Citroen C4 Reviews

Taking the Citroen for a spin through the curvy Stirling-Strathalbyn route was a delight, with leather steering wheel in hand guiding its passengers around each corner with ease.It may be market research gone mad but the French car maker seems to have a good idea of its buying demographic, with music to put you in the mood and a car catering for every lazy driver's desire.At the first hint of twilight, the headlights blink on, doors lock as soon as you accelerate and windscreen wipers clear away the slightest sign of rain.Forget to buckle up and the seat-belt alarm increases in volume until you obey. It bleeps again if a door is not closed properly or the handbrake is left on. If a tyre goes flat, it lets you know that, too.Parking sensors allow even the worst parallel parkers to slide into a spot without any unnecessary paint-chipping bumps.Cornering at night is easy on drivers' eyes as lights follow the road and look eerily like the eyes of a skinless Terminator cyborg.Perhaps the Citroen C4 is a cyborg with a tendency for crankiness if you don't follow the rules.But all is forgiven with this two-litre hatch which seats passenger and driver as well as short-legged rear passengers in comfort.Clever interior features, apart from an irritating rear light, are abundant, with good storage compartments, centre armrest and individual airconditioning controls and an airconditioned glove box to keep beverages cool.For those who get into whiz-bang features, there are cruise, stereo and trip computer controls on the steering wheel – so many that it's hard to find the horn.Citroen's designers may have overlooked a couple of features to keep family car buyers away.There seem to be no child-proof locks for the electric windows, which are within reach of a toddler in a car capsule, and the boot is only roomy enough for an umbrella stroller.But who wants grubby hands messing up a fine interior? Citroen C4 is a DINK car and a stylish statement to other drivers."We live in a beautiful world, yeah we dooo ... "Do I have to give it back now?

It's not because you'll miss the super roomy feel, the leather interior, full-length sunroof or the CD stacker that's hiding in the armrest. And while it is a definitely a nice touch, especially on a cold winter's night, most people could give or take the seat warmers in our mild Australian climate.No. The reason people could shy away from driving any other car after spending any length of time in the five-door Citroen C4 is because they have simply become too lazy.In the Citroen C4 the headlights switch on automatically once darkness falls and windscreen wipers jump into action as soon as raindrops touch the glass.The rear-view mirrors tilt to give drivers the optimum view when reversing.When you get out of the car, the mirrors fold away to avoid being side-swiped on narrow city streets.But perhaps the inclusion that threatens to strip any sense of responsibility from the driver is the warning system that beeps if you come too close to anything in front or behind.When squeezing into a tight spot, the warning tones were a godsend.But after only three days' driving I already found myself relying on those trusty beeps to tell me whether I was going to crash.My sense of distance went out the window – a sure recipe for disaster once behind the wheel of another, less informative, vehicle.But those more familiar with the electrics and accessories that buyers of premium small cars have come to expect will turn their attention to the car's on-road performance.As a driver who learnt on a manual but driven automatic for the past 13 years, I found the option of driving the car in the part-manual mode fascinating.It was good to be able to influence the car's power by changing gears manually without having the hassle of using the clutch like in full manual mode.But when I wanted to return to completely automatic, I found the ride was not as smooth as I expected.The speed rose quickly wihout any problem, but the journey back to zero invariably contained a jolt or two.A unique touch of the Citroen, which should not be overlooked, is the steering wheel hub which stays fixed as the wheel turns around it.While it was a bit disconcerting at first, I soon realised that it means all the buttons and controls mounted on the steering wheel hub stay in the same position for ease of reference. The Citroen C4 scores top marks for style, accessories and comfort but could do a little better in the performance stakes.Low-down power from the 2.0-litre could do with some work, particularly if there is a load on board. That comes in the more powerful high-performance 2-litre engine in the sporty VTS model C4, but that is another story.Fitting into the Citroen range between the C3 small car and the C5 saloon, the C4 also rates well for safety.It has plenty of equipment, boasts a five-star crash-test rating and is particularly pedestrian friendly.The C4 is competitive with the other cars in its market on fuel consumption with a combined cycle figure of 8.1L/100km.The bottom line is always price. The C4 actually starts at $25,990 for the 1.6-litre coupe and hatch base models. However the model I tested costs $33,990 because it comes with a few options, which push up the price.That includes metallic paint ($700), the leather pack with driver's electric seat, two-position memory and heating ($3500) plus the innovative and, dare I say must-have, full length glass sunroof ($1500).Nonetheless the C4 represents the height of French flair and innovation when compared to its rivals in 2005.

