Citroen C4 road test reports and car reviews

Citroen C4 1.6 SX 2005

As usual - great looks, good engine, reliability and ride suspension for type of car. Done 25,0000 miles only drawbacks were glove box which seems a standard fault cost £75 to replace entire door unit. Electric windows seem a bit temperamental in cold weather and the worst fault which pisses me off is the windows badly steaming up and the aircon even on full blast in humid cold weather cannot clear it. The back window heater does clear the back window within 5mins but the condensation in all the car windows gets so bad it literally sometimes starts dripping off when its at its worst on all windows. Asked dealer to check aircon and they say its ok. Also checked seals and they are ok also, and the seat covers stain with water marks very easily. I’m thinking of ditching car soon as its getting on a bit now but apart from these niggles has been an ok family car bought second hand for £5,700 back in 2006.

Responses to this review

All of Peter’s review is true. It is the same for me - Shadrach Clarke from Yorkshire

Citroen C4 Hatchback 2008

Best car ever! Reliable, very economical - 60mpg plus low insurance. What more does one want?!

Citroen C4 1.6 D Cool 2007

My first C4 had a catalogue of problems too long to list, but with a leap of faith I was given a good deal to change to a new one last year (a 5 door diesel instead of my previous coupe). The only issue I have had with my current C4 is some early driver’s seat wear (the driver’s seat fabric was replaced without argument). The car is 100% reliable mechanically and my mpg averages around 53. It is extremely quiet and comfortable on motorways and around town and whilst not as eye-catching as the coupe it is more practical. The cruise control works fine as do all the electrics and I have covered over 30,000 miles so far. The glove box has only stuck once but anyone who has previously owned a C4 might know a carefully aimed whack underneath the glove box releases it! Overall, I can forgive such things as it is such a good all-round car and is still something different with a unique dashboard layout.

Citroen C4 sx 2005

Good looking car full of all kinds of gadgets. 89000 MILES LATER, 3 head gaskets replaced, Air con problems. Cruise control faulty, dealer unable to fix, tells me to remove battery and start again, problem still there. Glove box lid handle verry flimsy and stupid price from dealer [to replace]. Drivers seat jammed will not move back or forward, stuck in one position. Second Citroen that I have had, will not be going for third one. Shame because nice car to drive.

Citroen C4 SX 1.6 2005

Similar experience to Philip Astin, I bought the Citroen as I thought they were fairly reliable. I got a second hand ’55’ plate, with only 12000 miles on clock - thought it was a bargain - however I have only had the car 6 months and the following faults: Anti-pollution light 4 times; Ignition coils 2 times; Oil going down; Total breakdown on M1, due to loss of compression in cylinder 1 and 3, still waiting for Citroen to finish repairing the engine a week later! If you are thinking about getting this car, think twice, worth spending that bit more on non-French motors.

Citroen C4 vtr+ 2006

Its an OK car; the technology seems to work most of the time but cruise control has it moody moments. Also had a fault with air conditioning which was fixed under warranty and has now returned. Will see if Citroen will repair for free as it seems to be a problem with this model if not will never buy another Citroen. This is my fifth Citroen and I can’t say I have had any problems with past cars.

Citroen C4 VTR+ 2Litre 2007

Had the car now for just over a year. Love the looks and the engine which is very quick. The little innovations such as the air freshener in the vents is a nice touch. Overall it is a very nice car, but... firstly I developed a rattle from the boot lid, not major but very annoying. Then the glove box lid became stuck and would not open. Also, drivers side rear brake light had gone out. All 3 I got fixed under warranty. Then when it came back, the wiring in the glove box was left out and then my reverse lights became stuck on. Along with this, my rear wiper stayed stuck on the intermittent setting when the front wipers were put on. Nothing major but very annoying on a car that’s only a year old. Now the rear brakes have developed an unnerving rubbing sound and my boot lid latch has become stuck. Oh, and also the rear seats seem to not want to lock into place. Another trip to the dealer would sort that out. But don’t let these niggles put you off what is apparently a very good car according to a number of reviews. Just be wary when buying. I must admit, I have put in an order for a Golf R32 as I will not buy French again.

Citroen C4 320 CDi 2005

Have had my C4 for about 18 months and am truly sick of the amount of times it has to go to the dealers for repairs. I get intermittent dash "faults" which prove to be nothing on investigation . It has had the radiator replaced twice in the short time I’ve had it. Latest problem is turbo charge failure. Just waiting to hear whether the £1,500 costs are to be covered under the warranty....... would quite happily sell it for scrap. Make me an offer!

Citroen C4 VTR 2005

Had the car from new. A couple of recalls, and the engine management system developed a fault once which was fixed by the excellent local (Ipswich) dealer. Currently the cruise control has developed an intermittent fault. Cool looking 3 door model, with good fuel economy. If you are thinking of buying one of these try driving it at night first. For some reason the laminations in the windscreen produce a refracting effect which means that the lights of oncoming vehicles appear double. I mentioned this to the dealer who told me it was quite normal. Yeah right.

