First Drive: The Citroen C4 Cactus has moved upmarket – but not entirely successfully
The original C4 Cactus was a true love-it-or-hate-it Marmite car, but with the latest model Citroen’s chasing a wider appeal. Tom Wiltshire heads to Oxfordshire to try out this innovative hatchback
What is it?
What’s new?
It’s not a full hydraulic system, but it gains hydraulic dampers on either side of the usual shock absorber to help reduce the impact from bumps while still keeping the car stable. Advanced Comfort also brings added soundproofing and some excellent new seats, which are very comfortable indeed and a real highlight of the car’s interior.
What’s under the bonnet?
What’s it like to drive?
The Cactus’ trick suspension is undoubtedly clever, and it gives the car a comfortable ride over all surfaces. It’s not the sort of quantum leap we were hoping for though, and the Cactus is no luxury limo. Also, while it copes well with bumpy roads, the suspension is uncomfortably floaty on motorways and smooth A-roads – we suspect it might make a few back-seat passengers car sick.
Head into a corner with a bit of speed and the Cactus remains quite flat, but the lifeless and over-light steering doesn’t inspire much confidence. It’s certainly not a sports car, but most buyers won’t care about that.
How does it look?
The stacked front headlight arrangement remains, with LED daytime running lights set above head- and fog-lamps, while the distinctive grille includes Citroen’s double chevron logo.
Inside, very little has changed from the outgoing model, but the centre console has had a mild redesign. It’s still fairly stylish though, with a suitcase-style glovebox and leather straps acting as door pulls.
What’s it like inside?
What’s the spec like?
Verdict
In losing some of its quirky charm the new Cactus won’t be an immediate love affair for buyers as the first one was. However, it’s undoubtedly more appealing to the majority of people, and there’s no denying that the new hydraulic suspension gives it a seriously comfortable USP.
No version is truly without compromise though, so there’s still a certain level of irritating quirks you’ll have to put up with. Nevertheless, the new Cactus is interesting, decent to drive, and cheap to own, which alone should be enough to put it on your shortlist.
Facts at a glance
Model as tested: Citroen Cactus
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol
Power (bhp): 109
Torque (Nm): 205
Max speed (mph): 117
0-60mph: 9.0 seconds
MPG (combined): 58.9
Emissions (g/km): 104
