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Innovative, quirky, comfortable and stylish, the Citroen C4 Cactus is a quintessentially French and quirky yet practical answer to contemporary motoring trends. A leftfield take on the ever popular compact urban SUV, the Cactus is — in the tradition of some of France’s most iconic cars — at the same time affordable, efficient, fashionable and affordable.
A fun and feel good car that is accessible, the Cactus’ approach is a rational yet eccentric one, where efficient high-tech drivelines and features converge with Spartan sensibility in terms of superfluity. Airy and cosy inside and futuristically practical outside, the compact Cactus’ pared down approach also yields a light weight — for added efficiency and manoeuvrability.
Urban warrior
Upright with headlights recessed at the sides of its grille and with slim swept back LED running lights — with large Citroen chevron emblem in between — serving as the focus of its “face”, the Cactus strikes one as a thoroughly futuristic design. However, it is the Cactus’ innovative textured Airbump panels that are perhaps its most distinctive feature.
Stylish yet not precious, the Cactus’ Airbump panels are designed for the rough and tumble of congested city driving and often unavoidable scrapes and dents of daily driving. Consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane covered air bubbles, Airbump absorbs low speed bumps without deforming and so reduces maintenance costs, while hard-wearing lower plastic cladding completes the “urban warrior” appeal.
Sitting higher off the ground than hatchback sister models and with compact dimensions, low waistline and big glasshouse, the Cactus drives comfortable over rutted roads and offers good visibility and manoeuvrability. With stylish profile design elements and broad range of body and Airbump colours, it offers extensive customization possibilities, but is best in bright hues.
Frugal efficiency
Provided for test drive in Germany with the single 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine option, the C4 Cactus Blue HDi 100 displaces 1.6 litres and is also available in low emissions guise, but only with manual 5-speed gearbox. Also on offer is a smaller high efficiency 1.2-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, tuned to a 74, 81 or 108BHP, of which only the higher output petrols are available with automatic transmission.
However, while the lighter petrol engines may yield significant weight loss benefits in terms of more nimble and agile handling, it is the oil burner that is the most efficient and offers a considerably higher torque output. Smooth at low rpm and slightly clattery at heavy load and high rpm, the Cactus turbodiesel is otherwise smooth, with muscular mid-range pulling power.
Developing 98BHP at 3750rpm and 187lb/ft by just 1750rpm, the Cactus Blue HDi suffers little by way of turbo lag and is responsively eager from low-end. Effortlessly chirping its driven front wheels when launched aggressively, the Cactus accelerates to 100kph in 10.7 seconds and flexibly kept up with fast moving traffic on Germany’s de-restricted Autobahn.
Supple and stable
A smooth and supple ride easily soaking lumps and bumps — as fitted with 205/55R16 — the Cactus is tuned for comfort and while it may roll slightly, its relatively long wheelbase ensured it remained sure-footed through corners during heavy downpours. Capable of 187kph the Cactus proved flexible and stable, with a planted big car feel at up to 150kph on the Autobahn.
Built with a careful eye on keeping weight and cost low, the Cactus features torsion bar rear suspension and rear drum brakes, the latter of which is perfectly well-suited to its low 1070kg mass — starting from 965kg for petrol models. The Cactus’ low weight also helps it achieve very frugal 3.4l/100km combined cycle fuel efficiency and 90g/km CO2 emissions.
Nimble and agile though comfortably sprung, the Cactus may not be a corner carving hot hatch, but its handling is tidy and reassuring, while brakes bit hard. Set-up for comfort the Cactus’ light but long ratio steering requires 3.02 turns lock-to-lock, but delivers adequate feel and precision, while its 5-speed manual gearbox’s lever snicks easily through ratios when handled with a delicate yet swift movement.
Airy and comfortable
Airy and fashionably quirky inside, the Cactus features hard-wearing quality texture fabric upholstery and a cosy, comfortable driving position, while automatic gearbox versions even receive spacious independently adjustable two-seat sofa-like pseudo-bench front seating. Innovative touches include a roof-mounted front passenger airbag to enable a lower dashboard with better visibility and more space, and a highly effective wiper blade design, directly spraying the windscreen.
Spacious inside with good door access, the Cactus’ offers good rear legroom and decent headroom, which is better without the panoramic sunroof. Though the tailgate lip is higher than ideal, boot space is decent and usefully uniform. For cost cutting and weight saving, the rev counter is omitted and, coupe-like pop-out rather than wind-down windows and a one piece — rather than split — folding rear bench are used.
With comfortable seating and good visibility, the Cactus’ high-set dashboard is designed to be uncomplicated, user-friendly and space saving, while the instrument panel features a digital display. Fitted with standard amenities like electric windows, stability controls, three-point centre seatbelt and Isofix childseat latches, the Cactus can also be optioned with a more advanced tablet-style infotainment system, and park assistance, sensors and reversing camera for tight urban confines.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 1.6-litre, turbodiesel, transverse 4 cylinders
Bore x stroke: 75 x 88.3mm
Valve-train: 16-valve, DOHC, common-rail injection
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 98 (99) [73] @3750rpm
Specific power: 62.8BHP/litre
Power-to-weight: 91.5BHP/tonne
Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 187 (254) @1750rpm
Specific torque: 162.8Nm/litre
Torque-to-weight: 237.3Nm/tonne
0-100km/h: 10.7 seconds
0-1000-metres: 32.4 seconds
Maximum speed: 184km/h
Fuelconsumption, urban/extra-urban/combined: 4-/3.1-/3.4-litres/100km
CO2 emissions, combined: 90g/km
Fuel tank: 45 litres
Length: 4157mm
Width: 1729mm
Height: 1530mm
Wheelbase: 2595mm
Track: 1477mm
Overhang, F/R: 827/735mm
Boot capacity, min/max: 358-/1170 litres
Cabin width, F/R: 1420/1392mm
Kerb weight: 1070kg
Suspension, F/R: MacPherson struts/torsion bar
Turning circle: 10.9 metres
Lock-to-lock: 3.02 turns
Brakes, F/R: Ventilated discs/drums
Tyres, F/R: 205/55R16