Citroen e-C4 X

FIRST DRIVE: Saloon version of the electric hatch gets a bigger boot but costs the same

- Alex Ingram

CITROEN'S e-C4 X reintroduces a niche to the mainstream UK market, but one that never quite found favour with buyers.

The niche in question is nothing to do with the fact that this newcomer is electric, or that Citroen claims its chunky wheelarch cladding offers SUV style. Instead, it's down to the rear end; the e-C4 X is a saloon.

While four-doors are hugely popular sellers among premium brands, the layout has never quite found favour in smaller family cars. The likes of the Ford Focus, Renault Mégane and the Mazda 3 have all been offered with saloon bodies in the past, but the five-door hatchback option always vastly outsold them. Citroen still offers that choice, too - from the B-pillars forward, the X is identical to the e-C4. So what's the benefit of the new model?

From a cosmetic point of view, some buyers might prefer the more conventional look of the X. Where the hatchback version gets a quirky, two-tier rear screen with a complex tail-light design, the saloon features a cleaner rump.

Viewed from the side, the three-box shape is neatly proportioned. The new fastback profile means the e-C4 X is 4,600mm long; that's 240mm more than the hatch. The pair share an identical wheelbase, which means all of that extra metalwork is behind the rear axle. The result is a big increase in boot capacity; at 510 litres, the X gains 130 litres over the e-C4.