Citroen e-C4 X e-series (2022 - )

It’s quite difficult trying to categorise the Citroen e-C4 X. I guess if you start with the C4 which everyone knows these days, add electrification, which accounts for the ‘e’ and then alter the rear end with extra storage space then you get the e-C4 X.

Citroen describes it as a fastback, but once again, it’s difficult to put in a single box with the ride height of an SUV, along with a boot that has an opening similar to a saloon.

The French carmaker recently announced some enhancements to its C4 (ICE) and e-C4 (EV) line-up, along with the larger X models in the range. We are concentrating on the e-C4 X which is available in trim levels called You!, Max and e-series. Eagle-eyed Citroen fans will notice that the Plus trim is not available with an electrified powertrain but is offered with petrol or hybrid options.

But the big news for the e-C4 X is the introduction of a more potent 54kWh battery to the mid-grade Max version. This sees the driving range between charges increase from 223 miles to an impressive 260 miles.

So, these days customers are offered the e-C4-X with the smaller 50kWh unit on the You! grade, while both the Max and e-series now have a choice of 50kWh or 54kWh batteries. 

We opted for the e-C4 X in range-topping e-series trim for our test drive with the larger battery.

The styling of the Citroen e-C4 X will certainly divide opinion. The front is identical to the look of the C4, but the rear end is totally different. To be honest, I quite liked it, but I did hear others say it looked like a vehicle with no real identity. As I say, mixed opinions.
Eye-catching features include a black roof that contrasts nicely with the grey-coloured bodywork, black mirrors and door handles, sweeping light clusters, body-coloured bumpers, a gloss black rear skirt and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Moving inside, the interior is beautifully crafted and looks exceptionally high-end. Citroen prides itself on developing comfortable cars and this is another fine example with cushioned seats featuring Alcantara and black leather-effect upholstery.
The seats are manually adjusted and can be heated for added comfort. You sit slightly lower than in a standard SUV, but higher than many of its closest rivals and there is a wealth of technology to explore within the high-end cabin.
The main nerve centre is a 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen which controls features such as the sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth and DAB radio with six-speaker sound system. It uses the latest software and works effectively with customisable widgets and swipe gestures.
Physical controls are few and far between but there are switches to control the air con functions which always gets a nod of approval in our book. After all, there is nothing more irritating than having to trawl through a drop-down touchscreen menu just because you are feeling a little chilly.
A 5.5-inch tft screen shows all the important readouts such as speed and driving range and there is also a digital assistant that is summoned by saying “Hello Citroen” and this can help with a number of tasks such as making a phone call or plotting navigational routes.

Powering our range-topping e-C4 X e-series test car was the larger 54kWh battery pack that delivers 156hp and 260Nm of torque. This results in a 0-62mph sprint time of 9.3 seconds with a top speed of 93mph.
Okay, so that’s not the fastest performance figures you will ever read, but as is the Citroen way, comfort is the priority rather than blistering pace. And, as with any EV, the main figure of interest is the driving range between charges with our test car able to deliver a combined 260 miles, increased to 344 miles of city driving where the battery is boosted thanks to regenerative braking in stop, start traffic.
The acceleration via the single-speed automatic transmission is both smooth and responsive and the front-wheel drive car feels equally comfortable cruising at 70mph on motorways or fizzing through the twisting B roads.
The grip in and out of tight corners impresses and there are drive modes called Eco, Normal and Sport that change the driving dynamics of the vehicle. In addition, a B mode increases the level of regenerative braking which is beneficial in busier traffic.
Thanks to the excellent all-round insulation, occupants are well protected from any noise intrusion and the efficient suspension set-up (Advanced Comfort Suspension as Citroen calls it) does a great job of smoothing out any bumps and dips along the way.
With its slightly elevated seating, the driver benefits from good enough all-round visibility although there are fairly wide pillars that make the over-the-shoulder view a bit hit and miss.
Parking is made simpler with cameras and sensors, along with a front, rear and lateral parking aid system.

The five-door Citroen e-C4 X is a practical five-door fastback that is big on style and big on space. It stretches 4,600mm in length, is 1,834mm wide, 1,525mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,670mm. 
Up front there is ample room for a couple of adults of any shape or size to sit comfortably and a further two can fit in the back, although in reality, this space is best suited to a trio of youngsters, especially as the sloping roof design of the car impacts on rear headroom slightly. There are Isofix child seat anchors to the outer rear seats.
The boot can accommodate 510 litres of luggage and this capacity increases to a respectable 1,360 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.
Charging cables can be stored in a compartment beneath the boot floor and there are numerous convenient storage options scattered throughout the cabin too. These include a glovebox that can be locked and has a pop-out drawer above it, seat back pockets, wide door bins with space to hold a water bottle, a dashboard tray, a small area underneath the central armrest, a wireless charging pad, plus front and rear cup holders.
When it comes to charging the e-C4 X, a zero to 80 per cent boost can be achieved in 30 minutes via a 100kW fast charger or a 100 per cent charge takes 7 hours, 30 minutes if using a domestic wallbox.

The Citroen e-C4 X line-up costs from £32,410 for the You! Model and increases to £37,410 for the e-series model, as tested. In the middle are the Max trim level with the car powered by the 50kWh battery costing £35,350 and the recently-introduced Max with 54kWh battery priced at £36,250. The range-topping e-series is also available with the smaller 50kWh battery costing £36,510. 

It’s worth pointing out that these electrified versions of the vehicle are considerably more expensive than the petrol-powered cars that have a starting price of just £19,720.

Our test model also featured specialist metallic paint which pushed the price up by an additional £595, but that was the only optional extra.

Owners can start to reclaim some of the financial benefits of driving an EV though thanks to being exempt from road tax, Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone fees. And they are also not penalised for purchasing a car costing in excess of £40k, unlike ICE-powered models.

With zero carbon emissions, there is good news for business buyers too with a Benefit in Kind tax rating of just two per cent.

However, on the downside, many if not all these financial boosts will be withdrawn or drastically cut back by the Government starting from next year.

The e-C4 X comes with a three year, 60,000-mile warranty which is increased to eight years or 100,000 miles at 70 per cent capacity for the battery.

And the car, as tested, sits in insurance group 22.

The Citroen e-C4 X is, in our opinion, a good-looking five-door family car that blends hatchback, saloon and SUV styling in a mix that somehow works.

It is very well equipped, drives nicely and offers a decent driving range between charges for a reasonable price too.

Agreed, the looks will not be to everyone’s taste, but sometimes it’s nice not to be labelled and there is no chance of that with the Citroen e-C4 X.