We'd like to take a moment and talk about forbidden fruit. It doesn't happen all that often these days, but there are cars in Europe that you can't get in the US. One of the brands that drive US automobile magazine readers crazy is Citroen. These fine French folks make some of the most original and interesting designs on the old continent and more recently, they've also decided to do a budget crossover.
No, we're not talking about a Nissan Pathfinder type of crossover. The Citroen C4 Cactus is smaller than a compact hatchback and yet has more style and presence than some supercars. The company knows most buyers will spend 90% of their time in the city and has re-engineered everything for that purpose. The bodywork is protected by a new system of rubber covers called "Air Bumps", which ensure no dings and scratches will occur on a hectic sunday morning shopping spree.
The C4 Cactus might look expensive, but it's designed to compete with the likes of Dacia's popular Duster. As such, many luxuries we take for granted have been stripped out. For example, the rear windows don't wind down and the bench hasn't got a 40/60 sprit, it just folds down as a single unit.
The interior of the Cactus is just as interesting as the outside. Thanks to this review made by the Germans at Autogefuhl, we know how Citroen was able to make a glovebox that opens at the top of the dash: the passenger airbag is now on the roof, not in the dash. Like the old C4, Citroen has opted to go all-digital and even ditched the conventional gear selector for three buttons placed on the dash.
Available engines include a three slightly different version of the 1.2-liter VTi available with a 5-speed manual, and a 1.6-liter diesel. Go for the 100 hp version and Citroen throws in the superior 6-speed manual. However, the 92 hp version is what we're looking at here, fitted with a 6-speed auto and supposedly capable of combined fuel consumption of 3.5 l/100km.
This kind of thinking marks the return to form for the same company that made the legendary DS, the Goddess. If you're considering buying a C4 Cactus, we definitely recommend watching this next video review. Competitors? Other French companies have some of the most popular, including the guys at Peugeot, who call theirs the 2008, while Renault's Captur also boast heeps of cool features and curb appeal. From Opel comes the Mokka, lauched over a year ago, it's got all the German soberness that some people might prefer.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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