Within a world of cookie-cutter city crossovers, you could possibly be forgiven for considering there had been no options around for free-thinking individuals. Well, you could possibly be forgiven, but you'd also be incorrect, since the Citroen C4 Cactus may be the fantastic antidote towards the dreary sameness you get from most economical vehicles. It really is a bit weird, however the Cactus allows you to celebrate economical motoring as opposed to forcing you to just endure it.
The navigation program on the Cactus is simple to utilize Every little thing from climate control for the navigation is controlled by means of the touchscreen Contemplating the horrendous website traffic we forced it to sit by way of, the Cactus was incredibly efficient The shift on the Cactus is not too terrible, but also won't go down as among ...
We're going to begin at the beginning here: the Cactus is not basically built on the identical platform because the C4, or the C4 Picasso for that matter. Alternatively, it shares its underpinnings together with the compact DS3. That's because this really is, 1st and foremost, a automobile for navigating choked city centers using a minimum of fuss.
With this goal in thoughts, Citroen has fitted the Cactus with a turbocharged 1.2-liter, three-cylinder petrol motor. Down a cylinder and 800cc in comparison to the Mazda CX-3's petrol motor, the 81 kW (109 hp) Cactus offers away 28 kW (38 hp) for the Japanese SUV, but counters with 205 Nm (151 lb.ft) in comparison with the CX-3's 192 Nm (142 lb.ft). In addition, it gets a leg up around the competition using a bubbly, effervescent character that tends to make it pleasure to hustle by means of site visitors.
Thanks in element to its wholesome torque figure, the small Citroen in no way definitely feels underpowered, though there is certainly a little of turbo lag when you uncover yourself within the incorrect gear. Some scribes treat turbo lag just like the devil and, to a particular extent, it can kill your knowledge of an exotic that demands razor sharp throttle response and a howling exhaust note.
But inside a tiny car just like the Cactus, the wait provides strategy to a enjoyable small rush. Chalk it down character, or perhaps I'm just a child, but waiting for the C4's engine to come on enhance in no way seemed like as well much of a hardship when the turbo kicked in.
Though there is a robotized-manual readily available on diesel Cactuses (or is it Cacti?), petrol vehicles come exclusively using a five-speed manual. We've no problem with shuffling the shifter ourselves but manuals are an increasingly rare breed, so this may be observed as a slight industrial oversight on Citroen's part.
It's largely unobtrusive, but the C4's manual shifter will not go down as certainly one of the greats, because of a loooong throw and slightly rubbery really feel that brought on several missed shifts. You'd get utilised to it, but such a perky small engine deserves a superior shift to back it up. It really is also worth bearing in mind how tightly spaced the pedals are. Once once more, it really is not a deal breaker, however the tight clutch and brake layout is greater suited to dainty pointe footwear than clumsy workboots.
Engine aside, the other factor providing the Cactus its perky feeling is weight, or lack thereof. A Mazda CX-3 weighs 1226 kg (2703 lb), a Nissan Juke guidelines the scales at 1334 kg (2941 lb) and also the Chevrolet Trax recommendations the scales at a positively portly 1371 kg (3023 lb). The Cactus, however, is actually a featherweight at just 1020 kg (2249 lb).
This lightness is manifest everywhere you appear within the cabin. You sit behind an oblong speedo display, using a huge digital readout that could've been nicked out of your higher school calculator, and you'll find no buttons anywhere around the dashboard. Alternatively, the seven-inch touchscreen looks just after climate handle, navigation and infotainment. It shares its standard hardware using the system within the Peugeot 308, while you'll find some minor style differences between the two.
Bluetooth worked seamlessly, choosing up my iPhone within seconds of turning the essential, and calls came by means of perfectly each and every time. The only actual quibble together with the infotainment program was the time it took to boot up, particularly when you started the car and place it straight into reverse. Although we'd never (ahem) depend on tech like a reversing camera to maintain us from an accident, obtaining a clear feed of what's happening behind you is reassuring when you happen to be backing up a vehicle with C and D pillars capable of hiding a road train.
Citroen hasn't just done away with unnecessary buttons and knobs, it's subbed traditional door grabs for leather straps and dropped rear window winders in favor of pop-out items, a'la the VW Up. There's some thing refreshing regarding the cabin's minimalism, and although it's stripped back the Cactus' interior doesn't feel overly low-cost. Unique mention will have to go to the seats, which trade faux-sportiness for soft, welcoming support, like a warm hug from that fat aunty you only get to view when a year.
There are actually still a handful of ergonomic oddities lurking inside the Cactus' cabin. For one particular, the steering column does not adjust for attain, forcing taller drivers to slay their legs awkwardly around the wheel. Alternatively, you can raise the wheel to the top rated of its rake adjustment and drive about with knuckles brushing the ceiling, but neither choice is excellent thinking about the issue may very well be solved with 1 swoop of an accountant's pen.
