Citroen e-C4 Review 2025: Prices, specs & verdict

What is the Citroen e-C4?

The Citroen e-C4 is a difficult car to pigeonhole, even a fair few years into its life. Is it an SUV? A hatchback? A coupe? It’s probably more of the former two than the latter, but the e-C4 has styling echoes of all three.

So where does that put the e-C4, and its petrol-powered C4 sibling, in the traditionally quirky French brand’s lineup? Smack bang in the middle, that’s where.

Citroen has recently launched the C3 and e-C3 small cars – two of the most affordable models in their respective classes. At the other end of the scale you have the unusual C5 X and the cutting-edge C5 and e-C5 Aircross. The e-C4 could be a Goldilocks offering, combining the affordability of smaller models with the comfort and space of bigger Citroens.

But is that the case? Remember that the e-C4 is one of Citroen’s oldest models on sale, launching back in summer 2020 alongside closely related models like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Peugeot e-2008.

To keep it fresh, Citroen has given the e-C4 a makeover for 2025, bringing a fresher face, new cabin technology and improved interior bits. We’ll find out in this in-depth review if that’s enough to keep it on buyers’ shortlists.

Verdict: is the Citroen e-C4 a good car?

We reckon the Citroen e-C4 is well worth considering if you’re after an electric car that delivers on comfort, space and, above all else, affordability. There are more high-tech and desirable options out there, and certainly EVs with longer range and greater performance. But the e-C4 remains a lot of car for a relatively small outlay.

Pricing, specs & rivals

The Citroen e-C4 was one of the first models to receive the UK’s Electric Car Grant, a government discount with two bands. The e-C4 falls under band two, meaning the lower discount of £1,500 (like the majority of EVs so far).

At the time of writing, prices for the Citroen e-C4 start at £26,150 with the grant included. Upgrading from ‘You!’ trim to Plus adds an additional £1,075. That price applies for the Standard Range model.

Currently the Extended Range variant is only available in top-spec Max trim, priced from just over £30,000 inclusive of the grant.

You! spec offers an adequate tally of equipment for an entry-level model. It includes 18in alloy wheels, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights, rear parking sensors and the full infotainment suite.

Upgrading to Plus trim brings a head-up display, body colour door handles, a reversing camera and sat-nav, plus Citroen’s Smart Pad Support (more on that in the interior section).

Finally, Max trim (which also upgrades the power and battery size) adds front parking sensors, a heated steering wheel and heated seats, keyless entry and start, upgraded cabin trim, an adjustable boot floor, adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection.

Rivals

The e-C4’s relatively low price point – in list price terms at least - makes it the bargain of the Stellantis group, undercutting related but smaller models like the Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600e and Vauxhall Mokka. Other cars to consider include the new Renault 4 E-Tech, Peugeot e-2008, BYD Dolphin, MG 4 and Ford Puma Gen-E.

A lot of comparably sized models like the Peugeot e-308 are considerably more expensive, but a low-spec Volkswagen ID.3 or Cupra Born is worth considering. Don’t forget the excellent Kia EV3, either.

Citroen e-C4: Interior comfort, quality & technology

Internal changes for the 2025 update of the e-C4 are less visible than the exterior, but worth mentioning. You’ll find new colour and material options across the range and larger screens, plus improved ‘Advanced Comfort’ seats.

These new seats build on the already comfy previous-gen models with their memory foam construction, adding an addition 15mm of foam thickness. The softness of the seats gives you a real comfort boost, particularly after a long day on your feet, and they’re reasonably supportive for the car’s comfort-focused approach.

There’s also plenty of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel, too, so even though the e-C4 offers quite a long-arm, short-leg driving position, most should find they are able to get comfortable. Forward visibility is okay, but as is often the case a coupe-style roofline hampers the rear view somewhat.

In terms of the interior design everything remains much as before, with as conventional look and welcome old-school touches such as a bank of rotary dials for the climate controls.  Material quality seems generally good given the price point, so even though there are some harder plastics to be found things like metal-effect air vent trim and a gloss black centre console prevent it feeling cheap.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

As part of the updates across the C4 range, all e-C4s now feature the largest 10in touchscreen infotainment system as standard. It’s important to note that base You! trim does do without sat-nav and voice control, however.