Citroen C4 1.6 hdi 2007

Car completely faultless in 10,000 miles, the only gripe is the un-Citroen like ride.

Citroen C4 2006

Dutton Forshaw Blackpool Part exchanged a Mazda for a new 06 reg Citroen C4 Auto in March 2006. Up to 25/03/2008 it has had repairs to the value of £3,325 and was taken back to the garage on 10/04/08 for more work. Repairs include 2 new coolant sensors; car would not start on 2 of the coldest days of 07 and 08. 4 times when I was driving in November 2006 there was a loud bang and the car skidded to a stop with the dash board going haywire. I was traveling approx. 20, 30, 40 and 30 miles an hour at the time. The last 3 occasions I was on a dual carriage way, and should have been doing 70 mph. I was told it was a software problem and the car was safe to drive. On the 2nd and 3rd times I called out the AA and the car was taken to the garage. It was found that the engine was actually going into ’limp mode’. I had to have a new gear box and the car was only 7 months old - this cost £2,770. This was the only time I was provided with a replacement car as this repair took over 2 weeks. Since purchase I am continually receiving error messages on the multifunction displays, usually as the car is moving. I have had one of the display screens replaced but the errors still occur. For months last year I had to drive with the front passenger seat belt locked at all times because the car would bleep continuously otherwise. (I was told if I opened the passenger door the car ’thought’ a passenger should be sitting on the seat). The speed limiter is continually turning itself off and has done so since the car was purchased. This was again repaired in March 08 and it is now obvious that the speed limiter had not functioned properly since the car was purchased. One fault has been recorded 10 times on the car’s on board computer. I rang Citroen; they took all the details and I was told these would be put on their database. I was also given a case number but was told my complaints had nothing to do with Citroen, only with the dealer. It was up to me to ask for my money back or a replacement.

Citroen C4 2.0HDI Exclusive 2005

Most unreliable car I have ever owned. Ironic really, as my wife has had 2 Saxo’s and a C2, and I chose the C4 because her cars had been so reliable. The story so far is nearly 30 days of the road already this year alone (2007). Here is the list, as they say, "in no particular order": Electric windows failed (about a dozen times), loss of engine power (more times than I can remember - probably about 50), parking sensors failed (twice), headlights failed (once), tyre pressures failed (twice), air conditioning leaked into the cabin (once), turbo failed (3 times), turbo sensor faulty (once), catch on the back seat so you could not use the back seats (once), some weirdly named valve (once), cruise control (not worked for 2 years), immobiliser stranded me (once), depolution system (lost count, but around 10 times I think). Finally, I have also had 2 recalls from Citroen. Most recently the CD player will not let go of my CD’s. Think a comedian is at work, as it ejects the CD so you can see 2-3 mm’s of CD sticking through the hole, then instantly re-loads it. If I am quick I can win this battle of wills, but usually takes me 2 or 3 goes! Disturbing that the car beats me more often than I beat it, but that is its only sign of being "alive with technology", as most of the technology in mine has died. I have been trying to get rid of the car, but unfortunately it is a company car so it is beyond my control. If it was my own car I would definitely feel a little more emotional. Citroen UK have been disinterested when our Transport Manager has complained to them - odd when he has bought a significant number of Citroens in the past. They did give us a case reference number. Don’t really see the benefit, as once they had done that they lost interest. Best e-mail started "we have reached the end of the line with this car, we don’t know what else we can do". This was when the car still had 2 or 3 faults, the engine one being serious (regular loss of power when cruising on the motorway) and re-occurring. The only 2 positive things I can really say about my car is that our company now operates a "no Citroen policy" and contrary to most reports I have read, the dealer I use has been excellent, and I now think of Steve the Service Manager as a friend! If anyone is interested, the dealer is Brooklyn Citroen, Worcester. Just remember to tell Steve that Phil sent you.

Responses to this review

I experienced a like problem; loss of power when needed the most, ie overtaking. Fortunately my car is under warranty so I’m sat in garage at the moment. They do not seem able to explain why there is foam running through the fuel pipe. I thought it should be fuel.(Can any one offer an explanation?) The on board computer recognises there is a fault but cannot identify where it is - Keith Wheller from Berkshire

Citroen C4 1.4 SX

Recently leased a 1.4 SX for my wife. Best small car in the market bar none. Great value for money and has all the mod cons of higher spec cars that cost much more. The drive is really smooth and the fual economy is excellent. It fits a baby seat in the back and pram in the boot no problem. Insurance is now a lot cheaper for us. The best feature it has is that when the car comes to a stop all the doors automaticly lock for security with a small button to disable. Great for single women at night. Well done Citroen..........