A Nearer Look At The Missed Citroën ë-C4

A few years in the past, the Citroën ë-C4 was launched within the EU, and since then we haven’t heard a lot of it. As electrical day by day drivers, we hear a lot about Tesla, and being an proprietor myself, I can relate to the model’s influence when it comes to expertise and efficiency choices, which clearly spew off wholesome gross sales numbers. Nevertheless, what if you wish to spend rather less, don’t want the additional vary, however nonetheless desire a roomy and comfy automobile?

On this value vary, you’ll in fact then take into account a VW ID.3 or the Renault Zoe within the EU market, however there may be one other — and maybe higher — contender: The Citroën ë-C4. The crossover model ë-C4 X can be obtainable now, however such as you would select the Tesla Mannequin 3 over the Mannequin Y in case you don’t want the additional area, the previous is price an additional look.

Actual Citroën Consolation

I by no means gave the Citroën e-C4 one other thought, as a result of I assumed it was considerably small trying, and why wouldn’t it be any totally different from the opposite compact EVs I’ve pushed? However then my father obtained an amazing trade-in provide on his not so outdated Citroën C3 diesel if he would take the ë-C4 in alternate. In that case, sure, let’s go for a trip!

Picture by Johannes Berggreen

I used to be genuinely shocked by the consolation of this automobile. Citroën has the truth is executed a great job of residing as much as its legacy of extraordinarily clean suspension programs. It began with the 1955 Citroën DS with hydropneumatic suspension. Once I was a toddler we had the Citroën 2-CV with its distinctive snug and really lengthy journey suspension. Within the Nineties I drove my boss’ Citroën XM V6 and was baffled by its consolation.

The ë-C4 is provided with one thing Citroën calls Progressive Hydraulic Cushions that present distinctive consolation by filtering out small street imperfections, whereas on the similar time staying agency and steady. The roughness of the street that you’d in any other case really feel as rumbles and rattles — gone. Since I may examine this straight with my 2019 Tesla Mannequin 3, it was clearly working very nicely. In fact the tires are additionally narrower, however the smoothness is sort of uncanny. You actually end up having fun with the trip, and getting again into the Tesla was an enormous disappointment (there’s a purpose the refreshed Mannequin 3 has a brand new suspension).

The ë-C4 has a top quality inside, with intuitive controls. Picture by Johannes Berggreen

That being stated, don’t count on a sporty automobile. It does have “Sport mode,” however that’s a little bit of a stretch. Clearly I’m biased right here, and should admit the 136 horses is actually sufficient as a day by day driver. That brings us to the effectivity of the automobile. The deal with consolation and softness of the drivetrain ends in exceptionally good effectivity. I requested my father to maintain monitor of the automobile’s mileage, and virtually 5,000 miles later, some convincing outcomes are in:

Picture by Johannes Berggreen

7,323 km (4,550 miles) of driving all types of roads together with internal metropolis with a mean pace of 52 km/h (32.3 mph) resulted in a consumption of 6.8 km/kWh (4.23 miles/kWh) or 147 Wh/km (237 Wh/mile). Granted, that is earlier than any winter driving, however spectacular nonetheless. With its 46.3 kWh usable battery capability, this quantities to an actual world vary of 315 km (196 miles).

There’s in fact an app to make use of with the automobile, and it has all of the options you want, however sadly it’s a bit sluggish when it comes to connecting to the automobile. I skilled that approach again with the outdated Nissan Leafs, and I want it could be historical past by now, however apparently not. My father says there are third get together apps that work higher, however it’s a disgrace that this key performance shouldn’t be prioritized.

Previous & Future

I’ve not been capable of finding dependable gross sales numbers for this automobile in Europe, however in accordance with Stellantis, it had a strong debut: “After six months available on the market, ë-C4 ranks third within the compact electrical hatchback section in Europe, with a section share of 8%, behind VW I.D3 and Nissan Leaf.”

Properly, my father positive couldn’t be happier with this automobile. Such an enormous leap up from a diesel C3. It does the job, and there was no complaints in any respect. Lengthy vary journeys additionally not an issue in any respect, with so many charging stations on-line now. He should admit although, Tesla’s Supercharger stations are the very best. The ë-C4 expenses at max 100 kW. See extra about vary within the EV-database. Additionally a brand new model of the automobile has launched with extra energy at 156 HP and vary as much as 420 km WLTP (260 miles).

As with all of the legacy automakers, Citroën does its finest to try ahead within the new electrical period, and it’s clear rather a lot has occurred for the reason that 1929 Citroën C4 with 30 HP and 3-speed gearbox:

Picture by Jesper Berggreen