Citroen C4 Cactus Review 2015

Citroen C4 Cactus Review 2015 – hatchback with a difference.

For – cute, some practical pluses.
Against – too many annoying lapses, expensive.
**
£18,870

Citroen says there has never been a car quite like its C4 Cactus and it might have a point.

Not many cars attract the attention of passers-by like the Cactus, with its futuristic shape and plastic cladding. Even the workers at my local BP filling station who see thousands of cars looking very much like each other every day, noticed the Cactus and said, unprompted, how nice it looked. My next door neighbour’s 12 year old son also rushed over for a closer peak.

Quite how the buying public will respond is another matter. My initial impressions weren’t favourable. I had to search the handbook to find out where the fuel gauge was, only to find that it was a little digital strip staring me in the face. Then I had to consult the instruction book again to find how to operate the trip gauge and it was written in such opaque language I gave up and simply wrote down the current mileage. When I tried to load my golf gear into the back, I again had to consult the instruction manual. To my amazement, the rear sits didn’t split, and to fold it down you have to press both buttons at the same time, which are each close to the side. This means you have to get into the back, face the rear, and straddle the width of the car. Or recruit a friend. I couldn’t persuade the rear head restraints to slide down. There didn’t seem to be any cup-holders, although a round shaped thing that was too shallow to be of any use might have been an attempt at one.

Failed
And then there’s the fuel economy which regular readers will know is a preoccupation of mine. The claim from Citroen is a ridiculous sounding 91.1 mpg. I was unable to verify this because one reading gave me 86.2 mpg, but the second was only 37.7 mpg because the mechanism that cuts off the flow of diesel kicked in too early, I suspect.

Behind the wheel, the interior was very impressive, with a convincing premium feel to it with, mostly, high quality plastics and equipment. On the road, the five-speed gear box felt sloppy. The ride had a coarse, rough feel to it. The engine was impressive – quiet and lively. The speedometer was digital and didn’t show the revs, which might have been available if I’d bothered to press a few buttons, or consulted the handbook, again.

Bit too much
Prices start at £12,990 for the “Touch” version. The “Feel” range is priced at between £14,690 and £16,690. The one I drove – the Citroen C4 Cactus Feel BlueHDi 100 – cost £18,870 because it included a leather element to the seats, navigation and hi-fi, and city park. “Flair” tops out the range at £18,090. As soon as you start adding stuff, prices seem a bit too much.

“New Citroen C4 Cactus is packed with new thinking and fresh style. Here’s where it begins to reflect your interpretation of the future. Explore the cutting edge of design, sophistication made simple, contemporary comfort and efficient performance. Above all, enjoy the process of creating something individual,” Citroen says.

If you’re wondering about the plastic cladding down the side, this is made of Airbump.

“(this is) a successful combination of style and usability! The soft skin, which is a worldwide exclusive, protects your car against everyday bumps and dents. So what’s the secret? A multitude of air capsules under a soft TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) skin that does not require any special care,” Citroen said.

Know anyone like this?
If you or any of your loved ones can’t seem to visit a multi-story car park without returning with another bump, graze or dents all over the place, maybe the Cactus is for you. Come to think of it, suddenly a Cactus makes perfect sense.

	Citroen C4 Cactus
Engine:	1.6 litre 4-cylinder diesel
Power:	100 hp @ 3,750 rpm
Torque:	254 Nm @ 1,750
Gearbox:	5-speed manual
Drive:	front-wheels
Acceleration:	0-62 mph-100 km/h 10.7 seconds
Top Speed:	114 mph-183 km/h
Fuel Consumption:	claimed combined 91.1 mpg-3.1 l/km. WintonsWorld road test – not conclusive
CO2:	82 g/km
Emissions class:	Euro 6
Length:	4,157 mm
Width:	1,729
Height:	1,530
Weight:	1,225 kg
Wheel-base:	2,595
Suspension:	MacPherson/torsion bar
Service Intervals:	12,500 miles-1 year
Insurance Group:	18A
Warranty:	3 years, 60,000 miles
Boot capacity:	358/1,170 litres
Competition:
Rating:	**
Price:	£18,870
For:	cute, some practical pluses
Against:	too many annoying lapses, expensive

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