That’s less of an issue with well-integrated wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s a shame that wireless phone charging is only available as an option on the top Max trim, though.

The central display itself doesn’t look or feel as modern as newer rivals, with so-so response times and relatively low-res graphics. It’s perfectly serviceable, however, and easy to use with plenty of shortcut customisation and a couple of physical buttons for key menus.

You! trim makes do with a 5.5in digital driver’s display, but all other versions gain a seven-inch display. Again, it doesn’t wow with slick graphics by todays standards but is clear enough and gives all the key information. Top versions also have a head-up display (again, projected onto an old-school rising Perspex panel above the instruments rather than onto the windscreen itself).

One other area the e-C4 shows its age is with the use of old-school USB-As within the cabin, however there is a single USB-C connection in the front on the dashboard. All versions have a six-speaker sound system delivering decent audio quality.

How practical is the Citroen e-C4?

Most electric cars with a starting price of well below £30k tend to be a bit compromised on the passenger or boot space front. But the e-C4 isn’t, and that’s partly thanks to its generous dimensions making it 4360mm long, 1800mm wide and 1525mm wide. That’s longer than every model in our rivals list.

Crucially, it means enough space for four six footers to sit in relative comfort. It isn’t quite as generous as an ID.3 in that respect, but it certainly isn’t far off, with enough space up front for taller or broader occupants despite the windscreen’s close proximity to your head.

In the rear legroom is decent and the seats themselves are comfortable, but by family hatchback standards headroom is a little on the tight side if you’re over six-foot. Fitting adults three abreast is a bit tight, too, thanks to the transmission tunnel cutting out foot space.

Overall, however, the e-C4 is one of the roomiest electric cars it’s possible to buy at its price point.

Storage and boot space

Storage up front in the e-C4 is a story of two halves. We like the centre console with its covered twin cupholders, under-armrest storage, lidded compartment hiding sockets and separate phone tray. But the door bins aren’t exactly generous, and the glovebox is hampered by the location of the fuse box on UK models.

At least you get a handy drawer above the cupholder which, on mid-spec models, contains a tablet holder too. Rear storage is limited thanks to small door bins and a centre armrest not being standard on all models, but you do get twin seatback pockets, with a smaller one ideal for smartphones.

As for the boot, its 380-litre capacity is more than an MG 4 and on a par with the ID.3/Cupra Born. The boot itself doesn’t do anything special, and an adjustable boot floor is only available on Max trim, but overall it’s a useful load area with a decent-sized opening. The seats fold in a 60/40 split, which is par for the course at this end of the market.

If you want a larger load space still, then the much longer Citroen e-C4 X gives you a chunky 510 litres of capacity. That’s all well and good and means another suitcase could be squeezed in, but don’t forget that the saloon-style boot lid doesn’t open as widely as the hatchback’s.

Performance & drive: What is the Citroen e-C4 like on the road?

Don’t expect to feel a stomach-churning, Tesla-style surge of acceleration in the Citroen e-C4 – this is a relaxed car with relaxed performance.

Most people will find the 136hp entry-level model perfectly adequate, however, with EV-typical instant throttle response and enough go to make joining a motorway easy enough. As the double-figure 0-62mph time suggests, though, overtaking requires a bit more planning than in an MG 4 or ID.3.

The 156hp version delivers a bit more shove that’s just about noticeable at higher speeds, but it’s hardly a night-and-day difference – and you must press through a step in the throttle pedal to access that extra power (or be in Sport mode). Look elsewhere if you want any real sense of sportiness.

Where the e-C4 excels is in town, with a predictable throttle response making it less jumpy than some EVs. It’ll also zip away from the lights keenly enough without ever troubling the front tyres for grip. Just avoid Eco mode, which saps too much power unless you’re in town.

When it comes to regenerative braking, it’s a shame the facelift hasn’t brought wheel-mounted paddles to adjust the braking level on the fly. You get the same ‘B’ mode to introduce stronger regen when required, which is at least better than adjusting it through the touchscreen like some EVs. The brake pedal itself is smooth and progressive, too.

