In a cost of living crisis, surely everyone would like more for the same price? Well, that's the case with Citroen's newest EV - the E-C4 X. Despite perhaps having the wrong type of body, it boasts a bigger boot and more rear space for the same price as the established E-C4. 

Citroen claims that the E-C4 X's design is a combination of fastback and SUV. In fact, I can remember at the reveal last summer, Arnaud Ribault, Citroen's product and strategy director, told me the 'X' badge is supposed to symbolise fastback, five-door styling. In reality, it's just a saloon version of the E-C4.

All-new from the B-pillar forward, the most distinctive part of the E-C4 X's design must be  the neatly detailed, large LED rear light clusters, discreet rear spoiler and lower diffuser. Overall, it looks smart and modern enough if you like saloons. 

The E-C4 X is 240mm longer than the E-C4 hatch, and this extra length can be seen in the back, where passengers get an extra 198mm of knee room. Open the boot, and it's easy to see that despite the saloon design, there's extra space in here too - 130 litres more in fact, taking the total to 510 litres. The boot also has a flat loading floor, plus for extra practicality there's a split/fold rear seat and ski hatch. 

Sit in the back of the E-C4 X, and the extra room does make a small, but noticeable difference. Move to the front, and the new car has the same, comfortable, and multi-adjustable driving position. Like the C5 X, the E-C4 X benefits from Citroen's latest My Citroen Drive Plus infotainment system, and we can report that it is a big improvement over the outgoing set-up, with a larger 10in touchscreen. 

Despite the extra space, the E-C4 X's boot is less convincing. Being a saloon, access isn't as good as the conventional E-C4 hatch. The opening for the split/fold rear seat is small, and if you want to use the ski hatch, you'll have to remove the third rear head rest, which is fiddly. 

Mechanically, the E-C4 X is identical to the E-C4, meaning the same 50kWh battery, powering the front-mounted motor, equalling 136hp and 260Nm. But don't go thinking this is some sort of performance EV. Like the E-C4 and the rest of the Citroen range, the focus is on comfort. So, 62 mph acceleration comes up in 9.3 seconds, which feels adequate rather than fast. There is a 'Sport' mode, but like the E-C4, it appears to have little effect on the performance - the only change is the accelerator becomes more sensitive. The E-C4 X is slipperier too, resulting in five miles more range at 222. This Citroen EV is capable of 100kW DC rapid charging, going from 20% to 80% in around 30 minutes. 

There is some body roll, but where this Citroen most impresses, is with the ride and refinement. The E-C4 X's hydraulic bump stops in the suspension feels most at home here combined with the X's extra length. I think the ride is slightly softer than the E-C4 hatch, which along with the Shine Plus's modest 18in alloy wheels give an impressively refined ride.