Citroen C4 review - Reliability and safety
The C4 should prove to be dependable, while standard safety kit is good
The third-generation C4 was named 2023’s best car to own after it received superb scores right across the board in the most recent Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, finishing in the top 10 for six the categories we surveyed and four more results in the top 20. More specifically, it snagged fourth place in the reliability, and economy and servicing costs categories. Citroen as a brand also performed well and came 11th (out of 32) in the best car manufacturer rankings.
If that wasn’t enough to put your mind at ease, the latest C4 is built on the same CMP modular platform that underpins various Vauxhall, Peugeot, DS and Citroen models.
The C4 was tested by crash safety experts Euro NCAP in 2021, and received a four-star rating. Most cars these days, including many that share the Citroen’s underpinnings, are awarded the maximum five-star rating, however the C4 scored 57 per cent for pedestrian protection and 63 per cent for its safety assist functions. The testing even raised an issue with aspects of the car’s automatic emergency braking system, although that doesn’t mean the C4 isn’t a safe car.
The C4 certainly benefits from lots of standard safety kit, with an Active Safety Brake function, Speed Limit Information, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Alert 3 with lane departure detection and a Forward Collision Warning system all offered with the entry-level Sense trim level. Other features on more expensive versions include Active Blind Spot Detection, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.
Warranty
Every new Citroen is covered by a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is pretty standard for the industry, although owners have the option to top up this cover to five years/100,000 miles. You also get one year of free Citroen roadside assistance.
Servicing
To help with managing servicing costs Citroen offers tailored plans for your vehicle, starting from around £19 a month for its petrol and diesel models, or about £11 for Citroen EVs.