CITROEN has never shied away from developing cars that stand out from the crowd.
And when the French car maker launched the C4 Cactus, with its extravagant Airbumps along the side, it was a clear indication that the company’s vivid design creativity was still thriving.
That model hit the showrooms back in 2014 and more recently the C4 Cactus underwent a mid-life facelift. As a result, the protective Airbumps on the doors are more discreet and the emphasis these days is on practicality and comfort.
From a styling point of view, the latest C4 Cactus features new eye-catching light signatures with slender LED daytime running lights. There are 3D-effect rear lights, wider air intakes, 17in alloys, gloss black pillars and spoiler supports and dark tinted rear windows.
The interior is fun, funky, upmarket and packed with techno treats – there is MirrorScreen with Apple CarPlay for smartphone connectivity, a navigation system with seven-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth and plenty more besides.
There is a luggage theme to the design with faux leather straps on the glovebox and door handles, along with lots of soft-touch surfaces that also help raise the quality stakes.
The beautifully designed cloth seats are wonderfully comfortable and offer all the support necessary and the rather clever Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension helps to deliver the “magic carpet ride” of Citroens from bygone days.
This is particularly noticeable when you hit a small pothole or when driving along damaged roads, with the system really smoothing out the ride. There’s no need for a chiropractor on speed-dial when you’re driving the C4 Cactus, then.
I have spent the past three months driving the C4 Cactus powered by a punchy yet ultra-efficient 1.5-litre 101hp diesel engine matched to a six-speed manual gearbox.
Priced from £21,770 for this Flair spec version, it can sprint from 0-62mph in 10.0 seconds, maxes out at 118mph and, according to official figures, can deliver a combined fuel economy of 55 to 58.4mpg, with carbon emissions of just 98g/km.
I have already clocked up more than 3000 miles in the vehicle, which has included some lengthy 500-mile round trips, and the C4 Cactus has lived up to its big build-up.
Out on the open road, the acceleration through the gears is beautifully smooth and there is always ample power on tap to overtake slower moving vehicles. Motorway driving is a breeze as the C4 Cactus effortlessly eats up the miles.
And the great all-round driver visibility, along with the nimble handling, make the car easy to manoeuvre in busy town centres. Comfort levels on long trips are excellent and there’s ample space in the back for a couple of passengers, along with all their luggage requirements.
The boot has a capacity that ranges from 358 litres to 1170 litres with the 60:40 split folding rear seats dropped flat. In addition, there’s plenty of convenient storage compartments scattered throughout the vehicle.
And there are so many plus points. For example, I’m averaging more than 60mpg and I still like the quirkiness of those Airbumps and the hinged rear windows. I like the agility of the car and the ease with which it can be parked thanks to a reversing camera that has guidelines.
So, yes, lots to enjoy about the C4 Cactus and I look forward to my next few months behind the wheel.
Factfile:
- Model: Citroen C4 Cactus Flair BlueHDi 100
- Engine: 1.5-litre diesel
- Power: 101hp
- Top speed: 118mph
- 0-62mph: 10.0 seconds
- Average mpg: 55-58.4
- CO2 emissions: 98g/km
- Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles
- Price: £21,770
