ROAD TEST: CITROEN C4 VTI 120 SEDUCTION
In a year in which I've frequently found myself surprised at how charismatic some of the new Korean cars look, meeting this French car had the opposite effect on me.
It's not that Citroën has suddenly lost its sense of design flair - just look at the DS3, C5 and DS5 - but I feel it has played things a little too safe with its latest Golf-sized hatch. Conservative design may work well for VW, but Citroën is renowned for its quirky designs and, missing that, I can't envision much of a mad rush for the nearest Citroën showroom.
It's almost as if the designers ran out of energy (espresso machine ran dry?) after penning the enticingly aggressive and angular front end because the side profile and rear end appear generic and ordinary. Not that it's a bad looking car by any means, it just lacks flair from those angles.
There were no such issues in the interior design department - the new C4's cabin is a class act. With its somewhat sporty dashboard design that's angled towards the driver and hewn with soft-touch 'slush skin' and a few sprinkles of chrome, jersey fabric roof lining and good quality seating fabric, these inner quarters feel both high-class and inspiring.
So much so, that you'll barely miss the novelty of that quirky fixed-hub steering wheel unit that appeared on the previous C4. Our test unit's 'Seduction' trim level also offers a good mix of features without breaking the bank, including cruise control, a CD/MP3/USB/Bluetooth audio system and hill holder, with smaller details like the front centre arm rest boosting the comfort factor.
In fact, comfort should be this car's core selling point. The driving controls are light and smooth, the steering is well weighted and precise and the ride is very supple.
A 1000km road trip proved this well and left no doubt about its capability as a long-distance cruiser and business tool.
Granted, this is no performance machine - its 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine pushing just 88kW at 6000rpm and 160Nm at 4250rpm. And yes, it does need a good rev and a cog swop or two as you approach inclines (especially at Reef altitudes) but considering where this car is positioned I feel its performance fares well against similarly endowed rivals.
Despite making do with just five manual gears, fifth has a long enough ratio to ensure comfortable cruising at the limit and just above.
So, despite the fact that this Citroën lacks that stand-out appeal that usually attracts buyers to French cars, the C4 still has much to offer those after a classy and comfortable hatchback that's also on the practical side of the equation - it has a decent 408-litre boot.
Yet given the stiffness of the competition at this level, that's perhaps not quite enough to make the new C4 stand among the top runners in its class. It's a good car but, at the price, it falls short of great.
THE BILL:
Citroen C4 VTi 120 Seduction - R224 900
ALTERNATIVES:
Ford Focus 1.6 Trend (92kW) - R226 400
Hyundai i30 1.6 GLS (89kW) - R199 900
Kia Cerato 2.0 SX (115kW) - R205 995
Mazda3 1.6 Active (77kW) - R221 950
Opel Astra 1.6 Essentia (85kW) - R228 300
Peugeot 308 1.6 Active (88kW) - R219 900
Renault Megane 1.6 Dyn. (83kW) - R229 900
Toyota AurisX 1.6 XS (97kW) - R222 900
VW Golf 1.6 Trendline (75kW) - R226 800