Citroen C4 Cactus review

The Cactus is not a car you buy for the physical sensations associated with driving. There’s a choice of conventional four-cylinder diesel power, or a series of 1.2-litre petrol triples topping out at a heady 109bhp, and none offers face-straining performance – 9.3 seconds to 62mph and 117mph top end, even for the top model. The petrols are the ones to have – the off-beat thrum suiting the oddball styling and lacking the grunt to get you into any serious trouble.

Saying all that, it is kind of fun, though. The raised ride height offers no AWD option, but the car is so light – little more than a tonne – that it bounds around perfectly happily. The Cactus also rides well, corners perfectly satisfactorily and even though the control surfaces are a bit vague (especially the gearbox), it’s a happy little thing  - and absolutely everyone that sees it likes it. Its automotive Prozac – puts everyone in a slightly better mood.