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This third generation C4 is a far more creditable offering for Citroen in the family hatchback sector. And, the French brand hopes, can play its part in rejuvenating this segment by integrating SUV style and the option of full electric power into traditional family hatch design. Plus there's a clever suspension system to make this contender feel really Citroen-esque.

Market and Model

Right, let's get to prices, which from the launch of this car were pitched in the £21,000 to £28,000 bracket for the combustion-engined models. You'll need a fair bit more for an equivalently-trimmed all-electric e-C4 of course; at the time of this test in Spring 2021, prospective customers for that variant were being asked to pay somewhere in the £31,000 to £32,500 bracket, following subtraction of the £2,500 Government Plug-in Car Grant. There's just a single five-door body shape (the first generation C4 could also be had as a 3-door Coupe) but there's plenty of spec choice. The feeblest combustion PureTech 100 petrol and BlueHDi 110 diesel engines can be had with an entry 'Sense' standard of trim but otherwise, both combustion and electric C4s are sold with a choice of four trim levels - 'Sense', 'Sense Plus', 'Shine' or top 'Shine Plus'.

Most will want the mid-range 'Sense Plus' or 'Shine' trim levels, which focus on the engines Citroen think most customers will want. The majority will be looking at the PureTech 130 petrol engine, with most likely to want to stump up the extra £1,400 the brand wants for the EAT8 8-speed automatic transmission that really suits this car, a gearbox you'll have to have if you want this petrol engine in the perkier 155hp form that's available with the top two levels of trim. Alternatives to PureTech petrol power cost more. Around £800 more if you want the BlueHDi 110hp manual model over a PureTech 130 manual. Or around £1,500 more if you want the BlueHDi 130 auto model over a PureTech 130 auto.

Cost of Ownership

So, petrol or electric? Of course, to make a proper judgement, you're going to need to peruse the combustion model efficiency figures - which are very class-competitive. The volume PureTech 130 EAT auto C4 variant returns up to 50.3mpg on the combined cycle and up to 130g/km of CO2 - or up to 54.7mpg and up to 120g/km in manual gearbox form. With the PureTech 155 auto model, the figures are up to 48.8mpg and up to 133g/km. As for the BlueHDi diesel versions, well to give you an idea, a plush 'Shine'-spec BlueHDi 130 EAT8 auto model manages up to 64.5mpg and up to 120g/km.

And electric? Well, the Department of Transport tells us that the average motorist in the UK covers 7,400 miles a year, which is the kind of mileage that would cost an e-C4 owner somewhere between £200 and £300 in added electricity charges, powering up from a typical 7.4kW garage wallbox on off peak rates, the variance depending on driving style and different electricity prices (we've assumed 11p per kWh). The same annual mileage in this PureTech petrol model would work out to somewhere between £750 and £820 - and you'd have to factor in more expensive annual garage servicing too.

Summary

All the ingredients for a strong showing are here as this third generation C4 nods to the two currently trending themes of crossover style and electrified power. Yet delivers them within a family hatchback package that traditional buyers in this segment can be comfortable with - quite literally, thanks to the Progressive Hydraulic Suspension set-up.

The French maker thinks this sector is 'right for changes' and this car delivers them without getting carried away with innovation, as its C4 Cactus predecessor rather did. And it's obviously significant that within the range lies the brand's first credible full-electric model. Ultimately though, what really matters is that what we have here is a proper Citroen - with all that means. Thank goodness for that.

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