And lot of the commotion involves the sassy C4, pictured, which Citroen considers pivotal to continuing its significant sales growth in recent seasons.So with much ado the expectations for the C4 are programmed way north of above average.Positioned above the cute entry level C3 and below the C5, this French newcomer conveys a fresh design approach.There are crisp, contemporary lines, the C4 taking a striking and stylish form.Inside there are innovations with a multi-function steering wheel which takes the operation of the trip computer, sound system, cruise control etc to another level.There is the centrally-mounted digital speedo and instrument read-out, quality finish and a warm cabin with savvy architecture.The instrument cluster, to some may seem an innovation, although Toyota would argue that they broke the mould in this funky design when the Echo landed here in October, 1999.What is without question with the C4 is the high levels of standard equipment.Included across the model variants are six airbags, anti-locking ABS brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, remote locking, cruise control and the tricky multi-function controls on the tiller.So internally the C4 comes up smelling like roses, and on that subject the cabin aroma can be changed to suit individual tastes with in-built air fresheners which can waft through the vents with a variety of fragrances to choose from.These C4s are fun and functional inside with interior dimensions similar to a Mazda3, although the Citroen is slightly wider and higher.More direct rivals include the 307, from Citroen's PSA stablemate Peugeot, the Renault Megane and Volkswagen Golf.It cuts a smart figure on the road where, as one comes to expect from the marque, the ride quality is sumptuous.Perhaps the 2-litre engine is a little undercooked, needing a bit more squirt, although it is armed with a healthy dollop of torque.Mated to a four-speed automatic box with sequential function the C4 runs strongly with the crowd on the highway but just needs a little bit more urge down low which is particularly evident loaded up with a couple of passengers and some luggage.It handles diligently and is dynamically as competent as anything else in its class.This replacement for the Xsara, which continues to kick backsides in the World Rally Championship, is loaded with safety gear and has a 5-star crash-test rating as well as one of the highest ratings in terms of being pedestrian-friendly.At the bowser the C4 consumed about just over 10litres/100km.The contentious point however is that hoary old chestnut — price.As tested this automatic C4 was $33,990.If you wish you can blow out the sticker price with options that include metallic paint ($700), premium leather pack with driver's electric seat, two-position memory and heating ($3500) and full length glass sunroof ($1500).The C4 is chic and plugs an important hole in the Citroen range.

It dares to try new ideas and explore different ways of achieving the same result where other manufacturers are content to follow the tried and tested path.Sometimes Peugeot's inventive cousin gets it right (they're part of the same parent company) but at other times the results have left people scratching their heads in wonder?In the case of the new C4, however, we're happy to report that the French car marker has not only got it right but has finished near the top of its class.School, my friends, is in, the subject is French automotive engineering and Citroen is delivering the lecture on how it should be done.Interestingly, one of the hallmarks of Citroen design is that cars must be instantly recognisable from a distance of 200 metres.The company actually drafts members of the public to ensure this, work-shopping designs against those of competitors.The C4 combines stylish, appealing, you might even say head-turning good looks, with sparkling performance and an impressive array of technology designed to make the car safer and easier to operate.Australian importer Ateco Automotive has high hopes for this one and from what we have seen so far, these aspirations are justified.Based on the same platform as Peugeot's 307 model, C4 comes in two body shapes _ a three-door coupe and five-door hatch with four engines from which to chose.Of the pair, the dormer windowed coupe with its high mounted rear wing and rally bred performance is the standout.The lower rear glass window panel looks opaque from most angles, but provides a clear view from the driver seat, with a tiny wiper to keep it clear.In terms of construction, the two are completely different from the windscreen pillar back.The entry level C4 is powered by a 1.6-litre, four cylinder petrol engine, followed by 2.0-litre and high performance 2.0-litre petrol variants plus a 1.6-litre turbo diesel.We had the chance to sample the 2.0-litre auto and potent 130kW VTS manual coupe.The 2.0-litre engine delivers 103kW of power and 200Nm of torque, while the VTS with a different engine management system pumps out 130kW and 202Nm.Note the difference in torque is just 2Nm and in the case of the 2.0-litre auto, this torque is delivered lower in the rev range _ 4000rpm as against 4750rpm.As a result, it offers the same sort of punch down low, coupled as it is to a four-speed tipshift style auto.However, the hatch is no match for the five- speed VTS which quickly finds its legs on the open road.The VTS sprints from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds. Handling is excellent with electronic stablity control on these two models but the ride can become choppy on anything but smooth roads.The VTS is not the fastest car out there but offers high levels of performance and isa very satisfying car to drive.The C4 has a maximum five-star safety rating. and is specifically designed to minimise injury to pedestrians in an accident.Inside, passengers are protected by six airbags.Apart from distinctive design, a number of unique elements have been included in the car.The centre hub of the steering wheel is fixed, for instance, and only the outside allowed to turns.This allows more controls to be mounted on the wheel were they are more easily reached.The speedometer meanwhile is located high atop of the dash, with a large easy to read translucent LCD screen.A tacho is mounted on top of the steering wheel and lights up like a beacon when redline is reached.An air fragrance dispenser is incorporated into the airconditioning system, with a range of 12 scents from which to chose.Citroen's Lane Departure Warning System will be offered later in the year as an option, with its ability read linemarkings and warn drivers when they stray from the lane in which they are travelling.Standard equipment includes ABS, aircon- ditioning and cruise control with a speed limiter. A full size spare is included.C4 is priced from $25,990 up to $36,990 for the VTS coupe.Any colour but white will cost you $700.