Citroën e-C4 long-term test: report 2
Citroën has reinvented its family hatchback, turning it into a coupé SUV and introducing an electric version for the first time. We're finding out what it's like to live with...
The car Citroën e-C4 50kWh Shine Plus Run by Allan Muir, managing editor
Why we’re running it To find out whether Citroën has finally got the recipe right with its new family hatchback cum coupé SUV, and to see how well the battery-powered version stacks up against its small electric car rivals
Needs to Deliver on Citroën's promise of exceptional comfort while being easy to live with and having a long enough range to be viable as an only car
Mileage 2244 List price £34,995 (not including £2500 gov’t grant) Target Price £34,226 Price as tested £35,540 Test range 160 miles
17 June 2021 – Assume the position
Finding an ideal driving position for all 6ft 1in of me in the Citroen e-C4 is proving to be a touch challenging. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not uncomfortable. But compromises have had to be made.
Initially, I found that with the seat height set where it felt right – several notches up from its lowest position to afford a good, SUV-like view over the surprisingly substantial bonnet – I was having to duck when getting in and out or risk banging my head on the relatively low roof. Likewise, any side-to-side movement over bumps would have my head coming into painful contact with the hard, sharp-edged plastic grab handle above the door. Why there’s a grab handle there at all is a mystery to solve another day…
The obvious solution was to lower the seat a bit more. The problem is that only the rear of the seat base goes down; you can’t adjust the front portion separately, as you can in some cars. The more I lower the seat, the more I feel as though I’ve got my backside wedged in a hole. As I said, I’ve found a middle ground that’s comfy enough, but I’d prefer the seat base to be a little less tilted.
This seating position also brings my elbows close to the armrests. It took me a while to work out why my right elbow in particular felt sore after longer trips; it was because it was coming into contact with the very thinly padded armrest on the door, exacerbated by the fact that I was subconsciously propping myself up in corners, because the seats don’t offer a great deal of side support. I sometimes have to remind myself not to let my arms drop too much when I’m driving.
These issues aren’t deal-breakers, though. On the whole, I’m getting on well with the e-C4 and still finding it very agreeable, thanks primarily to its quietness and remarkable comfort.
A neighbour who’s very much into electric cars expressed interest in it recently, because he was looking to replace his Renault Zoe and wanted something with a plusher ride. I took him for a run in my car and he was as impressed as I am with the way it copes with urban crags.
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