Road test: Citroën C4 Cactus

The first time you see Citroën’s new C4 Cactus you wonder why someone has glued plastic bath mats to it doors. Citroën calls them Airbump panels — contrasting plastic cladding containing air capsules to protect the car’s sides from life’s bumps and scrapes.

Inside the C4 Cactus there is trim that reminds you of luggage. Door grab handles and the top of the glove box feature straps and catches like on suitcases and the rear bench seat looks a bit like a sofa. Power comes from a three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine, or a 1.6-litre diesel, both of which are smooth, quiet and light.

There is nothing remotely sporty about the car but it is comfortable and rather chic. The auto version has no gearlever, just buttons to select drive, reverse and neutral, and the handbrake resembles an aircraft throttle. Gearchanges in the auto are jerky affairs and progress is much smoother in the manual version.

The 358-litre boot is vast and, by reducing weight and using smaller engines, Citroën claims running costs will be 20 per cent below most cars of this size, with fuel consumption of up to 91.1mpg and CO2 emissions from 82g/km.

Citroën C4 Cactus
PureTech 110 S&S manual
Top speed: 117mph;
MPG: 60.1;
Emissions: 105g/km;
Price: £15,790