2022 Citroen C4 price and features: Quirky crossover to challenge Toyota C-HR, Subaru XV, Mazda CX-30, but no electric version just yet

Citroen Australia has confirmed pricing and features for its new-generation C4, which has morphed from a hatchback to a quirky crossover.

The new model will arrive in just one highly specified ‘Shine’ variant, with just one powertrain, a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (114kW/240Nm), driving the front wheels via an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Wearing an pricetag of $37,990 before on-road costs, and with its newfound crossover shape, the C4 Shine looks best equipped to compete with high-spec versions of the Subaru XV (2.0i-S, $37,290), Toyota C-HR (Koba Hybrid, $37,665), and Mazda CX-30 (G25 Touring, $37,390).

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Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a 5.5-inch digital dash cluster, dual-zone climate control, full synthetic leather interior trim, full LED exterior lighting, LED ambient interior lighting, and a colour head-up display.

The full safety suite with auto emergency braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, driver attention alert is included standard, and, while there is also a 360-degree parking camera suite, there is no rear-cross traffic alert, rear auto-brake, or junction assist for the AEB system.

Citroen’s brand focus going forward is comfort, and to that end, additional features on the C4 include ‘Advanced Comfort seats’ consisting of a high-density layer with 15mm-thick surface foam and extra width with electrical adjust, as well as ‘Progressive Hydraulic Cushions’ in the suspension system, which adds two hydraulic stops to iron out common ride issues.

The C4 is part of a re-positioning of the Citroen brand toward more amorphous crossover-style passenger cars.

The only options present for C4 buyers are metallic paint (six options, $690) and a sunroof $1490.

Elsewhere, the C4 features a 380-litre (VDA) boot capacity and will consume an officially-rated 6.1L/100km on the combined cycle, requiring 95RON unleaded.

Citroen covers its cars with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, and the C4 is also covered by a service pricing schedule costing an average of $497 a year for the first five years or 75,000km.

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The brand confirmed it would also launch its new flagship model the C5 X, also a crossover, in Q3 of 2022, but is not looking to import the Berlingo van, historically responsible for a large component of its sales in Australia. It will also not be importing the electric e-C4 variant initially, saying the electric focus was on Peugeot for now, but did not rule out an expansion of the C4 range in the future.

Citroen’s representatives re-iterated that it was committed to the Australian market despite a “challenging” 2021, amassing just 112 sales year to date. Its strategy going forward will be to focus on passenger cars and SUVs, with the commercial space occupied by its Peugeot sister brand.