Power, 0-62mph times

• Citroen e-C4 Standard Range: 136hp/ 10 secs
• Citroen e-C4 Extended Range: 156hp/ 9.2 secs

Ride and handling

The e-C4 is a car that you buy if you want to waft about with little sense of what state the tarmac is underneath you. It’s softly sprung, meaning craggy tarmac or speed bumps are cushioned better than a lot of affordable EV rivals. It’s also got a lovely, relaxed gait on the motorway.

That’s not to say the ride comfort is perfect (it can still thump into the sharpest impacts) but it’s a lot less jittery than some alternatives.

The trade-off is there’s very little enjoyment to be had on a twisty road. The steering, while precise and great around town, is light and disconnected from the road surface, while it rolls about a lot more than a Cupra Born despite decent grip levels. It’s a bit like the Kia EV3 in the latter respect.

Noise and refinement

One of the most impressive traits of the e-C4 is its motorway cruising ability. Road noise is very well isolated for a cheaper EV – more so than in a Volkswagen ID.3 – while wind noise isn’t all that noticeable either. Combined with the quiet electric motor and soft suspension, this is one of the most relaxing cars of its type to drive long distances in. That’s not something that can be said of all cheap electric cars.

Euro NCAP: is the Citroen e-C4 a safe car?

The petrol-powered (but structurally identical) Citroen C4 was crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2021 and achieved a four-star rating. That isn’t bad, but many rivals do better, and this is one area where the Citroen’s relative age is evident.

It means e-C4 matches the Vauxhall Astra’s rating but is some way behind rivals from Renault, Kia, BYD and even MG. Despite the Citroen matching the MG’s occupant protection scores, its protection of vulnerable road users and safety assist tech weren’t deemed up to the standards of the best.

Part of the problem is the e-C4’s autonomous emergency braking system, which only uses a camera in the cheaper two trims. Top-spec Max models also add a radar, allowing the system to work at night and detect cyclists – the standard system doesn’t do that, which isn’t great by today’s standards.

Charging, range and running costs

The e-C4’s range is probably adequate enough for the needs of the average motorist (particularly one with home or office charging availability) but it doesn’t make any headlines.

Opting for the base Standard Range variant (your only option in You! or Plus trims) has a 50kWh battery with 46.3kWh of usable capacity. This gives you an official range of up to 218 miles according to WLTP testing, which at least means that small battery is efficient.

That range figure beats lower-spec versions of the BYD Dolphin but is behind most family electric cars. That’s somewhat reflected in the price, but an entry-level Volkswagen ID.3 manages up to 241 miles on a charge as an example.

Things are better with the Extended Range e-C4, which despite a modest usable capacity increase to 50kWh (54kWh gross) manages a more competitive 257 miles on a charge officially. During our testing this version proved noticeably more efficient than the Standard Range car, too, so it’s a shame that it’s restricted to top-spec variants.

Another minor complaint is that a heat pump – which helps mitigate the effects of cold weather on range – is optional across the range. It’s a minor complaint because pricier brands like Volkswagen will also charge you for this, but some alternatives throw one in as standard.  

Range on a charge (WLTP figures)

• Citroen e-C4 Standard Range: 219 miles
• Citroen e-C4 Extended Range: 257 miles

The Citroen e-C4 offers competitively fast charging speeds given the price. Both variants peak at 100kW on a suitable DC rapid charger, which is decent but hardly class leading. But with a modest battery pack size, both versions will still charge from 10-80% in under half an hour.

It’s worth noting that, as standard, both e-C4s only come with a 7kW on-board charger rather than the more common 11kW type. You can option the latter, which is ideal for destination chargers in car parks, but if most of your home charging is at home it’s not relevant because achieving 11kW with a wallbox in any electric car requires a rare three-phase electricity supply.

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 7hrs 30 mins (50kW) / 8hrs 15 mins (54kWh)
• 11kW charging: 5hrs / 5hrs 30 mins (with optional 11kW charger fitted)
• 50kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 51 mins / 56 mins
• 150kW+ rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 26 mins / 29 mins

How much does the Citroen e-C4 cost to insure?

The Citroen e-C4 should be an affordable electric car to insure by the standards of family-sized models. Insurance groups start at 22 for entry-level You! trim, rising to 24 for the long-range Max model.

Pretty much every key alternative sits in a higher insurance group. It’s also worth noting that the e-C4 X sits in similarly low groups.