Citroën C4 1.6 HDi 112 CV CMP, road test (engine and performance)

We continue our tests at Highmotor, this time we take on a compact that is among the best known on the market and has also achieved significant sales success. That is precisely why we wanted to test the redesigned Citroën C4 which has undergone a significant improvement in quality and features some interesting mechanical novelties.

For the test we have chosen an engine that is very sensible for this model: the 1.6-litre HDi diesel of 112 CV paired with a CMP (automated manual gearbox) with six speeds, designated eHDi. Among the C4’s novelties we can highlight, broadly speaking, an increase in interior quality and a design that has become more traditional and less daring, while in the mechanical section the Start&Stop system appears alongside the automated gearbox.

Citroën has named this model micro-hybrid (eHDi). Personally I want to steer clear of this type of labelling because the car is not really a hybrid, it has several improvements to save fuel and the Start&Stop system works correctly. Without anticipating further details, let us begin with a review of the engine and performance.

Engine and performance

Under the bonnet there is little that is new in this 1.6 HDi of 112 CV, an old acquaintance of the brand that reaches 112 CV (at 3,600 rpm) thanks to the turbo. It stands out for its performance, with a forceful pull thanks to its 270 Nm of torque from 1,750 rpm.

Recently the 112 and 92 CV engines have been improved to meet the Euro V standard. Since 2010 they have been more efficient and in the case of the 112 CV, consumption and emissions have improved and power delivery now arrives at lower revs (now 112 CV at 3,600 rpm, previously 110 CV at 4,000 rpm).

The micro-hybrid part is formed by a start/stop system combined with a reversible alternator, which in practice translates into significant fuel savings in town, always associated with the CMP six-speed automated gearbox and with other measures such as low rolling-resistance tyres.

Now that we know the engine of our test C4 a little better, let us move on to the practical side. As soon as we start the car and get moving, we have an engine that gives the impression of having more power than the specification sheet indicates, partly thanks to its torque and a response from 1,800 to 3,500 rpm where it runs out of steam.

The main drawback is the gearbox. When we talk about a CMP automated manual gearbox, it is still a conventional gearbox but with a clutch operated automatically. This translates into a lower price than a conventional gearbox, but also into being much less comfortable than conventional units. Gear changes are felt far too much, and simply joining the motorway with the pedal to the floor becomes frustrating, not because of the engine but because of the gearbox, which makes its presence felt with every gear change.

Finally we have the behaviour of the Start&Stop, which differs in some respects from other systems on the market. It switches the engine off below 10 km/h and usually before the car has come to a complete stop; this means greater fuel-saving efficiency, but also a nuisance at brief stops where you don’t quite come to a halt before moving off again. That said, it restarts the car quickly.

Handling

Citroën follows a clear strategy with its models when it comes to handling: the conventional range is generally geared towards comfort (C3, C4, C5), while the DS range DS (DS3 or DS4) has much more effective dynamic behaviour and firmer suspension.

The Citroën C4 if you are looking for a comfortable car for long journeys, it fully meets our expectations, but if we decide to drive a little more briskly (something its 112 CV engine does allow), then we start to notice certain body roll that does not convey much agility overall.

The steering follows the comfort-oriented theme: it is soft and not very direct, ideal for relaxed driving or manoeuvring in town. Finally we have the braking system, quite simply outstanding, which has always been a strong point of PSA models, and this C4 is no exception: they are effective when braking and respond to the slightest pressure on the pedal.

Consumption

This is the most important aspect of the C4. We are testing the e-HDi version, which is supposed to be the most economical, and it also has the Start&Stop system to consume as little as possible in cities, but is it really so economical?

To answer, the figures speak for themselves: on the motorway the C4 maintained an average consumption of 5.2 l/100 km, a respectable but not outstanding figure within the average consumption we have recorded for other equivalent models.

Meanwhile on country roads we achieved an average of 5.6 litres per 100 km, a slightly tighter figure, and finally we have town driving where the C4 settled at 7.2 litres per 100 km, though there the gearbox did not do the consumption any favours despite the Start&Stop system designed to reduce it.

In the second part of the test we will review the redesigned exterior of the Citroën C4, which has now become more conservative, while the interior shows a significant increase in quality and a more classic design.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira