Citroen C4 2005 Review

What we liked
>> Ride and handling
>> Classy interior
>> Std equipment levels

Not so much
>> Pedal placement
>> A-pillar restricts vision
>> Even 130kW engine lacks oomph

OVERVIEW
In a class that potentially attracts criticism for 'me too' styling and equipment levels, the C4 arrives with a substantial level of innovation and standard equipment and what the maker claims are safety levels unprecedented in small cars.

Debuted Down Under at March's Melbourne Motor Show the C4 range boasts two body styles at launch - a smoothly styled five-door, and the more dramatic three-door Coupe.

Citroen says it has already been overwhelmed by demand for both versions of the car with a full 25 per cent of buyers 'conquests' ie: new owners for the brand. With the C4 hatch and Coupe, and the expected sedan and Cabrio variants to follow, set to account for up to 50 per cent of the marque's volume Down Under, the initial success is music to importer Ateco's corporate ears.

"The Citroen C4 is a remarkably important car for Citroen in Australia," Miles Williams, General Manager for Citroen in Australia said at the C4's launch

"Our target for the end of the decade is for Citroen to have one per cent of the Australian market place and it is the C4 that will drive the majority of that growth. We fully expect, once the entire range of Citroen C4 variants are on sale, that the C4 will not just become the most popular model in the Citroen range, it will ultimately double Citroen sales in Australia."

Important new model then... You betcha

FEATURES
Six models will be offered in the new C4 range - four hatches and two coupes. And the importer hasn't skimped on standard equipment. Aside from our standard bugbear regards paying extra for metallic paint, the cars hit the road remarkably well-equipped.

Unlike some entrants in this segment, the five-door and coupe feature quite distinct styling. That said, Citroen is at pains to point out the coupe's more sporty visage is delivered with no compromises regards interior space or packaging.

Interior space is the same, says the maker, with rear legroom in both variants "references in their segment". We'll have to take Citroen's word for it. This tester's fault - in the scramble to make a flight I forgot to do the requisite rear seat 'plonk'. Unforgivable, I know... At least the stats indicate things should be hunky dory - the coupe and hatch share critical dimensions.

Kicking off the range at $25,990 is a manual 80kW 1.6-litre hatchback. An auto 1.6 petrol is also offered ($27,990) in addition to a 103kW 2.0-litre also mated to an automatic box for $33,990.

The two coupe models both feature manual gearboxes. The entry-level $25,990 VTR gets the 1.6-litre mill mentioned above. A 2.0-litre 130kW 16-valve four-cylinder sits under the pedestrian-friendly alloy bonnet of the top-of-the-range C4 Coupe VTS - we test drove this swoopy three-door which will set you back $36,990.

A turbodiesel version of the hatch is due in the third quarter of 2005 with pricing to be announced closer to the time of arrival. Peak power is quoted at 80kW, but it's the torque that should impress - with a peak of 240Nm at just 1750rpm (more is available in higher gears via an overboost function) the oiler betters the VTS by almost 20 per cent.

COMFORT
Citroen makes much ado about the lengths it has gone to pamper the C4's driver and passengers.

The maker says the cabin of the C4 is designed to optimise passenger comfort with attention paid to ergonomics, acoustics and ambience.

The C4 is equipped with "comfort" or "sport" seats, depending on the trim level selected. Leather is optional on all models (and includes power operation) with the Coupe's sports seats firmer with what the maker claims is more pronounced support.

Also optional across the range is a fixed panoramic glazed roof. While it's fitted with sliding screens, it's likely this feature will test the capacity of the car's standard air-con come summer time. Still, on a rainy autumn day in the Hunter Valley it gave our test car a wonderfully fresh, open and airy feel.

Driver ergonomics are far from run of the mill with instrumentation split between the steering wheel pod and a daylight viewable central LCD information centre that delivers speed, fuel level and range, temperature, range and odometer functions as well as cruise control and speed limiter settings.

