Citroen e-C4 X review

Our opinion on the Citroen e-C4 X

The Citroen e-C4 X reintroduces a niche to the UK car market, but it’s one that arguably hasn’t been popular with buyers for the best part of three decades - the mainstream compact saloon. 

In a world of hatchbacks, crossovers and SUVs, the Citroen’s three-box shape is something of an outlier. However, the French firm has attempted to add some interest by giving its family four-door some fashionably rugged off-road cues, while under the skin, it gets a clean and efficient electric powertrain.

Ultimately, we have our doubts whether many will see the benefit in the saloon-shaped body style, but its similar price to its Citroen e-C4 hatchback alternative, the Citroen e-C4 X won’t cost you any more if you take the plunge. What you’re left with is a car that features plenty of the brand’s trademark comfort and relaxation plus, for the money, offers a decent electric range.

About the Citroen e-C4 X

The third-generation Citroen C4 hatchback was introduced in 2020 with a striking coupe-SUV style intended to grab attention in a crowded family car market. The C4 X followed two years later. At first glance, it’s virtually identical, yet closer inspection reveals a long rear end with a traditional saloon opening rear and larger boot capacity.

Booted versions of successful hatchbacks – such as the Ford Focus, Renault Megane and Mazda 3 – have never been big sellers in the UK, so the X needed to trade on its sleek, quasi-SUV styling and typically high levels of comfort to tempt customers away from more conventional models. That said, in electrically-powered e-C4 X guise, it’s essentially in a class of one.

There are two different powertrain options to choose from, both using a single motor set-up that drives the front wheels. The entry 50kWh version produces 134bhp, and Citroen claims it will achieve a maximum range (from a single charge) of up to 222 miles according to the WLTP cycle. Upgrading to the 54kWh battery version with a more powerful 154bhp electric motor means you’ll shave a smidgen off the base car’s 10.0-second 0-62mph sprint time, while the overall range is extended by around 40 miles.

The trim range also consists of just two options. Plus trim comes exclusively with the 134bhp electric motor and 50kWh battery, and includes 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, a 10-inch touchscreen with integrated sat-nav and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a head-up display. Max trim adds some desirable features such as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, as well as the slightly more powerful 154bhp electric motor and bigger battery, but its significant price increase above Plus trim doesn’t offer the best value for money.

Citroen was the first manufacturer to react to the Government's new Electric Car Grant (ECG) announced in July 2025, and the e-C4 X is one of six Citroen models eligible for the £1,500 grant. You can find the latest top deals on electric cars through the Auto Express marketplace, and our sister brand Carwow has a live EV deals page tracking the latest offers.

If you're interested in getting yourself a Citroen e-C4 X, we can help. Configure your ideal Citroen e-C4 X now to get top offers from local dealers, check out the latest Citroen e-C4 X leasing deals or search for used Citroen e-C4 X models with our Find A Car service. You can even sell your existing car for a great price with Auto Express Sell My Car.

So far we’ve only sampled the 134bhp model, and we found the throttle response is slightly keener in Sport mode (we felt this setting worked best, as otherwise the e-C4 X felt a little lazy moving off from a standstill), but regardless of the drive mode, the performance is more than adequate for daily use and the car is easy to drive smoothly. Refinement is great, with a gentle hum of road noise being the most obvious sound that enters the cabin.

The rest of the driving experience is very similar to the standard internal combustion-powered Citroen C4 X. It’s a car that’s set up for comfort rather than fun, with soft dampers soaking up bumps capably while cruising. Even on some of the rough, pockmarked roads of our test route, only the slightest bit of fidget was present at low speeds.

The trade-off is that it isn’t that exciting to drive. It’s stable, and it goes around corners without any drama. The steering isn’t the quickest or the most precise, but it does the job. For most buyers, that'll be fine for the daily slog. The e-C4 X has an easy-going attitude that comes as a welcome antidote to the try-hard sportiness of some rivals.

Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed

The motor and battery technology used in the e-C4 X is shared with a range of other EVs from the Peugeot/Citroen/Vauxhall side of the Stellantis Group.

