Citroen's improved C4 family hatch and saloon models seem a good bet in Hybrid form. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Citroen's now-improved C4 is probably at its best with this Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 powertrain. For a full family hatch customer looking for something comfortable and characterful as an interim step towards an EV, it might be just about right.

Background

Even quirky people have a sensible side. In the purchase of an ordinary family hatch, you'd have to be just a little unusual to prefer a Citroen C4 against the usual Golf and Astra fraternity. But you still want efficiency - and to do your bit for the environment. Initially with this generation C4, Citroen encouraged you to meet those goals by paying more for the all-electric e-C4 version. But that variant costs considerably more than its conventional petrol counterpart and right at present, the EV market is stalling - for very good reasons. So another C4 electrified alternative was needed - and in 2023 we got it, the Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 version, offered in hatch and C4 X saloon forms. Like the rest of the C4 range, that derivative benefitted from visual exterior and cabin updates introduced in late 2024 to create the car we're going to look at here. You have to put fuel in in a C4 Hybrid and you can't plug it in, but it claims to be able to take care of a lot of town travel on battery power alone. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

The 48V Hybrid system in use here is based around the conventional C4's familiar 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine mated to a bespoke 6-speed e-DCS6 dual clutch auto transmission. Bespoke because that gearbox's casing houses the DC inverter, the Engine Control Unit and a little 28hp electric motor powered by a tiny battery secreted beneath the front passenger seat. Two versions of this engine are available, a base variant with 100hp and a slightly perkier version with 136hp. On the move, the petrol engine and the electric motor can operate together - or separately. And, unlike with a mild hybrid system like that fitted to say, a Golf eTSI, here the car can be driven for short urban distances (under 18mph) on electric power alone. The motor also assists the engine under acceleration - such as from standstill to 62mph, which (helped by 230Nm of torque) takes 8.0s en route to 128mph. Mind you, those figures are only 1.4s and 4mph faster than the equivalent un-electrified auto derivative. During deceleration, the petrol engine stops and the e-motor acts as a generator to recharge the Hybrid system's 48V battery. The battery also stores the energy recuperated by the regenerative braking system. As with any other C4, this car features a clever Progressive Hydraulic suspension set-up. Here, the springs and shock absorbers work in concert with hydraulic compression and rebound stops, which are supposed to slow body movement over bumps and tarmac tears.

Design and Build

Apart from the badgework, there are no visual changes to differentiate this Hybrid variant, which like any ordinary C4 is offered in hatch or C4 X saloon forms. With both body styles, the visual changes made to this improved model go beyond the scope of the usual facelift, drawing upon the brand's Oli concept car from 2022, with squared-off lighting signatures and the brand's latest logo. The slim LED front headlamps feature a characteristic light signature divided into three distinctive horizontal segments. There are rear tail light updates too, as part of changes to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Plusher versions get smart new 18-inch 'Amber' wheels, whilst the 'Colour Clips' that run horizontally across the rear of the car aim to add personalisation. The changes are even greater inside, where there's a bigger 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster (1.5-inches larger than before). The 10.0-inch central screen's the same size as before, but has been updated with a new connected 3D navigation system and a better 'Hello Citroen'-activated voice control set-up. A major selling point of the pre-facelift car was its cossetting 'Advanced Comfort' seats; well they've been improved with an extra 15mm of foam and a new denser section of padding in the centre of the squab. For the EV versions, there's also now a 'V2L' 'Vehicle-to-Load' system, which enables you to plug external devices (like laptop, lights, coffee makers, drones and so on) into the vehicle battery. Further back of course, it's just as before. For the rear seat, the brand continues to claim best-in-class knee room and offers a wide range of storage compartments. Plus there's a decently-sized 380-litre boot in the hatch version; the C4 X saloon's boot is a big 510-litres in size.

Market and Model

Expect pricing for this Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 variant in either hatch or C4 X saloon form to start from just over £22,000; that's with a hatch in the 100hp version and base 'You' trim. The 136hp version of this engine comes only with plusher 'Plus' or 'Max' trim and starts from just under £25,000 with either hatch or C4X saloon bodystyles. You'll need to factor in a £1,350 premium over the equivalent un-electrified conventional C4 PureTech 130 EAT8 variant. To take on key compact similarly-sized EV rivals in the same price bracket, all versions of this C4 need to be well equipped. They are. Nice touches the include LED ambient lighting on the new 7-inch digital instrument panel. Front passengers benefit from access to Citroën's Smart Pad Support, a retractable tablet holder built directly into the dashboard, which enables the front passenger to make the most of time spent on the move. Below this is a Dashboard Tray, a large sliding drawer with a cushioned action. A popular option will be the large electric opening panoramic sunroof. A 10-inch central infotainment screen comes with all C4s, as does wireless 'phone charging and 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring connectivity. A superb sound system can be specified too, with Arkamys digital sound processing and 8 speakers. A nice optional touch you might well want to consider is a full-HD camera built into the rear view mirror which can take photos or video stored on a 16GB memory card. Safety-wise, there's no fewer than 20 different driver assistance features, including Highway Driving Assist and a 'level 2' semi-autonomous drive system incorporating Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist.

Cost of Ownership

This C4 Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 manages up to 62.1mpg on the combined cycle (2mpg better than the equivalent Astra Hybrid) and up to 107g/km of CO2 (1g/km worse). The figures are the same for the base Hybrid 100hp version of this unit. To give you some perspective, an ordinary non-electrified C4 PureTech 130 Turbo auto hatch manages up to 50.7mpg and up to 131g/km. But that variant's BiK-rated at 31% - compared with 26% for this Hybrid. This C4's Hybrid petrol engine has been optimised for efficiency and operates in the Miller combustion cycle. This thermodynamic cycle is enabled by the variable geometry turbocharger, which enhances performance at low rpm, and variable valve timing. A belt-driven starter combines with the e-motor to start the petrol engine from cold. The belt-starter also restarts the engine quickly and seamlessly while driving. As for peace of mind, well there's the usual unremarkable Citroen three year 60,000 mile warranty. As with any C4, you'll properly want to keep garage costs in check by opting for the affordable 3 year servicing plan that is available at point of purchase. Finally, there's the usual Citroen three year / 60,000 mile warranty.

Summary

There needed to be another reason to choose a Citroen C4 and this Hybrid powertrain provides it. It's not quite as electrified as, say, a Toyota Corolla would be, but the petrol/electric set-up does much the same thing and the overall package costs a little less money and has a little more charm. Which might also make it stand out from the increasing number of other Stellantis Group models also now using this same e-DCS6 powertrain. The C4 Hybrid isn't really the kind of family hatch that five years ago Citroen and the Brussels bureaucrats thought we'd now be buying. But more than an equivalent EV, it's more the kind of car we need right now.