Then there's 'that' steering wheel. Sure, it's adjustable for reach and height but unlike anything in recent memory, the wheel's hub is fixed and does not move with the rotation of the wheel rim. The fixed centre of the C4's steering wheel features the airbag, controls for radio, ventilation, cruise control and the multifunction information centre. In addition there are warning lights, a bar graph tacho (that flashes red when the revlimiter is hit - as if you need more proof!) and, believe it or not, a horn!

Lighting and wiping maintain their conventional stalk switches (auto headlights and wipers are both standard on the VTS) and there's an equally conventional, if well laid out, centre console - with an automatic scented air freshener... Yep, no more pine trees hanging from the mirror - every C4 comes factory equipped with three air freshener cartridges (Vanilla, Mint and Musk, Ylang and Bamboo). Six other fragrances (Citrus and Passion, Amber and Sandalwood, Cinnamon and Ginger, Lotus flower, Jasmin and Mimosa and Soft Lavander) are available from the Citroën network. No truth in the rumour that 'Wet Dog' and two-week old Hungry Jacks will be added next spring.

A more practical feature in this tester's view are both models 60/40 split-folding rear seat back and cushions. Add in a clever foldaway boot partitioning system and you've got no excuse for not loading up at the next environmentally-friendly farmer market you happen across. Mung beans, anyone?

Citroen claims significant work has been carried out on the acoustic qualities of the C4. While the cabin itself is commendably free of squeaks and rattles and wind noise is very well controlled, the 205/50 section 17-inch rubber fitted standard to the VTS we tested certainly made it presence known.

SAFETY
The level of safety smarts in the latest crop of French cars is quiet surprising. It seems the tricolour has displaced the standards of the Germans and Swedes at the top of the safety tree. The C4 is no exception gaining five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing in addition to registering the highest ever score in terms of pedestrian safety.

The latter attribute has been gained via ground-up design. Not only is the C4's frontal structure optimized to reduce pedestrian injury, but its bonnet and engine bay design, wiper and headlight construction and glasshouse angle have all been dictated in a large part by pedestrian safety requirements.

Indeed, Citroen says passive, active and personal safety have all figured in its design briefs for the C4.

Four-wheel ABS disc brakes with emergency brake assist (the VTS gets substantial 302mm diameter ventilated front stoppers) are standard across the range with ESP standard on all 2.0-litre and turbo-diesel cars. Thanks to the fixed hub steering wheel the C4 boasts the world's first shape-optimised driver airbag. Dual-stage passenger airbags are also standard along with curtain airbags front and rear on all models. Seat belt pretensioners are fitted (front only).

Personal safety is enhanced via a headlight-on keypad function along with auto deadlocks and an optional security pack, says the maker.

Coming to Australia later in 2005 is Citroen's Lane Departure Warning System. An option on higher-spec models, LDWS utilises infra-red sensors to detect lane changes at speeds of over 80km/h and warns the driver (by vibrating his/her seat) if the indicator is not activated.

MECHANICAL
Of conventional front-wheel drive layout (with Macpherson strut front suspension and torsion bar rear) the Citroen C4 is offered with a choice of four 16-valve twin-can inline four-cylinder engines with the 1.6, 2.0 and 2.0-litre high performance engines available at launch and a new-generation turbo diesel arriving later in 2005.

The base 1.6i 16V engine develops 80kW at 5800rpm and maximum torque of 147Nm at 4000 rpm. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox it is available in both hatchback and Coupe models.

The 2.0i 16V engine in the C4 hatch delivers 103kW at 6000rpm and is coupled to a four-speed automatic gearbox. Recently introduced on the C5, this new version of the 2.0i 16V engine offers maximum torque of 200Nm at 4000 rpm. It features continuously variable valve timing (exhaust only) and meets the requirements of the Euro IV emission standard.

A new variant for Citroen, and the most powerful engine in the range is the C4 Coupe's 2.0i 16V engine. Developing 130kW at 7000rpm, the engine uses continuously variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust cams. Peak torque is 202Nm at 4750rpm.

