If you've decided an electric car is for you, the number of EV options is growing every month. Does the sleek-looking Citroen e-C4 warrant your attention?

PROS:

+ Quirky looks

+ Decent charge times

+ Good boot

CONS:

- Average infotainment

- Feels cheap in places

- Comfort comes before fun

Verdict: If you've decided you can make an electric car work, the Citroen e-C4 is worth considering. It's comfy to drive, has decent battery specs and doesn't cost the earth. It does feel cheap in places, though and there are more exciting options to sit in and drive for similar money.

2021 Citroen e-C4 review: the five-minute read

If you're doing your electric car research and keep getting déjà-vu, fear not, for there's a reason. Y'see, just like combustion-engine cars share engines and gearboxes, some electric cars share batteries and motors, which is very much the case with this Citroen e-C4.

Citroen is part of the Stellantis group, so the e-C4 gets the same running gear as other EVs like the Peugeot e-208 and e-2008, plus the Vauxhall Corsa-e and Mokka-e. In fact, its small SUVs like the e-2008 and Mokka-e this e-C4 is up against, plus others like the Kia e-Niro, Hyundai Kona Electric and Mazda MX-30.

The Citroen e-C4 is one of the more striking to look at of this bunch. Strictly speaking, it's a coupe SUV, with a sloping roofline that ends in a pinched rear end. At the front, its bluff nose and piercing LED headlights give it a more menacing look.

Inside things are a little less bold, although the e-C4's cabin is at least simply laid out, with separate climate controls sitting below a touchscreen infotainment system. It's just a shame that a lot of the centre console, dash and doors feature fairly brittle plastics that look and feel a little cheap next to Kia and Hyundai's efforts.

The e-C4's infotainment is by no means the best on the market, either. Its 10-inch screen looks attractive enough and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it isn't the quickest to respond to inputs and some of the onscreen buttons are a tad small to hit while driving.

Front space is generous and two adults will sit in the back seats no problem, while the e-C4's boot is a good effort that'll easily handle the weekly shop or a family of four's luggage on a week away, despite that sloping roof.

Like the aforementioned Peugeots and Vauxhalls, the e-C4 is fitted with a 50kWh battery and a single electric motor. That officially gets you 217 miles of range, although it's more like 150 miles in our experience and the e-C4's 136hp and subsequent 0-62mph time of 9.7 seconds means progress is fairly sedate above town speeds.

Its charging specs are much punchier: with standard 100kW charging, you can go from 0-80% in around 30 minutes, or go from 0-100% in around 7.5 hours at home with a wall box.

The e-C4 feels at home in town, where it has enough puff and its light steering and compact dimensions make it easy work when parking. You immediately notice just how soft its suspension is too, which soaks up most lumps and bumps very well.

That does mean quite a bit of lean in tight bends, so the e-C4 doesn't feel as happy being chucked about on a country road as its stablemate the Vauxhall Mokka-e. It's much better at taking it easy in town or on the motorway, where it's decently comfy and quiet at speed.

So, if you like the looks, the e-C4 does enough to justify itself before the similarly-priced e-2008, Mokka-e or e-Niro. If you value a classy cabin or fun drive, though, there are better options.

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Extended read…

2021 Citroen e-C4 interior and infotainment

The e-C4's interior isn't as in your face as its exterior, but it's also not as stylish as the interior in something like a Peugeot e-2008. So, if you like a kooky cabin, then look elsewhere.

Still, it is at least simply laid out, with separate climate controls sitting below a touchscreen infotainment system. It's just a shame that a lot of the centre console, dash and doors feature fairly brittle plastics that look and feel a little cheap next to Peugeot, Kia and Hyundai's efforts.

All e-C4s come with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which gets built-in sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It's a bright, high-res screen, but it isn't the quickest to respond to inputs and some of the native onscreen buttons are quite small. Smartphone pairing it is then.

All models also come with a 5.5-inch set of digital driver's dials, but they look a little lost in the middle of the instrument cluster and certainly don't rival Peugeot's fancy but functional 3D set.

Depending on which trim you go for, there are either three or four USB sockets on offer inside, while wireless phone charging is standard on the range-topping model.

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2021 Citroen e-C4 practicality and boot space

Nobody buys a small coupe-styled SUV if they need to transport a serious amount of people and luggage on a regular basis, but the Citroen e-C4 still does a fairly good job if the moment arises.

Adults in the front seats get generous space and adjustment, while another couple on the back will sit in comfort, even if the sloped roof and relatively small rear windows do make it feel a little claustrophobic. Three children will sit side-by-side with no problem.

That said, three child seats won't, and getting one in through the rear doors tests your core muscles thanks to that sloping roofline, plus you'll need to whip the front seats forward to get a bulky rear-facing seat in behind.

It's better news regards the boot, which at 380 litres is pretty much the same as a Kia e-Niro's – one of the most practical EV SUVs around.

2021 Citroen e-C4 battery, motor and charging

If you were hoping to drive from London to Edinburgh without stopping, then we're afraid you'll need something with a bigger battery than the Citroen e-C4.

Still, that goes for most EVs that cost as much as the e-C4, which has a 50kWh battery officially good for 217 miles on a full charge, although we saw more like 150 miles on our test – your route and the temperature will alter it greatly.

A single motor works with the battery to provide 136hp and a 0-62mph in just under 10 seconds, which is fairly ordinary as EVs go. Of course, the instant torque means the e-C4 feels punchier than that around town.

Happily, its charging specs are quicker still: with standard 100kW charging, you can go from 0-80% in around 30 minutes, or go from 0-100% in around 7.5 hours at home with a wall box.

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2021 Citroen e-C4 driving

The Citroen e-C4 puts comfort before cornering ability, which is refreshing in this day and age of do-it-all cars.

The e-C4 feels at home in town, where it has enough puff and its light steering and compact dimensions make it easy work when parking. You immediately notice just how soft its suspension is too, which soaks up most lumps and bumps very well.

That does mean quite a bit of lean in tight bends, so the e-C4 doesn't feel as happy being chucked about on a country road as its stablemate the Vauxhall Mokka-e. It's much better at taking it easy in town or on the motorway, where it's decently comfy and quiet at speed.

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