Citroen C4 Facelift in Kuala Lumpur

The French have always had their own way of doing things, even in the automotive arena. Among the French car manufacturers, Citroen has always been known for being the different one.
While other French manufacturers have built a strong reputation for themselves in the motorsports arena, Citroen chose to prioritise comfort over everything else.
From the 1950s until now, Citroen is still a brand that you will either love or hate. A few iconic models that can prove this include the 1956 DS 19, the Xantia, and the ZX to name a few.
To make things worse, the brand's presence in Malaysia got weaker in the 1990s. In fact, the brand did not have more than two models in the stable for years.
However, after many years, Citroen is back with a bang with the recently launched C4 which we took for a spin for a couple of hours, courtesy of Brooklands Motors Sdn Bhd, the authorised Citroen dealer in Malaysia.
Outside, the latest C4 is a beautiful car. Details like the headlights, the bumper design and character lines give the C4 a bold and striking appearance. Our favourite exterior feature was the sporty 17-inch Phoenix alloy wheels.
Inside, the new C4 is actually a comprehensive rework of the 2009 C4. As it is based on the same platform, there is no increase in wheelbase length, so it continues to offer an average amount of rear legroom. However, there is more headroom in the new C4 as it is taller and wider.
The C4 lives up to the brand's name by providing a very decent level of comfort and class. With the dashboard and fascia designed with a minimum number of parts, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) level is kept impressively low.
Targeted towards the younger generation, the C4 comes with exciting features such as themes that let drivers choose from eight different speedometer cluster colour, and even the sound that the signal indicators make.
Under the hood, the new C4 is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that produces 156hp and 240Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed EGS transmission.
Unfortunately, power delivery was not as responsive as we expected. This is because the EGS transmission was designed more for cruising than performance.
Besides that, the car was very smooth and comfortable, especially on highways. Combined fuel consumption stands at 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers.
Priced at RM126,280 on the road, the C4 has the potential to be Citroen's bread and butter compact family hatch. Unlike previous models that made us wonder what Citroen was thinking while making them, the C4 is a good example of a 21st century family hatch with sensible design, good fuel economy and a leap forward in quality.
Specifications
Citroen C4
Engine: 1.6 THP Exclusive
Displacement: 1,598cc
Transmission: Six-speed EGS
Max power: 156hp @ 5,800rpm
Max torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm
Fuel consumption: 6.4 L/100km (combined)
Luggage capacity: 408 litres
Price: RM126,280 (OTR with insurance)
Warranty: Three-years or 100,000km