Citroën e-C4 54 kWh

Overview

The Citroën e-C4 54 kWh was a comfy, quirky electric hatchback aiming for accessible EV motoring in Europe. Though its production run was short (2023-2024), it offered a useful battery bump over its predecessor. Its key draws were Citroën's signature 'magic carpet' ride comfort and distinctive styling. As a discontinued model, it now presents itself as an interesting used buy, with this 54 kWh version typically found around €24,250 on the pre-owned market. It packed a decent punch for city hops and beyond, carving a unique niche with its blend of SUV-ish looks and hatchback practicality.

What's New for 2024?

For the 2024 model year, the e-C4 carrying the 54 kWh battery (with 50.8 kWh usable) represented the key update, offering improved range and a slightly more potent 115 kW motor over the earlier 50 kWh versions. This upgrade, introduced in 2023, aimed to keep the e-C4 competitive in the bustling electric family car segment. While the model is now discontinued, this later iteration provided a more practical real-world driving experience, making it a more compelling option for those seeking a bit more juice for their daily commutes and weekend adventures in Europe.

Design & Exterior

The Citroën e-C4 54 kWh rocks a distinctive, almost crossover-coupe vibe rather than a traditional hatch. It’s got that quirky French flair, with a sloping roofline and signature V-shaped LED lighting front and rear that make it stand out. Dimensions are a compact 4360mm long, 1800mm wide, and 1525mm tall. Details like the Airbump® panels add a touch of ruggedness and protection. While wheel designs vary, this trim often sported stylish aero-focused alloys, contributing to its unique and modern aesthetic on European roads, even as a recently discontinued model.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside, the e-C4 54 kWh prioritises comfort with Citroën’s Advanced Comfort seats, offering a properly cushy experience for its 5 occupants. Material quality is generally good, with a mix of soft-touch plastics and durable fabrics. Tech-wise, you typically get a 10-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, paired with a compact digital driver's display. It’s pretty practical too, serving up 380 litres of boot space, expanding to a useful 1250 litres with the rear seats folded. Shame there's no frunk for stashing charging cables, though!

Performance & Driving Experience

The e-C4 54 kWh, with its 115 kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor driving the front wheels, delivers a smooth 260 Nm of torque. This translates to a respectable 0-100 km/h dash in 9.2 seconds – zippy enough for city driving. Where it truly shines is ride comfort, thanks to Citroën’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions, soaking up bumps like a champ. It’s more about relaxed cruising than B-road heroics. Braking is progressive, and you get a 'B' mode for enhanced regenerative braking to claw back some energy, making one-pedal-ish driving easier around town.

Range, Battery & Charging

Rocking a 50.8 kWh usable battery, the e-C4 54 kWh offers a Green Cars Compare calculated real-world range of 353 km, with an efficiency of around 6.95 km/kWh. For charging, it’s equipped with a CCS Type 2 port. At home or on an AC point, the standard 11 kW on-board charger will juice it up from empty to full in roughly 5 hours. Hit a DC fast charger, and it can slurp power at up to 101 kW, meaning a typical 10-80% top-up can be done in about 30 minutes.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

The Citroën e-C4 scored a 4-star rating from Euro NCAP, which is decent. For driver assistance, the 54 kWh trim usually comes equipped with a good suite of safety tech as standard in Europe. This typically includes Active Safety Brake (emergency braking), lane keeping assist, speed limit recognition, and cruise control. Depending on the specific market and pack chosen when new, features like adaptive cruise control with stop & go, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system might have been available as optional extras, bolstering its safety credentials.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Citroën typically offers a 2-year/unlimited mileage warranty on new vehicles in Europe, with some markets extending this. The crucial EV battery warranty for the e-C4 54 kWh is generally 8 years or 160,000 km, guaranteeing at least 70% of its original capacity. Powertrain components, including the motor, often align with the main vehicle warranty. Maintenance on EVs is generally lower than combustion cars, mainly involving checks on brakes, tyres, and cabin filters. Citroëns are generally average for reliability, but the simpler EV powertrain should mean fewer headaches.