IT was a tight and twisty road rising and falling with ear-popping regularity - but the Citroen C4 floated through the ordeal like it was a day at the beach.

The suspension maintains the French motor manufacturer's well-deserved reputation for excellence, smoothing out the many bumps and humps effectively isolating driver and passengers from the tough terrain masquerading as roads being negotiated.

So on long journeys the cushy Citroen ride makes the C4 is the ultimate companion as it munches the miles without taking too much out of its occupants.

One drawback from all this cosseting though comes for those seeking a more engaging drive as they will find the Citroen a shade too relaxing - especially in corners where it tends to roll a bit - with steering that is a little lifeless.

But if comfort is your bag then the C4 is a favourite armchair as it's more refined than legendary French crooner Sacha Distel with little in the way of road or wind noise making it into the - you've guessed it - comfortable cabin.

The efficient 1.6-litre petrol engine with a five-speed gearbox in the model I tried also refrains from intruding too much on your thoughts and is a willing beast that combines a decent amount of power with reasonable fuel economy. There are five other petrol and diesel power units to choose from so just about every taste is catered for.

The interior is a high-quality offering that includes brushed metal inserts, soft-touch materials plus knobs and switches with a solid feel which are easy to see and use.

Get into the back seats and you will find a decent amount of head and shoulder room while for even the tallest there's an adequate amount of leg room.

The doors are wide-opening making entry and exit easy while a large well-shaped boot with a low lip makes loading a large amount of shopping a cinch as a class-leading 408-litres of room is available expanding to 1,300-litres with the rear seats folded flat.

There are plenty of other cubby holes dotted around the cabin including a central dash lidded storage compartment, front and rear door pockets, front seat back pockets, plus a handy draw under the driver's and front passenger's seats.

Citroen never stint on the goodies and the VTR+ maintains this reputation with stereo/CD system, air conditioning, customisable instruments, cruise control and speed limiter with favourite speed memory all included.

Other treats include rear parking sensors, front fog lights, electric window, leather steering wheel and gearknob, steering wheel-mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity.

Citroen has a good record for safety and the C4 boasts stability control to keep you on the road and six airbags should the worst happen. There is also side impact energy absorbing protection, two rear Isofix child seat anchorage points and automatic activation of hazard warning lights in an emergency stop situation.

With safety and practicality, the C4 also offers an understated style with smooth lines and neat C3-inspired tail-lights that are easy on the eye.