger meanwhile, will replenish the battery to 100% in around seven-and-a-half hours.

Priding itself on comfort over performance, the ë-C4 X offers up to 100kW of power, helping it along to a top speed of 93mph. Even in its sportier setting the ë-C4 X doesn’t feel particularly quick, but it's not meant to be, instead leaning towards a more relaxed driving experience.

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What is the ë-C4 X like to drive?
In short, the ë-C4 X is very easy to drive - and that is no bad thing. Electric cars should remain uncomplicated and the new Citroën delivers a relaxing driving experience in almost all settings.

The ë-C4 X feels at home in all scenarios: in urban areas it’s unchallenged by tight streets and busy traffic, remaining composed and capable on motorways, too. The steering is light and accurate, in keeping with the soft nature of the ë-C4 X.

Thanks to its high-riding stance, you get a great elevated view of the road ahead. In fact visibility is great all-round, with the fastback design at the rear giving you a good view out the back.

This is also an improvement on the standard ë-C4, as the hatchback model’s spoiler often hampered your view.

Ride comfort has been an intrinsic part of the Citroen brand since its inception and the ë-C4 X is another great example of the firm’s hydraulically damped set-up.

The ë-C4 X carries itself well around town, negotiating speed bumps and potholes well. It is only when you take the car on a rural back road where you can start to feel road abrasions, but even on these surfaces the car does a solid job of keeping you comfortable.

Like its hatchback twin, the ë-C4 X gets regenerative braking, which is less invasive than systems fitted to some electric cars. It’s easy to get used to and slows the car down well in all situations.

What is it like on the inside?
Pleasingly, the ë-C4 X maintains the mostly premium feel of the hatchback variant, albeit with some lower down plastics on the door feeling on the cheaper side.

The front seats are wide and have good adjustability. A thicker layer of cushioning would have helped comfort levels, but we’re nit picking here.

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Upfront sits a 10 inch infotainment display which gets all the latest screen mirroring technology: Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The touchscreen system is very easy to read and use, responding well to inputs. The navigation system - which we relied on for our journey around Madrid - was also clear and performed faultlessly. There's even a handy wireless phone charging function.

Thankfully Citroën hasn’t ditched physical buttons for the climate control just yet, making it much easier to adjust the car’s temperature on the move.

Are there any niggles we should know about?
Despite Citroën’s efforts to improve on rear passenger space, there doesn’t appear to be a great deal of difference compared to the hatchback version.

The rear seats have been pitched at a 27 degree angle to offer more space. Knee room was plentiful, but we still found our heads touching the headliner. Even in a more slouched position, headroom was far from abundant and adults over six foot tall may struggle to get comfy.

Although visibility is good all round, the wing mirrors are a little on the smaller side which can make it slightly harder to spot traffic in town. Blind spot assist does offer some level of assurance, however.

And even though the ë-C4 X is a serene and silent EV, this can be spoiled when travelling on motorways as there is a fair amount of wind noise at higher speeds. It’s noticeable, but not to a degree where it would become an issue.

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Should I consider any rivals?
Considering the genre-bending ë-C4 X almost lies in a category of its own, it’s hard to pinpoint a direct rival. That being said, the Kia Niro EV is perhaps the closest competitor and an EV we hold in high regard. Offering excellent value for money and a trouble-free driving experience, the Niro EV is a practical electric car that is both comfortable and easy to live with. Its range is also a step ahead too, offering up to 285 miles between charges.

Another family EV to consider would be the MG 4 EV. It might not be as stylish as the ë-C4 X, but the Chinese electric hatchback - in Long Range trim - costs £2500 less than the Citroën and can travel up to 281 miles. Sure, the MG 4 isn’t perfect, with heavy use of cheaper plastics in the cabin, but as a package it represents excellent value for money.

Verdict
The Citroën ë-C4 X is an easy-going family electric car that now has an added layer of practicality thanks to its larger boot. It’s good to drive around town and uncomplicated out on the open road. It’s not the most exciting car to drive, nor does it challenge its rivals in terms of range.

But if you’re looking to swap your petrol-powered family car for an EV, then the smooth-riding, undemanding ë-C4 X would be a solid choice. We’d even recommend it over its hatchback sibling.

Citroën ë-C4 X specification

Price from: £31,995
Motors: Electric permanent magnet synchronous
Gearbox: Automatic
Driven wheels: two
Maximum power: 100kW
Maximum speed: 93mph
0-62mph: 9.5 seconds
Battery size: 50kWh
Electric range (official):
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Tyres from:
Kerb weight excluding driver:
Gross vehicle weight:
Height: 1525mm
Length: 4600mm
Wheelbase: 2670mm
Width with mirrors folded: 1800mm
Maximum boot capacity: 510 litres