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Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Citroën C4 III: the buying guide

Hatchback · since 2020 · Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid, Electric

✓ 34 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Extra caution
Reliability
2.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€291/month
Indicative prices
€11,500 – €21,000

4 known faults

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Citroën C4 III, front three-quarter view

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Extra caution

Compact with a 380 L boot (510 L for the C4 X, which has a separate boot), rated 4 out of 5 Euro NCAP stars in 2021. Its 1.2 PureTech (wet belt, oil consumption) and 1.5 BlueHDi (timing chain, recall) have serious documented faults; the ë-C4 electric and the chain-driven Hybrid 136 avoid the belt, but the on-board charger of early ë-C4s can fail.

Reliability
2.0/5
Indicative prices
€11,500 – €21,000
Monthly cost
€291
Euro NCAP
4/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: ë-C4 156, Hybrid 136 ë-DCS6.

  • PureTech 100

    Petrol · Manual · 100 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.2 PureTech turbo three-cylinder, 6-speed manual gearbox only.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • PureTech 130

    Petrol · Manual · 130 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.2 PureTech turbo, 6-speed manual gearbox.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • PureTech 130 EAT8

    Petrol · Automatic · 130 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Same engine with the 8-speed EAT8 automatic gearbox.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • BlueHDi 110

    Diesel · Manual · 110 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 diesel, 6-speed manual gearbox only. Affected by the timing chain recall.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • BlueHDi 130 EAT8

    Diesel · Automatic · 130 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 diesel, EAT8 automatic gearbox only. Affected by the timing chain recall.

    Engine: Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • ë-C4 136

    Electric · Automatic · 136 hp · Crit'Air green

    100% electric, 50 kWh battery, 260 Nm, about 350 km WLTP range announced at launch. 2020-2022 cars are more exposed to on-board charger failure.

  • ë-C4 156

    ✓ Recommended

    Electric · Automatic · 156 hp · 14.8 kWh/100 km · 0 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air green

    Electric version offered from 2023: 54 kWh battery, WLTP range of 415 to 420 km depending on the source, fast charging up to 100 kW.

  • Hybrid 136 ë-DCS6

    ✓ Recommended

    Hybrid · Automatic · 136 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Mild 48 V hybrid introduced in 2024: 1.2 petrol with timing chain, 21 kW electric motor and 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. No plug-in charging.

Market prices

€11,500 – €21,000

Indicative range: 2020 to 2026, yearly medians of 1679 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Degraded 'wet' timing belt (1.2 PureTech)

Severity 3/3 · Serious

On the 1.2 PureTech, the timing belt runs in oil and can break down. Its debris clogs the oil strainer, which causes oil pressure to drop and can destroy the engine. Stellantis extended the belt warranty to 10 years or 175,000 km, subject to servicing conditions, and introduced a new-generation belt in June 2022.

Versions
PureTech 100, PureTech 130, PureTech 130 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Premature wear of the timing chain (1.5 BlueHDi)

Severity 3/3 · Serious

On the 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5), the 7 mm camshaft chain can wear prematurely because of oil carbonisation, then break, causing the engine to stop abruptly; the first sign is a rattle on a cold start. The C4 is among the recalled models (cars built up to 31 January 2023): the chain is replaced by a reinforced 8 mm chain. Stellantis extended the warranty on this chain to 7 years or 180,000 km.

Versions
BlueHDi 110, BlueHDi 130 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Oil consumption (1.2 PureTech)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

Beyond belt wear, the 1.2 PureTech is known for high oil consumption, which can lead to engine damage if the level is not monitored. According to Caradisiac, engines built from 2023 onward are no longer affected.

Versions
PureTech 100, PureTech 130, PureTech 130 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

On-board charger failure, 11 kW (ë-C4)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

On Stellantis electric vehicles, including the ë-C4, the 11 kW on-board charger supplied by Mahle can fail and prevent any AC charging from a wall box; DC fast charging remains possible. 2020-2022 cars fitted with the original charger are the most exposed.

Versions
ë-C4 136
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Citroën C4”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€33
Insurance€78
Maintenance€30
Depreciation€150
Total per month€291

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Electricity€33

ë-C4 156 version: combined consumption of 14.8 kWh/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 0.194 €/kWh, for 1,000 km a month.

14.8 × 1.15 × 0.194 € × 10 = €33

Electricity price: EDF regulated Base tariff, home charging (as of 7 October 2026).

Insurance€78

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€30

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€150

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Demand service invoices: oil changes at the correct interval with the recommended oil, and belt checks (PureTech).
  • Check the oil level when cold and ask whether oil needs topping up between changes.
  • Ask a Citroën dealer, with the serial number, which recalls have been carried out (1.5 BlueHDi chain) and whether the car is eligible for the warranty extensions.
  • 1.5 BlueHDi diesel: listen to the cold start; a rattle may indicate a loose chain.
  • ë-C4: test charging on an AC wall box and ask whether the on-board charger has already been replaced.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Do you have all the service invoices, with the oil references used?
  • Has the timing belt (or the chain on the diesel) been checked or replaced, and have the recalls been carried out?
  • Does the car use oil between oil changes? (ë-C4: has charging on a domestic socket or AC wall box already caused problems?)

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: MoCars, CC0

Peugeot 308

III · since 2021

Buy with care
Price
€11,680 – €26,318
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid, Electric

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Volkswagen Golf

VIII · since 2020

Buy with care
Price
€18,800 – €31,100
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0

Renault Mégane

IV · 2016–2023

Buy with care
Price
€9,500 – €23,900
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Citroën C4 III (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

What Euro NCAP rating does the Citroën C4 III have?

4 out of 5 stars in 2021 (83% for children, 57% for vulnerable road users, 63% for safety assist), held back by automatic emergency braking that did not meet all criteria. The rating also applies to the C4 X.

Which engine should I choose on a used C4 III?

According to CarVerif, the decisive point remains the 1.2 PureTech with its wet belt (invoices, belt check, no warning lights), whereas the ë-C4 and the chain-driven Hybrid 136 avoid this issue. The 1.5 BlueHDi must have received its reinforced chain under the recall.

What is the boot capacity of the C4 III and C4 X?

380 litres for the C4 and ë-C4, 510 litres for the C4 X, which is 24 cm longer and has a separate boot.

Found a listing?

Soon, we will analyse your Citroën C4 listing: price, mileage, watch points.

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