2009 Citroën C4 range facelift

Article
Gallery

By George Skentzos | March 25th, 2009

First introduced to Australia with the dancing robot ad that illustrated how ‘alive with technology’ the French car had become, the Citroen C4 has been given a fresh face and a few extra gadgets to give credence to this claim.

This update will see the new model boast two new petrol engines along with subtle changes to trim, equipment and colours keep the Citroen C4 fresh, especially in the wake of strong competition from the likes of Ford and Mazda.

The front end has been restyled to bring the C4 in line with the new look recently launched with the C5, featuring rounder, more curved bonnet features, a new grill design with integrated chevrons and a repositioned number plate holder.

The tail lights on the C4 Coupe are now finished in transparent crystal, chrome inserts are included on Exclusive versions and buyers now have the choice between three wheel styles as well as two new exterior colours.

Inside, the rev counter has been relocated to the translucent central display unit, a plush grain is now featured on the dashboard and doors and new decors have been designed to enhance the overall quality of the interior.

Citroën’s NaviDrive system has also been introduced as an option, which features a high-resolution seven-inch colour screen with Australia-wide satellite navigation, as well as an audio system with built-in 30GB hard drive.

The model range now includes two new petrol engines which have been co-developed with the BMW group – the 1.6-litre VTi boasting 88kW and the 1.6-litre THP with a choice of 103kW or 110kW.

Both engines offer increased performance while also recording significantly lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The C4 HDi EGS remains as the most frugal model in the range, using just 3.8 litres per 100km while the C4 Exclusive with an 110kW turbo engine boasts zero to 100km/h performance of 8.4 seconds.

The new Citroen C4 range starts with the C4 VTi manual at $26,990 and $28,990 for the automatic versions, while the same trim and equipment level with the 1.6 HDi diesel engine and the EGS six-speed, robotised manual is $31,990 and $30,990 with a manual gearbox.

With the Exclusive trim and equipment package, the Turbo 1.6-litre 103 kW petrol engine variant is $33,990 with an automatic gearbox as standard, while the 2.0 litre HDi Turbo Diesel and six-speed automatic C4 Exclusive is priced at $36,990.

The top performance version of the range is the 110 kW 1.6-litre Turbo with a manual gearbox at $31,990.

Ryan

They managed to make an already great looking car even better.

Kudos to Citroën.

Oh and the built in hard drive is an awesome idea!
o

It makes you wonder why citroen cant sell mroe of these it is a stunning car. looks different to the rest of the other small cars and has a relative cheap entry price why can Peugeot sell more whale faced 308s
Cupid Stunt

Always liked the looks on these and this improves it further. Bit pricy though and given it is French will it fall apart after two years of potholing. Also having about 90 buttons on the steering wheel turns me off somewhat.
Frenchie

The Hard drive will become standard in other cars soon.

CS your right its too pricy. Their history of reliabilty coupled with numerous buttons and dodgey electrics has not won them any favours.
Sam

OMG that dash layout! ew ew ew ew. That would be a deal breaker for me.
Nightshifter

@ O
That’s because the 308 looks sharper and funkier with a very good looking dashboard while this C4 looks pretty dull.

While it doesn’t stand out in terms of look compared with its Japanese rivals, it is a lot more expansive. I really can’t see this thing selling many.
Alex

Nightshifter, I was going to write that you can’t call something better or worse looking than something else because everyone has their own opinion but now I see that you think the bloated 308 looks sharper than this so I see that you’re just wrong.
Doesn’t stand out against the Japanese? Yes it certainly does. This is in a different league for design than any of the Japanese.
I personally like the dashboard. It’s different and that’s not something you can say about many cars these days.
I’m glad that even today, Citroens are still quirky and different.
http://caradvice onepoppa

Love the individuality of Citroens. But the trim bits always seem a bit flimsy, and wondered about the long term durability.

Whilst I have done thousands of Km in Europe in Citroen diesels, in Picasso (original type) and C5 wagon, both of which I loved I have to admit that Citroens are cars you buy with your heard, not your head.

