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The new Citroen C4 speaks more quietly than before but carries a bigger stick, especially as the 1.6 THP. Andy Enright explains why.

The Citroen C4 might appear more conventional than before but it's far from your average family hatch in 1.6-litre petrol form equipped with Citroen's ESG automated manual transmission. Keenly priced and strong on comfort, safety and equipment, the C4 a car that rewards those who can see beyond the obvious choices.

You may well remember the last Citroen C4 more for its exploits as an all-conquering World Rally Car or for it's dancing robot advertisement than for the actual vehicle that these activities were designed to promote. Back in 2004, Citroen promised to bring us a car that was 'Alive With Technology' and I think it's fair to say that, at the time, the thought of a French car stuffed with complicated electronics could have deterred more people than it attracted. Those who did take the plunge were rewarded with a thoroughly decent family hatch and much of the technology the C4 pioneered was genuinely useful, clever stuff

Citroen is looking to build on the record established by the last C4 with an all-new model which features less striking styling than its coupe aping predecessor but which instead uses smart technology to remind us of what Citroens used to be about - comfort, quality and refinement. It might look as if Citroen is playing safe this time round but the firm is taking a bit of a gamble with one of it's big sellers, banking on the proposition that in a market where sporty handling and powerful engines grab headlines, buyers will appreciate the subtlety and the utility of the easygoing C4.

To be frank, my choice of Citroen C4 model would be from those that come with a manual transmission. Across the range, the five and six-speeders on offer are a joy to use. The 155bhp 1.6 petrol-engined model tested here, however, is available only with Citroen's EGS automated manual gearbox and it's not one of the better examples of its type, making driving smoothly a tricky endeavour. Stick with a manual and you're rewarded with a car that's uncannily refined and available with a great range of highly efficient engines.

All the C4's petrol engines were co-developed with BMW and start with a 95bhp 1.4-litre engine. There's also a 120bhp 1.6-litre unit. But here it's the 155bhp 1.6 THP teamed with the EGS gearbox and the engine, at least, is great. With 177lb ft, it's a torquey unit too and enables the C4 to sprint to 60mph from rest in just 8.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 134mph.

It's a shame that Citroen has done away with the fixed steering wheel boss that was such a talking point in the old C4, but apparently a more conventional wheel saves 3.5kg. A return to conventionality is a theme that runs through this car. It feels a lot more sensible, more grown up than before. It's quite soft and extremely relaxing.

The new C4 is a bigger car both inside and out compared to its predecessor and Citroen has also clearly made a concerted effort to improve the perceived quality. The old C4 felt a reassuringly solid thing but this latest car feels as if it belongs in the class above. As much thought seems to have gone into the quality of the materials as it has the reworking of the interior aesthetics. And the comfort-biased chassis set up works well on real roads rather than racing circuits. Which isn't to say all the frills have been ironed out. For instance, you can choose your preferred instrument light colouring and a tone for the turn indicator repeater, but it's clear where most of the budget has been spent.

Space inside is about par for the class, with rear legroom only an issue if you try to seat tall passengers. Headroom is better than average as is access. The boot's a decent size too although the rear seats don't fold fully flat.

It's hard to avoid the feeling that Citroen has played safe with the styling of this car - maybe so that it can let its designers off the leash with more daring niche models. It's a handsome car - one that's unlikely to attract criticism - but neither will it turn many heads.

The C4 has always been a competitively priced car and this latest model is no exception. The range opens at around £15,500 for the 1.4-litre VTi engine and tops out at around £21,500 for the 150bhp 2.0-litre diesel. Those prices significantly undercut a Ford Focus or a Vauxhall Astra and it makes the C4 a very tempting alternative if you're looking for a car with a slightly softer, more relaxed personality.

The Citroen also does well when it comes to safety and equipment. With a five-star EuroNCAP rating already under its belt, the C4 scored 97% in the 'Safety Assist' test - at the time the highest score achieved for any vehicle of its type. In no small part it's down to the sheer array of driving aids fitted as standard. You get anti lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Emergency Braking Assistance while ESP stability control is standard across the range. Six airbags are also fitted, as well as cruise control with a speed limiter.

Upper spec models also get intelligent traction control and a blind spot monitoring system that uses ultrasound sensors mounted in the front and rear bumpers to illuminate a pictogram in the door mirrors when a vehicle enters your blind spot. All very worthy, but I suspect a more popular option might be the premium option Denon stereo. Even if you don't choose this premium stereo option, all C4s get a USB port, 3.5mm jack plug and 12V socket on the centre console to keep you connected.

Citroen has worked hard to improve the efficiency of its engine range in recent years and it can now stand toe to toe with the very best. It was always a smart pick for an economical diesel engine but since the PSA Group joined forces with BMW to develop small, efficient petrol engines it has left many of its old rivals lagging. The C4 is one of the few family hatches where the diesel engines aren't the automatic pick. Yes, they're very good but, given its 155bhp, it's hard to ignore the 1.6 THP petrol unit's which will manage 44.8mpg and 148g/km of CO2.

If driving down bills is a priority, however, the C4 e-HDi 110 seems to have all the answers. The micro-hybrid e-HDi powertrain incorporates a fiendishly clever stop-start system that's driven by the alternator. This reduces the need for a beefed-up starter motor, so restarts are smoother and quicker. It'll even cut engine power below 5mph if it senses you rolling to a stop. Factor in regenerative braking and low-rolling-resistance tyres, and you have a C4 that will return 67.3mpg on the combined economy cycle and 109g/km of CO2. The only hitch is that, as with the 1.6 THP, you have to select the EGS gearbox with this model.

If you're the sort of car buyer who looks beyond the superficial, I suspect the Citroen C4 might win your respect. It's not a flashy, overt sort of car, instead concentrating on refinement, quality and efficiency. There is no big sell to it either, no overriding feature that makes it stand out in a packed market place. In doing the sensible things extremely well, the C4 might have underplayed its hand but it's a vehicle that seems to get better the longer you spend with it.

It may not be an obvious choice but it is one that rewards a little research. In an age of instant gratification and short attention spans, too few go to the trouble of taking some time to make their second biggest capital investment an informed one and will instead go for the default, off-the-peg choice. The C4 is worth making an exception for.