Diesel makes scents

So why would I bother even trying one if I've already made up my mind? Because sometimes first impressions can be wrong and this was the case with the Citroen C4 HDi.

I had already test driven the Citroen C4 VHS (petrol version) – and loved it – and was surprised to learn this small car came as a diesel. The man at the petrol station must have been thinking the same thing, judging by the dodgy look he gave me when I pulled up at the diesel pump.

Anyway, let's answer those first impressions. As for the oily, diesel smell, I didn't notice any, in fact, the only aroma the C4 had was of vanilla wafting from the dash – from it's very own scent dispenser. How very French.

However the sound of a diesel is unmistakable. It's like a tractor.

Luckily, you can only hear the rumble from the outside and inside it's as quiet as a mouse, with only the excellent audio system for background noise.

And despite being a 1.6-litre, the Citroen diesel is not the least bit sluggish. In fact, its punchiness and smooth power were surprising considering this is a small to medium-sized car. My own 1.6-litre car gets tired going uphill.

But here was the Citroen proving me wrong – and I'm not often wrong – and doing it in a solid and sure-footed kind of way.

And I really liked the way it handled. It's grippy on the road, making me feel extremely safe, and it responded in an accurate manner making it feel nimble despite, from the inside, it seeming quite wide and bulky.

It is with the fuel consumption that my vote is swinging. The car arrived with half a tank, and I was informed that diesel lasts longer than petrol. Yet, after four days and only zipping here and there around town, the low fuel warning flashed up on the electronic computer. I wasn't impressed, and filling up a diesel hurts the pocket at the pump.

Visibility from the C4 is great in all directions – even with its slanted windows that wrap around the car's curved shape.

A gentleman even stopped and asked what I thought of the C4's visibility and I happily told him that I had noticed straight off how good it was – you can see everything and I had already seen him looking curiously at the car before he approached me.

The seat adjustments, allowing you to sit as high or as low as you like in the comfy seats, increase your aspect and also make you feel bigger than you are – especially sitting in traffic next to all those SUVs. It seems every second person has one these days.

But then again not every person is sitting in a Citroen with quirky extras such as its own scent or the translucent instrument display with its big numbers showing who's been a good girl and has been driving at the speed limit.

Second time around, I found the fixed steering wheel was again a bit kooky but superb, except when I turned the wheel and knocked the radio off its station.

Oh, well, I guess the Citroen was sick of that sappy love song.

LOVE IT LEAVE IT

Citroen C4 HDi

Price: $29,990

LOVE IT

The sliding armrest console. The black interior is all class and minimalist – very chic. And the textured grip on the lower part of the steering wheel gets my vote.

LEAVE IT

The seat belt sat high over my neck and was uncomfortable. Second gear could be clunky and too many times refused to get itself in gear – even when I asked nicely. The steering felt heavy – perhaps a diesel influence?