Battery size: 56 - 51kWh
Miles per kWh: 4.82 - 5.22
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 100 kW
Range: 221 - 261 miles WLTP
Introduction
The Citroen e-C4 arrived in 2020 to take on the family electric car class, offering an intriguing blend of hatchback, SUV and coupe styling cues to create a slightly busy but oddly likeable design. A saloon version – called the Citroen e-C4 X – arrived not long after, for those who wanted a slightly more traditional body shape.
It was offered initially with a 46.2kWh usable battery capacity (which is the capacity that you’re actually charging and discharging when the car is new), but in most material you’ll see the total 50kWh claimed battery capacity. Combined with the Citroen’s 134bhp electric motor, front-wheel drive setup, you got an official WLTP range of up to 222 miles.
There have been various updates and tweaks to the e-C4’s throughout its life. In October 2021 it received a standard heat pump and more efficient air-con system across the range, which added some 18 miles of range according to Citroen’s claims. A new trim lineup arrived in 2022, and then a bigger, 51kWh usable battery (54kWh total) was added in 2023 with an official WLTP range of up to 261 miles. Finally, in 2025, a fairly comprehensive facelift brought sleeker styling and improved infotainment, among other minor improvements, but the powertrain and battery stayed the same.
The e-C4 has only ever been offered with lithium-ion NMC battery chemistry, which is the most commonly used EV battery chemistry. It’s very safe and reliable, and you can read all about the pros and cons of NMC batteries, right here.
You can’t get the e-C4 with four-wheel drive - it’s front-wheel drive only (if you want four-wheel drive in a used EV, you’ll need to look to pricier stuff like the Polestar 2). It’s fast enough to feel confident, but don’t expect it to be sporty; the e-C4 and e-C4 X are cars that proudly prioritise comfort and refinement over fun.
You can seat five people in the e-C4 (the person in the middle of the rear seats won’t be all that comfortable, to be honest, but four adults will be absolutely fine…) and it has two sets of Isofix. There’s enough legroom that a chunky, rear-facing car seat shouldn’t be an issue to fit, but if you’ve got young kids to ferry about then you should always take your car seat along and try it out in the car you’re considering, before you commit to the purchase.
The boot is usefully huge in the hatchback e-C4 and in the saloon e-C4 X, so practicality is pretty decent for a family car. Sure, a Skoda Elroq will be a bit better for boot space, but then it costs a lot more as it’s a newer car. If the C4 doesn’t seem quite big enough for you, you might want to consider something a bit bigger - the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq are both brilliant used buys if you need a really roomy, used family EV, and don’t mind driving a fairly big car.
The dash isn’t too bad to live with, and every e-C4 gets a touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new infotainment system was a big improvement with the 2025 update to the e-C4 range, as before that the system was quite slow and a bit irritating. Mind you, the Citroen has always had Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you don’t often have to use the car’s fussy native software anyway.
What’s the real-world range of a used Citroen e-C4?
The e-C4 is pretty efficient in the real world, and when it was new we saw a range of around 180 miles in the winter and 220 miles in the summer, over mixed driving including a bit of motorway stuff. Expect lower range when in winter and at faster speeds, so a constant motorway journey in very cold, windy weather will be your worst-case scenario. The range on the electric Citroen C4 will be drastically better in warmer weather and in slow-to-middling driving.
That’s not amazing, and you’ll go further to a charge in a Renault Scenic E-Tech, big battery VW ID.3, Polestar 2 or Tesla Model 3, but if 180-ish miles of range sounds like plenty then a used or nearly new Citroen e-C4 could be ideal. The range readout on the driver’s display in the Citroen e-C4 and its Stellantis stablemates – such as the Peugeot e-308 and Fiat 600 - is well known to overestimate the potential range, especially when the battery is full. So, if you slide into a used e-C4 that you’re considering, and it’s got a full charge and 230 miles of range, don’t believe it. Expect the true range to be more like 200 miles.