Ateco may have saved the best for last, however. The C4's 1.6lt HDi engine is equipped with second generation ultra high pressure common-rail injection technology and a variable-geometry turbo.

The 1.6 HDi engine delivers 80kW at 4000rpm and 240Nm at 1750rpm which should mean lusty performance - even in comparison to the range-topping VTS.

Citroen claims that the C4 diesel's low fuel consumption - 4.7lt/100km over a standard combined cycle - and 60-litre tank should deliver a range of more than 1200km.

COMPETITORS
As noted in our intro, worldwide around 25 per cent of C4 buyers are new to the Citroen marque. Such conquest purchasers are keenly sort by automakers. But where are they coming from?

The prestige small hatch and coupe market is a crowded segment and the new C4 will have to fend off an eclectic bunch if it's to continue to attract that level of conquest buyers Down Under.

Replacing the Xsara, the C4 hatch will inevitably be compared with its PSA stablemate, Peugeot's 307, in addition to Renault's Megane, VW's Golf, Holden's Euro-sourced Astra, and Ford's new South African built Focus. Down Under, this size category has regularly been the hunting ground of a host of excellent oriental candidates, in terms of finish and equipment: think Mazda 3 and Honda Civic.

In Coupe form the C4 could even attract interest from those buyers looking at BMW's smaller-engined 1 Series models, Audi's base A3s and the car we reckon it's most likely to compete against - the yet-to-be-released Mercedes Benz A Class.

An open-minded consumer is spoilt for choice in this arena, methinks. That said with the C4 VTS offering a high level of equipment including auto wipers and Xenon active headlamps, multidisk CD stereo, 17-inch alloys, fast glass, twin-zone air, remote locking, cruise control, tyre pressure warning system and a host of other features, the flash frenchie will hold its own.

ON THE ROAD
Over 300km in the front seat over a varied route from central Sydney to the Hunter Valley and back gave us ample time to sample the top-of-the-range C4 VTS.

The 130kW engine spins freely but lacks any real urge - in fact, a fast get away from the lights requires deft juggling of the throttle and clutch lest you bog the car. And don't expect to be lazy when it comes to changing gears - this is not a car that's happy to lug away from walking pace, even in second.

Its spinning performance is active enough and the engine is smooth with an engagingly raspy exhaust note. Gearing is short - at 110kmh it's spinning at an indicated 3500rpm - and we found we were looking for a non-existent sixth cog to salve things on the freeway cruising back into Sydney.

In spirited going turn-in is good and even on broken surfaces feedback through the wheel is well controlled with very little kickback. Overall, the VTS is a neutral handler with just the right amount of extra turn-in when the throttle is lifted. Understeer is only a problem at silly entry speeds or if you are hamfisted.

We noted that pedal position was less than ideal: the brake and accelerator are far enough apart to make heel/toeing require more effort than it should.

Perhaps of more concern in the twisties, however, was vision through right-hand bends. Thanks to the shape of the C4's glasshouse, the A-pillars stretch a l-o-n-g way forward. They're wide too, and mean that it's nigh-on impossible to see your way through right-handers without plenty of head and shoulder swivelling.

On the subject of vision, I also found the coupe's two-pane rear screen and boot back a pain. The bar that divides the glass combines with the rear spoiler to create an annoying rear vision blind spot. Not dangerous - just annoying.

The fixed hub wheel works well if you're disciplined enough to use the quarter-to-three hand positioning, however, the control markings require a hard look to work out where you are. Familiarity should deliver the claimed advantages of the innovative ergonomics.

While looks are a personal choice, the writer is more than taken with both versions. If pushed, we'd say the hatch has the edge in elegance over the sportier coupe.

Citroen says it plans to grow its Australian sales to a total of 3000 units this year, with a target of 3500 next year. That equates to moving 900 C4s this year and 1200 in 2006. A safe bet, we reckon.