That means there’s a choice of two motor and battery options, starting with the entry-level set-up that offers 134bhp and 260Nm, and a 0-62mph time of 10.0 seconds and a top speed of 93mph. The more powerful versions offer an extra 20bhp for a snappier 0-62mph sprint of 9.3 seconds, although the top speed remains unchanged

“The e-C4 X doesn’t offer the mind-blowing power levels of some EV saloons, but it’s in keeping with the laid-back character of the car.” – Alex Ingram, chief reviewer

In standard 134bhp guise, the e-C4 X gets a 50kWh battery, which Citroen claims is good for 222 miles of range – three miles more than the e-C4 hatchback. During our test at roughly five degrees celsius, the range computer suggested a range of just over 200 miles when fully charged, and we averaged 4.0mi/kWh on a route which was admittedly a little favourable for economical driving. That figure might even be improved upon with the optional heat pump, which provides a more energy-efficient way of heating the interior in cold weather.

The more powerful 154bhp versions benefit from a larger 54kWh battery that is capable of up to 260 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. We’ve yet to drive this model, but experience with the 50kWh models suggests that around 240 miles should be possible when driven in normal conditions. The downside of this larger capacity battery version is that for similar money, you can get into a number of rivals, such as the MGS5 EV, which in long range form has a bigger still 64kWh battery and a range of up to around 300 miles. 

What is clear is that subtle improvements to this powertrain since we first experienced it in cars such as the Peugeot E-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric have improved its efficiency at high speed, so the range won’t take such a dramatic hit on motorways. Thanks to 100kW charging, a 10-80 per cent top-up is completed in half an hour. Utilising a typical 7.4kWh wallbox charger at home, it’ll take around 7.5 hours to fully recharge both versions of the e-C4 X.

As you’d expect, the electrically-powered Citroen attracts small tax bills for company car drivers. The e-C4 X’s zero CO2 emissions mean a Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rating of three per cent, which is significantly less than a traditionally powered petrol or diesel car. EVs are no longer exempt from annual vehicle excise duty (VED) payments, but at least the affordable pricing of the e-C4 X means no version costs more than £40,000 when new, and avoids any surcharges. 

Unfortunately, depreciation is rather steep with the e-C4 X. Both our recommended Plus and pricier Max trims are only expected to retain 40 per cent of their original value after a typical ownership period of three years or 36,000 miles. In comparison, the regular petrol C4 X will be worth around 47 per cent over the same period.

The electric e-C4 X is among the more affordable EVs to insure, particularly compared with the popular MG4, which starts in group 27.

From a cosmetic point of view, some buyers might prefer the more conventional look of the Citroen e-C4 X over the standard e-C4. Where the hatchback gets a quirky, two-tier rear screen with a complex tail-light arrangement, the saloon gets a much cleaner rump. Viewed from the side, the three-box shape is neatly proportioned, adding a touch of elegance to the Citroen line-up. 

The e-C4 X has the same dashboard arrangement as the standard C4, which is well laid out and smart enough in appearance. The e-C4 X features a 10-inch screen as standard, although Citroen has elected to go with physical buttons for the air-conditioning controls rather than having to navigate a sub-menu within the infotainment system. This is good because it makes things far less fiddly to operate while on the move. Quality is generally good, although Citroen’s monochrome approach to the e-C4 X’s interior makes the cabin feel a little gloomy. 

Entry-level Plus trim adds the My Citroen Drive Plus infotainment system, which features integrated sat-nav with access to real-time traffic and speed camera data – we’ve sampled the setup during our petrol-powered C4 X long-term loan and would recommend it, particularly if you regularly undertake longer journeys. Top-spec Max cars include upgraded Alcantara upholstery, an improved audio system (with eight speakers instead of the standard six) and additional USB charging ports.

Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo

Positioned over the central air vents on the dash, the large central touchscreen looks slick and overall functionality is impressive. Better still, the standard specification includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, both of which work well on the big display.

That said, like many Citroen models, the screen isn’t as responsive to inputs as we’d like. Moreover, the menus can be tricky to understand and navigate, and the system is also slower to load than some rivals. All versions include a head-up display as standard to display important information within the driver’s line of sight. 

“The head-up display isn’t projected onto the windscreen, but rather a piece of perspex that rises above the digital instrument cluster. It’s a more cost-effective way of achieving the same result.” – Max Adams, Online reviews editor

Room upfront for the driver and passenger in the Citroen e-C4 X is fine. However, while those in the rear will find it provides excellent legroom, headroom can feel a little tight due to its rakish roofline. This only really impacts taller occupants and is no worse than rivals, though

Citroen’s Advanced Comfort Suspension setup is offered as standard, using hydraulic bump stops to help smooth out the ride over rougher roads. The focus on comfort and convenience is evident elsewhere, with all versions getting a height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, heated power-folding door mirrors, automatic headlights and wipers, and rear parking sensors. A central front armrest and two cup holders also feature, with split-folding rear seats adding to the e-C4 X’s overall practicality.

