The eC4 is a crossover that combines a coupe’s sleek lines with a hatchback’s practicality and adds a dash of Citroen’s trademark quirkiness.
But is it any good to drive, and does it make sense as an electric car? Let’s find out.
The eC4 is powered by a single electric motor that produces 136PS and 300Nm of torque, which propels the front wheels through a single-speed automatic gearbox.
Its battery has a capacity of 50kWh, which gives the car a claimed range of 219 miles, while charging the battery from 0 to 100% takes around 7.5 hours on a 7.4kW home wallbox or 30 minutes for a 0 to 80% top-up on a 100kW rapid charger.
A burst of torque from the electric motor delivers instant acceleration, making the French vehicle feel nippy around town.
There are three driving modes to choose from: Eco, Normal and Sport, with Eco limiting the power output and maximising the regenerative braking, which helps to extend the range. Normal mode balances performance and efficiency, and Sport sharpens the throttle response and steering.
The suspension system is one of the highlights of the eC4, as it features Citroen’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions technology. This means that hydraulic bump stops at each end of the suspension travel absorb shocks and vibrations from uneven roads.
The result is a very comfortable ride quality, especially on rough surfaces, making the eC4 feel smooth and refined.
On the inside, the eC4 is spacious, with a minimalist dashboard and a digital instrument cluster, which looks stylish if a bit plasticky in places.
There is plenty of headroom and legroom for front and rear passengers. The boot space is decent, too, offering 380 litres of room with the rear seats up and 1,250 litres folded down in a 60/40 split.
The infotainment system is easy to use, with clear graphics and intuitive menus. The only downside is that some of the settings are buried in submenus, which can be distracting while driving.
The eC4 is an economical car to run, as it has zero emissions and low running costs. Citroen says you should be able to do 219 miles on a full charge but, as with nearly all-electric cars, expect less than this in practice.
However, the eC4 could be more engaging to drive, and it faces stiff competition from rivals such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Kia e-Niro and the Volkswagen ID.3.
But, if you’re looking for an electric car that’s different from the rest, the eC4 is undoubtedly worth a gander.
Fast Facts – Citroen eC4 [Sense trim, 50kWh]:
Max speed: 93 mph
0-62 mph: 10.0 secs
Range: 219 miles
Motor layout: Single electric motor with front-wheel drive
Max. power (PS): 136
CO2: 0g/km
Price: £31,995
All Photo Credits: Courtesy of Citroen
Tim Barnes-Clay
Tim Barnes-Clay is Sorted Magazine’s Motoring Editor. He test-drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches around the world.
The dad-of-three has a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism and has been a presenter and producer at ITV Central. He has also worked as a radio reporter and undertakes video and voiceover work.
You can follow and interact with Tim on Instagram @tbarnesclay
Sorted discusses the big issues of the day – focusing on subjects as diverse as culture, sport, cars, health, faith, gadgets, humour and relationships. We aim to be positive and wholesome in all we do. And we have been achieving this since 2007.
Every printed issue of Sorted is read by more than 100,000 men in 21 different countries – while digitally, the number of people reading our online content (free and via subscription) continues to soar.
Citroen eC4 Sense: “Smooth and refined”
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Citroen eC4 Sense
The eC4 is a crossover that combines a coupe’s sleek lines with a hatchback’s practicality and adds a dash of Citroen’s trademark quirkiness.
But is it any good to drive, and does it make sense as an electric car? Let’s find out.
The eC4 is powered by a single electric motor that produces 136PS and 300Nm of torque, which propels the front wheels through a single-speed automatic gearbox.
Its battery has a capacity of 50kWh, which gives the car a claimed range of 219 miles, while charging the battery from 0 to 100% takes around 7.5 hours on a 7.4kW home wallbox or 30 minutes for a 0 to 80% top-up on a 100kW rapid charger.
A burst of torque from the electric motor delivers instant acceleration, making the French vehicle feel nippy around town.
There are three driving modes to choose from: Eco, Normal and Sport, with Eco limiting the power output and maximising the regenerative braking, which helps to extend the range. Normal mode balances performance and efficiency, and Sport sharpens the throttle response and steering.
The suspension system is one of the highlights of the eC4, as it features Citroen’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions technology. This means that hydraulic bump stops at each end of the suspension travel absorb shocks and vibrations from uneven roads.
The result is a very comfortable ride quality, especially on rough surfaces, making the eC4 feel smooth and refined.
On the inside, the eC4 is spacious, with a minimalist dashboard and a digital instrument cluster, which looks stylish if a bit plasticky in places.
There is plenty of headroom and legroom for front and rear passengers. The boot space is decent, too, offering 380 litres of room with the rear seats up and 1,250 litres folded down in a 60/40 split.
The infotainment system is easy to use, with clear graphics and intuitive menus. The only downside is that some of the settings are buried in submenus, which can be distracting while driving.
The eC4 is an economical car to run, as it has zero emissions and low running costs. Citroen says you should be able to do 219 miles on a full charge but, as with nearly all-electric cars, expect less than this in practice.
However, the eC4 could be more engaging to drive, and it faces stiff competition from rivals such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Kia e-Niro and the Volkswagen ID.3.
But, if you’re looking for an electric car that’s different from the rest, the eC4 is undoubtedly worth a gander.
Fast Facts – Citroen eC4 [Sense trim, 50kWh]:
All Photo Credits: Courtesy of Citroen
Tim Barnes-Clay
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Sorted Magazine
Sorted discusses the big issues of the day – focusing on subjects as diverse as culture, sport, cars, health, faith, gadgets, humour and relationships. We aim to be positive and wholesome in all we do. And we have been achieving this since 2007.
Every printed issue of Sorted is read by more than 100,000 men in 21 different countries – while digitally, the number of people reading our online content (free and via subscription) continues to soar.
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