My only other complaint concerning the cabin will be the armrest, that is unfit for use by everyone with arms. It's mounted high to leave space for the gearstick and handbrake, but in addition actively gets inside the way anytime you try and adjust gear. Lifting it up is one resolution, but then you definitely run the threat of whacking your elbow on it as you row the loooong throw shifter in between first and second gear.
Okay, in order that second point is special to people with gangly arms and pointy elbows, but the truth French vehicles usually look to possess some sort of ergonomic quirk or concern is annoying considering the Germans, Brits, Americans, as well as Australians have already been receiving it right for many years.
These complaints aside, the interior on the Cactus is logically laid out. There is also plenty of space for, nicely, all the items we bring with us in the car. By performing away with normal climate controls, Citroen has freed up an iPhone-sized space below the touchscreen, and also the lack of a large center console jutting out means there is area for any wallet and coffee beneath that phone-sized spot.
Each the driver and passenger get large storage bins in their doors, along with the glovebox is massive due to the fact the airbag has been moved for the roof. Meanwhile the deep boot offers up 358 liters of space, while that will be expanded to over 1,000 liters using the rear seats folded.
Speaking of rear seats, there is actually an acceptable quantity of legroom back there, although headroom is really a bit restricted if you are trying to transport long-limbed teenagers. The long-limbed teenager we used to test rear legroom did complain in regards to the pop-out windows, but it really is worth remembering he's 17 in addition to a bit of a whinger.
Thankfully, you will find a lot more advantages to defying convention than just a larger glovebox. Citroen has created this a bit of a habit over the years, as well as the Cactus is yet one more example of special french design solving troubles. The problem? Door dings and bumper scrapes, the kind you pick up in railway carparks and buying centers.
The resolution? Air bumps. That what these black panels scattered about the outside from the car or truck are known as. Made of a resilient rubber material, they're designed to repel just about something the city can throw at them by being way additional absorbent and much less prone to scratching than metal or plastic. They are also why Citroen chose the Cactus name: just just like the plant, the car can defend itself against the outside world. Clever, huh?
One side impact of your selection to cover the outside on the little C4 in decidedly non-spiky panels is its, er, exceptional appear. Regardless of whether you just like the look will, extra than likely, be the deciding factor in regardless of whether you acquire one particular or not. With that said, we required all week to perform out no matter whether we actually liked the exterior design and style or not, and settled on a resounding largely as the answer.
From particular spots the automobile appears seriously cool, but you'll find some awkward angles there. Then once again, that appears like a compact cost to spend for unbeatable self-confidence come time for you to leave it in a carpark. We threw anything from a trolley to Loz's heavy-hitting suitable hook in the air bumps, and they came up looking pristine. If that is not evidence of functional style, we never know what exactly is.
Sufficient in regards to the practical stuff though, how does it drive? Properly, the soft feeling you get from the seats is completely in tune using the suspension, which favours a loping, languid ride more than quick responses and tight body handle. Besides the odd crashy moment more than specifically vicious speed bumps, the automobile does an exceptional job at isolating you from bumps and potholes, even when the tradeoff is a bit of physique roll when you toss it into a corner.
Then once again, to toss the Cactus into corners is always to miss the point, by an absolute mile. No, the tiny Citroen does its ideal perform driven at half speed, exactly where it is possible to make the most of its effortless steering and peppy engine, the rewards of which become clear in the bowser.
Frequently you will struggle to acquire close to claimed fuel economy figures, but in the worst possible conditions - horrendous, bumper-to-bumper targeted traffic - I saw 7l/100 km (40 UK mpg), which is reasonably close towards the claimed 4.eight l/100 km (59 mpg). Okay, so it really is virtually fifty % much more than the claimed figure, we've noticed fuel use figures blow out by much more than that in start/stop situations.
With this parsimonious attitude to petrol, perky small engine and funky styling, would I purchase a Cactus? It's a no, but that is not the Citroen's fault. That is among those "it's not you, it's me" scenarios, exactly where the vehicle isn't the issue. The Cactus is actually a definitely likeable tiny automobile, and its charms will appeal to an extremely certain form of free-thinker.
I'm not that absolutely free thinker, but if you're content material to slow down and enjoy the C4 Cactus for its comfy ride, peppy engine and totally exclusive exterior, then it will make you quite, extremely delighted. Meanwhile, I'll be off scuffing dents out of the door on my boring, standard Subaru since some idiot smashed their trolley into it.
Pricing begins at $26,990 (US$20,150) in Australia, when UK buyers will have to fork out at the least £12,900 (US$18,700). Regrettably, these inside the US can't get their hands on a Cactus - unless they're prepared to swing by the regional nursery, of course