How long will the battery on the Citroen e-C4 last?
The Citroen’s battery will degrade (as will any battery), and it will depend on how the car has been used as to the exact rate of degradation. It’s reasonable to expect the Citroen e-C4 and e-C4 X to lose around 1 - 2% of its usable battery capacity (and therefore its range in between charges) each year.
Time is typically a bigger factor in battery degradation than mileage, so don’t be too worried about higher mileage examples if you’re considering a well-used example. Just make sure that you buy from a seller who can give you a full battery report, for peace of mind, and don’t rely on the range readout for an accurate estimate of the battery health.
As long as you’re realistic about losing a fraction of your real-world driving range each year, you shouldn’t need to worry about battery life on the electric Citroen. Modern lithium-ion NMC batteries like the ones in the e-C4 have proven to be very reliable, and if you look after the battery then it’ll last decades, and will see the car through hundreds of thousands of miles. To keep the battery in the best possible condition, try to only charge it to 80% in routine use when you don’t need the full driving range, and avoid leaving the car plugged in for days with a full battery when it’s not in use. Obviously, charge to 100% whenever you need to, and use the 100kW rapid charging for longer trips; it really won’t affect the battery much (if at all) provided you’re not doing it every day.
Do all of that, and the battery should last the full life of the car – and may well go on to a second life, after that.
How reliable is a used Citroen e-C4 and what are the common problems?
The Citroen e-C4 and e-C4 X are generally very reliable, but there are a few things to look out for.
- There’s a rear suspension spring that can become detached; this can be fixed for free at a Citroen dealer
- A ‘open circuit’ safety warning is a known problem, as it can be over-sensitive and cut power to the car for no reason. This can be fixed under warranty at a Citroen dealer.
- Some owners have complained of their Citroen e-C4 being out of action for many weeks while parts are on order
- Charging flaps can become seized if not opened regularly
Which is the best version to buy?
If you can stretch to one of the 51kWh cars (Citroen states the 54kWh total capacity) then we’d say it’s worth it. The range and efficiency is noticeably better on these cars, and they’re still a great used buy.
There have been various tweaks and changes to the e-C4 trim lineup over the years, but it’s the top-spec cars that have proven the biggest sellers and so are often the most available on the used market. For most of its production, this was known as the Shine Plus trim, and it got everything including heated seats, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, head-up display, leatherette upholstery and a subwoofer for better audio quality. Having said that, don’t discount the lower trims, as every e-C4 was well equipped. Even the base Sense trim, which was introduced in 2022, had keyless entry, reversing camera and cruise control.
How long is the warranty?
Citroen provides a three year, 60,000 mile warranty on its new cars, while the high voltage battery is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles.
What are the ownership and running costs of a Citroen e-C4?
The Citroen will be a really affordable car to run, especially if you can charge at home and take advantage of cheaper, overnight tariffs. Even on a standard domestic electricity tariff, the Citroen will cost around 8- to 11p per mile, or using an off-peak tariff can cut that by two thirds. You can also set timed charging parameters via the Citroen’s touchscreen, so that it only charges overnight when you’ve got cheap electricity.
If you have to use public chargers then charging costs will be much higher, unfortunately. Public charging costs vary dramatically, and can cost under 40p per kWh for slower chargers but is often close to 80p per kWh for rapid chargers. If you have to rely solely on public chargers, it’s possible that the e-C4 (or any electric car) will cost more to fuel than an efficient petrol or diesel car, so do bear that in mind.
The e-C4 falls into insurance groups 22- to 24, which makes it one of the lower cost EVs to insure. Tyres and servicing should be very affordable, too.
What other cars should I consider?
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to used electric family cars, these days. The VW ID.3, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro, MG4 or MG5, Peugeot E-2008 and E-308… They’re all going to do a very similar job to the Citroen e-C4, but if you specifically want longer range then the Renault Scenic E-Tech, VW ID.3 or Skoda Enyaq, or the long range Polestar 2 are really good options.
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