The Citroen C4 Cactus still has a unique look
Citroen’s C4 Cactus has lost some of its wacky styling but has it lost any of its appeal asks Suzanne Keane
What is it? Citroën’s previous C4 Cactus launched back in 2014 with wacky styling, mostly attributed to the airbumps down the sides to eliminate car park dents and scratches. Now it’s back, keeping some of the cheeky look with a more sophisticated feel.
Who is it aimed at? Aimed at those looking for a smaller family car the C4 Cactus has plenty of room for 2 child seats in the back and space for a buggy and shopping in the boot.
Styling? The new Citroën C4 Cactus has retained the quirky styling of its predecessor but with a slightly more grown up feel. Sharper lines give it an edgier look, especially around the rear and the dominant airbumps have moved downwards and are much more subtle.
Under the Bonnet? Our test car was powered by a Puretech 110 petrol engine with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. This is a 1.2l turbo engine that consumes 5.3l/100km and has CO2 emissions of 119g/km.
What about inside? Inside the cabin is very comfortable and functional with a few quirky touches in keeping with Citroen’s styling. The glovebox sits on top of the dashboard and is reminiscent of a vintage suitcase while conventional door handles have been replaced with leather straps. A tweed-like fabric covers the seats and instead of boring electric opening versions rear passengers are treated to vintage pop-out style windows.
Inside it is spacious, bright and quirky
On the Road? The original Citroen 2CV was all about comfort and the C4 Cactus is continuing this heritage with Hydraulic Cushion suspension and Advanced comfort seats. Steering is extremely light, almost too much so when you’re out on the open road, but it really shines in urban situations. The PureTech engine is perfectly adequate for everyday driving and in sports mode it’s noisy but gives plenty of pep for traffic light drag races. The automatic gearbox is smooth but just a little slow to react on occasion – you do eventually learn to give it plenty of notice of when you might need to speed up!
And Safety? The C4 Cactus tested comes with driver, front passenger, front lateral and curtain airbags along with rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. There are 2 ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats and a rear facing child seat fits quite comfortably behind the passenger seat.
What are my options? The model tested was FEEL specification with an RRP of €24,995. Prices for the C4 Cactus start from €19,995 and is available in 3 different trim levels – Touch, Feel and Flair. 9 different exterior colour options allow for 31 colour combinations, so you really can personalise your Cactus. 3 petrol PureTech engines are available along with a BlueHDi diesel in both manual and automatic.
Will it break the bank? The model tested was a 1.2l Turbo PureTech petrol engine which will consume 5.3l/100km. CO2 emissions are 119g/km which means road tax is just €200 per year.
Verdict? The Citroën C4 Cactus is ideal for anyone looking for a small family car with a difference. It’s cheap to run and comfortable with plenty of interior space.
Why you’ll buy one? Stylish; Fun; Spacious
Why you won’t? Driving experience is a little dull
Rivals
Ford Focus
VW Golf
Peugeot 308
SEAT Leon
Citroën C4 Cactus FEEL Puretech 110 EAT6
Engine: 1199cc , 100bhp, 205Nm
Max speed: 188 lk/h
0-100 kph: 10.9 Secons
Emissions (Motor Tax) : 119 g/km (€200)
Model price range: €19,995 ( Model Tested €24,995)
No of Doors: 5 doors
Euro NCAP : TBC
Fuel type: Petrol
Fuel Economy (combined cycle): 5.3 l/100km
Boot Capacity Seats up(down) : 358 litres (1170)
Car Seats: 2 Isofix fittings in the rear
Length: 4170mm
Width: 1714mm
Height: 1480mm
Wheelbase: 2595 mm
For more info on the Citroën C4 Cactus check out Citroen.ie , the Citroën Ireland Facebook page or follow on twitter
Suzanne Keane
21st August, 2018
