The new Citroen e-C4 is an all-electric family car made to bring Citroen closer to the most popular group of family electric cars. The e-C4 relies on the well-known Stellantis EV platform which can be seen in many electric cars made by Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat, Vauxhall/Opel, and all other brands under the Stellantis umbrella.
In this article, we will compare the new Citroën ë-C4 electric vs similar EV cars and tell you how they compare and why you should go for one over the other. The e-C4 is powered by a 50kWh battery that gives the car a decent range and decent power. There are some cars out there that do offer more in every segment but do cost a lot more money.
The biggest Citroen e-C4 rivals are the Volkswagen ID.3, the Nissan Leaf, the Kia EV6, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Mazda MX-30. Some of these are a bit more serious and command a higher price tag, but many people see these as part of the same group which is the economy-to-midlevel EV family segment.
Either way, we are now going to go in-depth with each of these cars and tell you what you get for your money.
Citroen e-C4 electric
The Citroen e-C4 electric starts somewhere between €33,000-€35,000 and offers a 50kWh battery that gives you 136hp and a maximum range of around 218 miles. The e-C4 can be recharged with up to 100kW of juice which enables you to reach 80% from 20% charge in a little over 20 minutes. This powertrain is mated to permanent FWD.
Design-wise, the e-C4 follows a well-known Citroen design language which makes the car look exciting and youthful. The interior is modern and nicely laid out which makes the whole car feel up to date. Space is also generous and the Stellantis 50kWh setup is likely going to be really reliable as it is really common among many cars.
Volkswagen ID.3
The Volkswagen ID.3 Pro Performance with 204hp starts at around €36,000 which is slightly above the Citroen e-C4, but the ID.3 also gets a slightly larger 62kWh battery which can give you about 265 miles of range. The ID.3 supports fast charging by up to 100kW as well which means that 20-80% battery is done in around 25 minutes.
The ID.3 looks more futuristic than the Citroen e-C4 both inside and out which does make the entire experience a bit more exciting. The e-C4 looks like a normal ICE car while the ID.3 is obviously an EV as it tries to be as futuristic as it can. Interior space is great with the ID.3, especially the second row of seats while reliability is also really good.
Nissan Leaf
If you pay between €33,000 and €41,000, you can also get the 150hp Nissan Leaf/Nissan Leaf e+. The cheaper Leaf gets a smaller 39kWh battery while the larger Leaf e+ model gets 59kWh. The regular Leaf can do around 168 miles of range while the Leaf e+ can do as much as 260 miles of range. You can fast-charge the Leaf with up 50kW of power and 20-80% takes almost an hour.
Space-wise, the Nissan Leaf is noticeably smaller than other cars on this list, but it is also cheaper across the board. You also get fewer amenities with the Leaf, but it is much cheaper to get a fully-equipped Leaf than it is any other car on this list.
Kia EV6
The only EV6 model that can remotely be compared to these three previous cars is the €47,000 EV6 Standard Range 2WD model with a 54kWh battery and a maximum range of 200 miles. The good thing is that the EV6 supports fast charging by up to 175kW which can recharge the car from 20% to 80% in just 17 minutes.
Where the Kia makes the biggest jump is the interior and exterior design as it looks (in my opinion) better than any other car on this list. Higher-end EV6 models are a lot more expensive but are also a lot better in virtually every regard.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
As is with the EV6, the only comparable Ioniq 5 model to the first three cars is the 54kWh €43,000 Ioniq 5 Standard Range FWD model. This one comes with the same battery found in the EV6 which pushes out 170hp across both models. It also can charge with speeds up to 175kW with almost identical recharge times.
The Ioniq 5 looks equally as attractive and usable as the EV6, especially for those who love blocky and retro-futuristic design.
Mazda MX-30
One of the cheapest cars on this list is the Mazda MX-30 as it starts at around €34,000 for the 30kWh model which is by far the one with the smallest battery here. This is enough for only 100 miles of range, 143hp, and a “fast” recharge time of 37kW which is also the worst here by quite some margin.
Besides that, the MX-30 is also the weakest when it comes to interior space, falling short only against the smaller Nissan Leaf. The design is also relatively weird and the MX-30 just does not belong in the same sentence as cars such as the EV6, the e-C4, the ID.3, and the Ioniq 5.
FAQ Section
Is the Citroen e-C4 worth it?
If you like the Citroen design language and you are satisfied with the maximum range, space, and amenities, the e-C4 is certainly worth it. Some people love the way the e-C4 does not scream EV while others do appreciate it when an EV looks different from everything else on the road. Either way, the e-C4 is a really competitive car in its segment.
Is the Citroen e-C4 a luxury car?
With a starting price north of €33,000, you’d expect the e-C4 to offer quite a few luxury features, but that is not exactly the case. The non-electric version of the C4 costs as much as €12,000 less than the e-C4 which means that electrification comes at a high price.
Should I buy the Citroen e-C4 or the regular C4?
For my money, I’d go for the regular C4 because it costs way less money than the e-C4. However, EVs come with a significant price hike, no matter the brand or the model which means that the difference in price between the regular C4 and the e-C4 is nothing out of the ordinary.