2005 Citroen C4 1.6 SX sedan 1.6 petrol from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Great design, charming, characterful and fun to drive

Faults:

One rattle noted on test drive, fixed on delivery.

General Comments:

Design: The exterior is nicely balanced and full of clever detail, it looks thoroughly modern yet pretty. The interior is delightfully innovative and loaded with truly practical features. It's a fresh and pleasant environment in which to travel.

Drivetrain: The 1.6 petrol has plenty of torque from 2000rpm. Although not that fast, its smooth, responsive power delivery makes it an easy drive. The engine note is pleasant as its extended, only getting a little harsh above 5500rpm. The clutch is light, smooth and the take-up point ideal. The gearbox is positive and slick, and the gearing well matched to the engine.

Comfort: Along with decent engine refinement, wind and road noise are mostly well suppressed - coarse surfaces do cause some rumble, but in its class only the Golf seemed quieter. Seat comfort and ergonomics are very good and the driving position is widely adjustable for all shapes and sizes.

Driving: The steering is sharp, full of feel and accurate. Handling is excellent - eager turn in, neutral balance and only very mild understeer near the limit. Dips and lumps mid-corner are dispensed with comfortably and with no excess body movement. Only badly broken surfaces and sharp ridges cause some bump harshness and suspension noise. The brakes are superb. Its taughter than French cars of old, but still absorbent.

Best features: Interior design, equipment, handling, brakes and safety.

Not so sure: Seat fabric, small bump absorption.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st December, 2005

2005 Citroen C4 VTR+ 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Brilliant and good value for money

Faults:

The passenger door was slightly misaligned and would hit the wing when opening the door.

A badly damaged piece of interior trim in the boot area.

General Comments:

This is an excellent car. I have had two Citroen's in the past, but the Xsara VTR I had left me slightly anti Citroen as it was so unreliable.

After driving some of the most popular hatchbacks on the market I think I definitely made the right choice. it looks like nothing else on the road and the amount of equipment you get is amazing.

The car seems well made and the quality of plastics and construction seems higher than in the past.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th December, 2005

2005 Citroen C4 VTR 1.6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Beautiful

Faults:

Nothing!

General Comments:

Not so happy with the engine/gearbox combination - the 1.6 would be much better with a manual box, or the auto box would be much better with a 2 litre engine.

Pleasantly surprised with the handling and ride. sticks well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th October, 2005

2005 Citroen C4 VTR 1.6HDi 92hp from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Value for money, stylish, different, a few small niggles may occur

Faults:

A couple of niggling faults. The steering seems to have developed a sloppy and loose feeling, like there is too much play in it. The dealer has checked all the geometry, but they say it is OK.

However the brake discs were replaced, due to juddering and the steering was fine again for about 4 days, until it returned to feeling loose and sloppy again, coincidentally the brakes are beginning to judder again slightly.

General Comments:

Great looks, superb economy with good power, 92hp unit is slightly slow pulling away (110hp probably the optimum balance of power and economy), but plenty of pull from 2nd gear upwards.

The engine is one of the best diesel units available, with no faults. However the only thing that lets Citroen down of late is the dealer's ability or willingness to repair faults when a car is under warranty. If a fault is not "out of a textbook" they have difficulty diagnosing it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th October, 2005

29th Jan 2006, 18:31

I have recently purchased a C4 VTR, only after 2000 miles the steering has started a random feeling when turning corners, seems like a slight grinding that runs right up the steering column, as if the road texture is being absorbed all the way to the steering wheel, but it happens randomly and on very smooth surfaces aswell, not sure if this is the same issue you have had, or if I am imagining it. Feels like the column is not secured, but the steering is still accurate and direct. Haven't told the dealer cause I am not sure how to explain it properly, but otherwise the vehicle is an excellent car to drive and highly recommended.

11th Feb 2007, 12:59

I have had the steering repaired twice on my car. Wheels were balanced, tracking reset and brake discs replaced for the third time. Once again, the car is perfect for about 300 miles, before the sloppy steering returns gradually. It is as if there is no resistance to any imperfections in the road, and the steering wheel wobbles around on bumps.

Incidentally the car was taken to Citroen UK in Slough, who apparently drove it for less than a mile and dismissed the case. The mechanic at my local dealer subsequently found 5 faults.