PARIS – It even has the French staring at it. And for nation where très chic and funky are a staple diet, something has to be particularly “très” to stand out. Which is exactly what Citroën’s new C4 Cactus does.
So what is it?
A “crossover” would be the best description. It’s front-wheel drive, C-segment in size, and has some SUV styling cues. In this guise, it has a three-cylinder, 1,2-litre turbopetrol engine that produces 81 kW and 205 N.m of torque at 1 500 r/min. This is the engine the Cactus will be sporting at its SA launch in March 2015 and there will be two spec levels: the top spec Shine and the lesser specced Feel. Later, in June, a base model will join the range with a naturally aspirated 1,2-litre, three-cylinder engine.
Funky, non?
Oui. And then some. Using the platform as the DS3 platform, this compact crossover wears the funkiest set of clothes yet seen on our roads. Like its Picasso cousin, the Cactus has that step-up headlight arrangement with a futuristic LED strip sitting above a conventional headlamp. Its signature design, however, is that cladding on the side. Called “Air Bumps”, think of them as akin to a smartphone cover designed to protect the Cactus from the inevitable car park scuffle. Functionality aside, the cladding also adds a colour element to the exterior allowing one to mix-and-match a combo that represents your personal taste.
And inside?
More funkiness. What it may lack in upmarket finishings, it makes up in clever design touches. It has a simple but effective rectangular digital screen that gives you most of the driver info required (no revs though… at least I couldn’t work out how to bring it up on the display) and a sizey entertainment/nav touch screen on the centre consol that was simple enough to navigate around.
The front airbags deploy from the roof so there’s a large cubbyhole and I liked the leather strap and chrome-accented grab handles on the front doors. The cloth seats were nice and soft, and interior space was decent with good rear passenger knee and head room. The boot, while perhaps not quite pukka SUV size, took three medium-sized pieces of luggage and some backpacks without too much fuss.
How does it go then?
As they all do, the three-cylinder powerplant sounds a little gruff and diesel-like, but on the road it shows its sophistication. The small-capacity turbo punches above its weight and with three adults and accompanying luggage, it never laboured during our two-day tour though Flanders. I wouldn’t call it punchy but I didn’t find myself having – or even wanting – to work the gearbox too much to keep it on the boil. It’s one of these new gen. small-capacity engines that offers up adequate low-down torque throughout the gears.
The car’s light weight helps here too – at only 965 kg, it’s some 200 kg lighter than the C4 hatch which, incidentally, it replaces in our market.
Any downsides?
A couple, though they’re minor. The ride is appropriately soft, without being wobbly, but I did find there was insufficient damping tuned into the suspension set-up. Any small bumps or road imperfections transmitted too loud a noise and vibration through the cabin. And we certainly have enough road imperfections back home.
The other one was the gearbox. I liked the spacing of the five ratios and the positive engagement once you slotted it into the required gear, but it didn’t feel quite as direct and tight as I generally prefer manual transmissions to be. We’re not talking a porridge stirrer here, but I did experience a little more play than I’d want.
Pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet but this derivative will likely be around R290k, with the range starting at R225k. That will make vehicles likes the Nissan Juke, Renault Duster, Ford Ecosport, Suzuki SX4 and then soon-to-be-launched next gen. Kia Soul its obvious competitors.
