Citroen

e-C4 X

The Citroen e-C4 X is the company’s first model to be sold exclusively as an electric vehicle boasting fastback styling that looks dynamic when viewed from any angle. There is choice of trim levels and the car has a decent driving range between charges.

The good

Looks, on-board tech and driving range

The bad

Performance lacks real bite

Tech Specs

Price from

£31,995

Combined Fuel up to

Combined driving range of 221 miles

0-62 from

10.0 seconds

max speed up to

93mph

co2 from

0g/km

Test Drive

Citroen e-C4 X – First Drive (2023)

Take the Citroen e-C4 and give it some growth hormones, along with some fastback styling and you get the e-C4 X, an electric vehicle that has a very commanding road presence.

The e-C4 X will only be sold as an EV and, for now at least there is just one battery powering the car – it’s 50kWh with a single 136hp electric motor driving the front wheels with a range between charges of 221 miles.

Prices start from £31,995 rising to £35,495, and customers can choose from three generously-equipped trim levels called Sense, Shine and Shine Plus.

We opted for the range-topping Shine Plus model which also included a few optional extras that bumped the final price up to £36,690.

Designers have pulled out all the stops when creating the e-C4 X with fastback bodystyling thanks to sleek streamlining and beautifully sculpted curves, and this combines with the practicality of an SUV-like raised driving position.

The model boasts a distinctive silhouette with a roofline that flows seamlessly from the top of the windscreen to the boot resulting in a very sleek profile. This also adds to the aerodynamics of the car.

Design cues include bonnet-wide chrome chevrons that stretch into the dual-height front lights with LED daytime running lights in a ‘V’ signature. There is a hexagonal grille flanked by fog lights, body coloured bumpers, chrome detailing around the windows, blue surrounds to the front fog lights and Airbump capsule, plus 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the interior is clutter-free, but feature-rich with a wealth of technology to explore. There is a 10-inch high-definition touchscreen that offers access to the many on-board systems, including the navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth and DAB radio. A personal assistant is brought to life by uttering the magic words ‘Hello Citroen’ and this can assist with tasks such as altering the temperature, changing a radio station, making a phone call and lots more while the driver keeps both hands on the steering wheel.

Physical buttons are kept to a minimum although a number of quick keys offer access certain functions and there are proper air con switches.

In addition, there is a head-up display, along with a 5.5-inch driver information display showing all the vital driving data. And our test car also included an upgraded sound system, wireless smartphone charger and a tablet cradle that pops out the dashboard, as optional extras.

Citroen is very proud of the refinement it offers and delivers in its cars with what they call Magic Carpet Ride quality. And in all fairness, the soft suspension, along with seats created using 15mm high-density foam, absorb most bumps and dips cushioning the ride and creating a very comfortable experience for all occupants. That said; we simply can’t ignore the dreadful condition of our UK road network and, at times, it felt like our Magic Carpet had encountered some turbulence along the way. Both the seats and steering wheel can be heated to fend off the winter blues.

When it comes to performance, the e-C4 X doesn’t really have the dynamism and firepower to match its sharp styling. But it’s no slouch either completing the 0-62mph sprint in 10.0 seconds and topping out at 93mph. While some electric cars feature instant power and acceleration that pins you to the back of the seat at the slightest throttle pressure, the Citroen seemed a little slower off the mark, but it was still a very accomplished performer.

Through twisting country lanes, the low centre of gravity resulted in balanced handling with confident grip and there was no sign of body sway. The steering is well weighted and the car is an assured motorway cruiser.

Drive modes called Sport, Normal and Eco alter the driving characteristics of the car and Sport does introduce edgier handling, but the e-C4 X certainly errs on the side of comfort and refinement rather than pace and aggression.

Although you sit slightly lower in the e-C4 X than in some rival SUVs, the driver still benefits from an elevated view which is a great advantage when driving through busier city centres with cars, cyclists and pedestrians darting out from all angles.

The vehicle stretches 4.6 metres in length, is 1.8 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall. It is 240mm longer than the regular e-C4 and that means extra rear legroom along with more storage space inside the larger boot. There is also an underfloor compartment to store all the charging cables out of sight.

The boot, accessed via a traditional lid rather than hatchback-style tailgate can swallow 510 litres of luggage, extending to 1,360 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. And thanks to clever use of available space, there is an additional 33 litres of storage options within the cabin. This includes a glovebox, central cubby, door bins, seat back pockets, cup holders, trays and a charging pad.

The e-C4 X has a combined driving range between charges of 221 miles, but this increases to 303 miles of city driving where the regenerative braking will regularly top up the battery levels.

A zero to 80 per cent charge can be achieved in 30 minutes via a 100kW fast charger or the e-C4 X can be charged via a 7.4kW wallbox in about seven-and-a-half hours.

The car features a wealth of safety systems as standard. These include blind spot detection, highway driver assist, hill start assist and a Safety Pack Plus that introduces Advanced Active Safety Brake to detect cyclists and other objects at night. It also adds lane departure warning, extended traffic sign recognition and much more besides.

All in all, the Citroen e-C4 X is the first car to be launched by the French manufacturer that will only be sold as an electric vehicle. It boasts a striking design and an impressive list of on-board features. The drive lacked a little sharpness, but will be perfect for anyone’s day-to-day driving needs.