Citroen C4 Cactus
This is the Citroen C4 Cactus and as you can see from the pictures it’s a hatchback that’s trying to be that little bit different. This is evident in the clever air-bumps on the side panels which help protect the car from little bangs and scrapes. The stylish design of this car really helps it to stand out and the price is really reasonable too at around £12k.
On the inside the car is just as cool as it is on the outside. There are some really neat design touches such as strap effects throughout the cabin which is designed to mimic luxury luggage. You can get the dash in three different colours and the upholstery in ten different colours so you can really customise your ride. The only problem is that some of the materials used throughout are rather cheap looking and feel cheap too. This cheapness is also felt in the seats where they feel as though they have been filled with some sort of washing sponge type material. However, you can forgive the car for this due to its affordability. Although the Cactus is cheap to buy you should really try and avoid the entry level model. That’s because it has next to no kit or features on it so you don’t get things like air conditioning. It’s called the “Touch” model and to be honest we wouldn’t “touch” it, do you see what we did there? You don’t want to get the range topping model either, known as the “Flair” because suddenly the car isn’t such good value. What you want then is the mid spec “Feel” model because it has features such as USB connectivity, Bluetooth and air conditioning.
All cars get a large infotainment screen as standard which is nice and although it looks rather good it’s not the easiest to use. With regards to practicality the C4 really does excel. There are a plethora of large and small cubby spaces so you can fit all types of knick-knacks.
The practicality extends to the back as well with large door bins and other nice storage areas. The back seats themselves are ok. There’s certainly enough knee room for the average sized adult but the head room is a little bit on the small side. You can fit three adults along the back seats as it forms more of a bench rather than individual seating. Unfortunately, there’s no arm rests and it’s all rather basic.
As for the boot the outright capacity is a little bit less than average when you compare it to other cars such as the Renault Megane or the Peugeot 308 but it’s certainly large enough for a car in this class. The main problem with it is its lack of flexibility. For example, there’s no false floor and there’s a huge lip to lift your luggage over. In addition to this the rear seat is benched so when you fold them down they’re not split which could prove to be very frustrating. What’s also frustrating is the large ridge that the folded seats leaves so you can’t slide your things towards the front. Unfortunately, all of these things make this car slightly less practical than it could and should be.
So, the Citroen C4 Cactus is a cool looking car but is it any good to drive? Well, the answer to that is yes and no. C4’s are all very economical so every Cactus will do over 60 miles to the gallon and you can even get a diesel which will do over 90 miles. The 1.6 litre diesel will probably be the popular choice amongst consumers but the problem with the engine is that if you rev it then it makes quite a bit of a noise which is a shame because otherwise this car is actually pretty quiet. If you’re looking at buying a Cactus and you mainly do town driving then we suggest you get one of the 1.2 litre turbo petrol models because they’re both nippy and reasonably economical.
A lot of people will enjoy driving the Cactus because you drive a little bit higher than in normal hatchback cars. What this does is give the driver a great view forward but unfortunately this view is obstructed by two large pillars which create a little bit of a blind spot. It’s the same story for the pillars at the rear of the car.
Although this car has a spiky name the ride is anything but. Citroen have done a really good job with the suspension so the ride is really nice and soft and deals well with bumps and pot holes in the road. However, there is a trade-off for all of this comfy suspension and this is that when you do drive over bumps at speed the car does feel a little bit floaty. Also, when you try and push the car into a corner you’ll find that the car runs wide and rolls about quite a bit. This steering is a little bit vague and the gearshift is a little loose and baggy which makes it feel as though the car has done 300k miles as opposed to 30. The brakes on the other hand are hyper sensitive where if you just brush the pedal with your foot you’ll find your head heading for the windscreen!
The Citroen C4 Cactus does have a few annoying traits and here are a few of them:
1. The rear windows don’t wind down they just pop out so your kids will feel as though they are in a glass prison.
2. You can’t get lumbar supports for the front seats so if you’ve got a bad back you may want to bring a cushion.
3. If you want to alter the temperature you can’t just turn on a knob, you have to press a button on the screen and then do it.
4. The car doesn’t have a rev counter so you have no idea when to stop.
5. The arm rest makes it very difficult to get at the handbrake.
The Cactus does have some cool features too including:
1. The glass roof has an anti-glare and heat reflective coating so you don’t have to have a physical blind.
2. The washer jets are built into the windscreen wipers for a more efficient clean.
3. The passenger air bag is actually situated in the roof which means that there is more room in the glove box.
4. The entry level car weighs less than a ton.
5. The day time running lights (DRLs) are actually above the headlight cluster which gives the impression of an eyebrow above the eye.
Overall, what can we say about the Citroen C4 Cactus? Well, the infotainment system is a little bit fiddly and it’s only got pop-out rear windows. However, the Cactus really is a unique car and really comfortable to travel in. Find your perfect Citroen C4 Cactus with DesperateSeller.co.uk today!
