If Citroen's latest crossover isn't a candid showcase of the marque's design flair, out-of-box thinking and individualistic approach to carmaking, we don't know what it is.
At a time when its 'breed' is the 'talk of the town', the crossover arrives with an even edgier and attention-grabbing nameplate - C4 Cactus.
But with the Nissan Juke arriving way back in 2011, and competitors such as the Peugeot 2008 and the Renault Captur entering the scene last year, the Cactus may have arrived slightly late for the 'party'.Exterior
As if to make up for its late appearance, the Cactus has a unique styling that will easily make it stand out. Arguably, it is also the most eye-catching among its aforementioned rivals.
At a time when its 'breed' is the 'talk of the town', the crossover arrives with an even edgier and attention-grabbing nameplate - C4 Cactus.
But with the Nissan Juke arriving way back in 2011, and competitors such as the Peugeot 2008 and the Renault Captur entering the scene last year, the Cactus may have arrived slightly late for the 'party'.Exterior
As if to make up for its late appearance, the Cactus has a unique styling that will easily make it stand out. Arguably, it is also the most eye-catching among its aforementioned rivals.
With its rugged looks and futuristic design, we will not be exaggerating if we say the Cactus looks fit for a scene in Starship Troopers or even the latest sequel to Jurassic Park.
Part credit has to go to the 'bumps' located around the body. While short of withstanding bullets or dinosaur bites, they (what Citroen calls Airbumps) protect the bodywork against dents and dings by 'rebouncing' upon impact. You can think of it as a layer of bubble wrap around the body.
Part credit has to go to the 'bumps' located around the body. While short of withstanding bullets or dinosaur bites, they (what Citroen calls Airbumps) protect the bodywork against dents and dings by 'rebouncing' upon impact. You can think of it as a layer of bubble wrap around the body.
Interior
While the design (and the nameplate) may seem introverted to a certain extent, the Cactus' cabin is, on the contrary, largely welcoming.
There are lounge-styled bench seats for both front and rear passengers, which immediately give the cabin a warm and 'homely' feel. Rear passengers also get adequate legroom, thanks to its relatively long wheelbase of 2,595mm (equivalent to the larger C4 hatchback).
The Cactus also has other 'tricks' to free up space. For instance, the front passenger's airbag has been relocated to the ceiling to allow for a bigger glove compartment.
While the design (and the nameplate) may seem introverted to a certain extent, the Cactus' cabin is, on the contrary, largely welcoming.
There are lounge-styled bench seats for both front and rear passengers, which immediately give the cabin a warm and 'homely' feel. Rear passengers also get adequate legroom, thanks to its relatively long wheelbase of 2,595mm (equivalent to the larger C4 hatchback).
The Cactus also has other 'tricks' to free up space. For instance, the front passenger's airbag has been relocated to the ceiling to allow for a bigger glove compartment.
What's also pleasing is that the infotainment and climate control are now embedded in the centre touchscreen display, which means there are less buttons to fiddle with. Likewise, the driver's control panel has also turned digital with a LCD display replacing conventional dials. This makes it easier to read on the go.
The cabin, however, is not without demerits. The one-piece rear lounge seat means there's no 60:40 split folding. As such, you'll need to sacrifice seating capacity for boot space if there's a need to ferry larger items. Another slight qualm we have is with the rear windows, which cannot be wound down.
The cabin, however, is not without demerits. The one-piece rear lounge seat means there's no 60:40 split folding. As such, you'll need to sacrifice seating capacity for boot space if there's a need to ferry larger items. Another slight qualm we have is with the rear windows, which cannot be wound down.
The Drive
With a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated unit, it is quite obvious that the Cactus isn't made for 'enthusiastic' driving. But thanks to its 975kg lightweight, the 81bhp and 118Nm of torque are adequate for city driving.
In fact, the drive can hardly be described as lethargic, as the three-cylinder unit feels responsive and ever-ready to give its all.
That, however, cannot be said for the Cactus' five-speed automated manual gearbox. Indecisive at times, it will take some practice before you can work it smoothly.
Alternatively, you can choose to override the automatic shifting via the paddle shifters. These will also come in handy when you need to get to speed more quickly, such as during overtaking.
Thanks to its petite dimensions, the Cactus feels nimble at the helm, which makes it effortless to drive in city traffic and in challenging, tight-spaced car parks.
It is also enjoyable when driven in a more leisurely manner on the highway, in the comfort of its soft lounge seats, which soaks up bumps and undulations on the roads with ease.
Conclusion
The Cactus is probably one of the most characterful cars in town. For all that, those hungry for more performance will be disappointed as this 1.2-litre naturally aspirated variant is the only one we are getting at the moment (there's a turbocharged version with 108 horses available abroad).
But for the rest who are not in a hurry to go anywhere, we reckon they will appreciate the Cactus' stylish, yet casual and light-hearted charm.
Conclusion
The Cactus is probably one of the most characterful cars in town. For all that, those hungry for more performance will be disappointed as this 1.2-litre naturally aspirated variant is the only one we are getting at the moment (there's a turbocharged version with 108 horses available abroad).
But for the rest who are not in a hurry to go anywhere, we reckon they will appreciate the Cactus' stylish, yet casual and light-hearted charm.