Dimensions and size

Styling is subjective, and what really matters are the numbers. That fastback shape means the e-C4 X is 4,600mm long – 240mm more than the hatch. The pair share an identical wheelbase, which means all of that extra metalwork is behind the rear axle. The result is a significant increase in boot space.

Boot space

The saloon rear end of the e-C4 X actually serves up more boot space than its hatchback sibling, with a generous 510 litres to play with. The load bay is also a fairly regular shape, and there’s an extra cubby under the floor to hold the charging cable. The rear seats can fold (they leave quite a pronounced step, though), which means that it’s possible to load longer items into a volume that expands to 1,360 litres.

The issue is the opening itself. Without the rear window forming a portion of the opening section, the tailgate is appreciably smaller here. While it’s fine for suitcases and shopping bags, it means you’ll be compromised on those occasions when you want to move something bulkier.

“If you’re looking to pull a caravan or trailer, then the e-C4 X won’t be the car for you. Despite many rivals being rated to tow, the Citroen can’t be fitted with towing equipment and has been rated to do so.” – Alex Ingram, chief reviewer

While it hasn’t been individually evaluated by safety experts Euro NCAP, the structurally identical internal combustion-powered Citroen C4 has, so the ratings for that car also apply to the e-C4 X. Tested back in 2021, the C4 scored a four-star rating. Despite good individual marks of 80 per cent for adult occupant safety and 83 per cent for child passengers, the C4 was denied a full five star rating because of its less impressive protection of Vulnerable Road Users and its below average Safety Assist systems.

Euro NCAP noted that the base of the windscreen and pillars posed an injury risk to pedestrians, while the emergency braking system wasn’t able to detect vulnerable road users in all conditions. Despite the downgraded score, it’s still fair to say that the C4 X is a safe car in which to travel.

The standard active safety kit is good and includes Lane-Keeping Assist, a Driver Attention Alert with lane departure detection, and a Forward Collision Warning. Cruise control with a speed limiter and rear parking sensors are also featured on entry-level versions. Max versions feature Blind Spot Detection, adaptive cruise control, and an enhanced active safety braking system that can detect cyclists and works at night in the dark. 

While the latest e-C4 X wasn’t included in our latest 2025 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, its petrol-powered relation secured top honours in our 2023 Driver Power satisfaction survey. The Citroen brand has slipped down the rankings, unfortunately, dropping from fifth out of 32 brands to 16th out of 32 manufacturers. That does put it ahead of other inexpensive EV car brands, such as MG (last place) and BYD (30th), but behind Skoda (12th) and Renault (6th). 

Best buy: Citroen e-C4 X Plus 50kWh 

In terms of value for money, it’s the least expensive e-C4 X Plus trim that takes the crown as our pick of the range. It comes with all the kit you’d need and more, can go reasonably far on a charge, and provides plenty of interior space – especially compared with the 42kWh version of the Fiat 500, which is less than £1,000 cheaper than the entry-level e-C4 X. You have to make do with the least potent electric motor, but that still provides enough go for most families.

Citroen offers cheaper fixed price servicing with the brand’s electric cars compared with their petrol counterparts, helping to reduce your running costs.

Citroen e-C4 X alternatives

While there’s no four-door alternative that competes directly with the e-C4 X, it is priced competitively with other EVs. The GWM Ora 03 (formally known as the GWM Ora Funky Cat) in mid-range Pro trim costs a similar amount to the entry-level e-C4 Plus, and while it has more range due to its higher capacity 63kWh battery, the Citroen has a much more impressive boot that can swallow the sort of things a family needs to take with them much more easily. 

The MGS5 EV is a far more practical SUV shape with five doors, and it can be had with a more powerful electric motor and a larger capacity 64kWh in SE Long Range form for around the same money as a Max Extended Range e-C4 X. Like the e-C4 X, the MGS5 is geared more toward comfort, but the added poke compared with the Citroen should make things a little more interesting and give you the potential to overtake things with greater confidence. 

The main hurdle for Citroen, and any other EV challenger, is the MG4. While the Chinese machine’s boot is a little smaller and its firmer ride means it’s not quite as comfortable, the MG4 is just as spacious inside, quicker, more fun to drive and offers a similar range to the Citroen - all for a starting price under £30,000.

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