Alas, as always, great cars to buy, possibly chancy to own, and terrible to sell.
ScottB

Are they doing anything about the god-awful suspension setup? Seriously, you guys in the French car industry used to be reknowned for your suspension expertise, what happened?
Andrew

Looking at the front bumper design, one could be forgiven for thinking they were looking at a chubby Ford Fiesta

Martin

…just this actually looks good, and not like a pile of vomit.

Jimbo

Hmmm, I take it is still a 307 underneath, this time with 308 engines. Still a nice car though, I would rather a EGS 1.6 Diesel over any hybrid car any day. But the 2L or 1.8 would be better of course.

I guess you have to be a train spotter to see the cosmetic differences, as I do not see them.
Queen Mojo

“The top performance version of the range is the 110 kW 1.6-litre Turbo with a manual gearbox at $31,990.”

What happened to the 2L VTS? That had 130kW…
JML

Question is who copied who first, Ford or Citroen? Citroens are reasonable, quirky-in-a-good-way cars, but keep them for ten years and don’t bother trying to sell them before that; Renaults and Citroens depreciate with a capital OMFG.
Phil

Can you bolt the bits off a john cooper works mini onto the motor in this? Could be fun.
mixtmeta_iv

As a (part) owner of an ’05 C4 (the GF has one), I gotta say that I’ve been pleasantly surprised by it. The centre dash display simply WORKS, and for it being a quirky Frog-mobile, it’s charming.

Which is all something that I *really* hate to admit to. In some ways, it’s far smarter than my ’05 SP23 (ok, truth to be told – it’s not that hard an accomplishment!) My only mis-giving: gutless engine. ‘Tis a shame that it’s donk doesn’t match its looks…
Jimmy B

I also own a 2005 C4 and after 65000km of trouble free motoring, I’d happily upgrade to this new facelifted model, but there’s no need.

I’ve heard all the generalisations about reliability and bits falling off, but mine hasn’t missed a beat. I think some people may be stuck in the past and just can’t let go.

I’ve had Japanese hatchbacks in the past, which have also been reliable, but none of them have put a smile on my face like the C4 does, it just oozes style and panache and makes me glad that I bought a car with soul, rather than a utility for transport.
Nightshifter

@ Alex

Yes I agree beauty lies in the eye of the beholder and perhaps I shouldn’t use the word sharp when I meant the 308 stands out from the crowd. They might be bloated, fat or chubby whatever you call it but it definitely stands out more than a C4 would when compared with the Japanese Rivals. To be honest, I think even the Honda Civic has better, cooler looking design than the C4. The 308 dashboard also looks a lot more elegant with those metallic parts compared with the really bland C4 plastic looking dashboard.
(No I don’t own a 308 or work for peugeot)
This car just doesn’t look very exciting inside and out except that kind of unique back and roof lines/curves.
Snowman

I seriously wanted one of these with the EGS 1.6 diesel – in the end it was only the cost factor that made me move down to the i30. A gorgeous car, and drove beautifully – and the robotic maunal is really trippy when you drive it I even loved the dash, and fixed steering hub!
Grammar Nazi

Any word on the ‘fastback’ version as we saw in the last variant (the version with the glass back/2-doors)?
D

The facelifted ‘fastback version’ (C4 Coupe) is available in the UK, but it looks like it the best engine it comes with is the THP 150 engine (the 110kw turbo petrol) at this stage. I expect they’ll do the same as many manufacturers do and bring out the higher performance (THP 175 / 128kw) or maybe the planned 165kw version at a later date.

All these engines can be chipped anyway – the THP 150 can be chipped to 184bhp / 138kw and 290nm.
adam

New Ford Focus front bumper I believe, well done dirty Citroen!
Tony Walsh

having owned 2 H D I 1.6, the latest with the full glass roof, I am unable to find the dozen or so switches and buttons that abound, I have no problem with the electrics in either car at all, this car is so far advanced it leaves the other’s behind, safety, and even has a 3/4 star safety setup in predestrain impact, how many other other car’s have that, and how many other can go 1430k on 60 ltrs of diesel, you can call it what you like,as you see it. but for me, I will buy another any day, and that glass roof, it will only be a matter of time before all the others coppy, makes me wonder why Citroen sales have gone up when all the others have gone down,and that egs gear box is a charm.