Citroen C4 Hatchback 2004 - Present

Citroen's C4 is brimming over with innovation; some things that show good attention to detail and some that seem to be reliant on people being taken in by superfluous innovation. There seems to be quite a lot being made of the built in aroma diffuser, but really is it that hard to get hold of a magic tree? I'm also not a fan of having a lot of controls on the steering wheel as I can't see myself driving so fast that I can't take my hand away from the wheel. Perhaps Louis Hamilton but not me when driving round Greenwich one way.

The Hatchback option offers quiet tranquil rides (especially with Fleur de Vanille in the diffuser thing!), and the levels of comfort are impressive. It's all helped by the great suspension system fitted to the car. The back seat is comfortable even for long rides, with the whole of the interior making very good use of the space available.

Engine options are, as we've come to expect from Citroen, functional rather than feisty. They offer adequate performance but nothing to really excite anyone too much. The 1.4 entry point is fine in town or even on country lanes but is quickly troubled on motorways. The 110 bhp 1.6 copes better but requires too much effort when driving if you want any decent performance from it. Originally suffering with clunky vague gearboxes Citroen has now introduced an electronic gearbox system which is a great improvement on the last one and really makes driving much more pleasant experience. The best engine option is the 2.0 HDI which offers power and economy in spades. The power is evenly delivered throughout the rev band and usable too. It boasts sub nine second 0-60 times and 50 mpg. The 1.6 HDI weighs in with 62 mpg but loses out on performance.

The handling is, as we've come to expect from Citroen, extremely good. It shares a number of components with the Peugeot 307 but offers a more rewarding drive than it's gallic cousin. It's not quite up there with the Astra or the Focus, but few cars are. Body roll is extremely limited and the suspension keeps the occupants almost entirely oblivious to whatever the road throws up.

The Citroen C4 offers a choice from the norm in the small family car market and has enough about it to make any shortlist. Some of it's innovations are useful and worthwhile and some are really nothing more than gimmicks. It's up to you, the buyer, to work out which is which.

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