Price £12,990
MPG 61.4
Top speed 103mph
I know what you’re thinking. “Why has that weird car got Lego stuck all over its doors?” Or: maybe it’s a rubber shower mat or chocolate? In fact it’s thermoplastic polyurethane filled with air capsules. It absorbs impacts, like tough bubblewrap. Citroën calls it Airbump technology. The stuff doesn’t dent and ding. You bash it, it protects your car and then pops right back out. It’s not to everyone’s taste. My wife thought a car with dents and scrapes all over it would still look better than the Citroën Cactus and, she wondered, what exactly is the difference between plastic that protects your car and a “bumper”? Fair point.
But for all those narrow-minded grumps, there will be many who’ll take this unusual car to their hipster hearts. So much modern motoring design follows the same tired, dull, play-it-safe template it’s a wonder that we don’t all doze off in traffic jams. Anyone trying something new should be applauded. And the Cactus is certainly something new.
Taking its starting point as the already likeable C4, Citroën polled its customers and found they wanted “more useful technology, reduced costs and more design”. And, lo, the Cactus is what they got. It’s techy, good value and it’s got Airbumps…
The focus for most of its clever tech is the fully digital touchscreen which sits on the dashboard like an iPad casually propped up on its side. Through this device you access all your music, navigation, parking, phone, photo and social needs. The next generation of cars is being designed for a generation of drivers who want to feel connected all the time, and in the Cactus you can browse apps, check out TripAdvisor and plan your next food and fuel stops while doing that other thing you do in cars… you know, drive.
With prices starting at under £13,000 for a comfortable five-seater with a decent boot and plenty of driver aids, the Cactus is certainly affordable. Factor in the incredible fuel efficiency offered by the latest-generation of low-revving Euro 6 engines and your bank account soon starts to relax. Spend a couple more grand on the range-topping 1.6 BlueHDi eco car and you’ll get an amazing 83.1 miles to the gallon.
There’s loads of other clever stuff, too. The panoramic sunroof, for instance, has advanced heat protection which keeps warmth in and UV rays out. It means there’s no need for a sun blind, which in turn gives you more headroom, and also does away with the price and weight of an electric motor to open and close it.
Then there’s the design. As well as those Airbumps, the car has a host of bold and dynamic flourishes. Inside, everything is conceived around straight edges and square shapes. The instrument panel is a block that looks like a 70s radio, its boxy retro numerals glowing in the dark. The front seats have sharp corners, while the back row is a single bench. Door handles are leather straps and the glove compartment has been replaced with a roomy top box with two horizontal straps, like a posh picnic hamper. It all feels very hip. Maybe it will inspire other manufacturers to be less boring in the future.
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166
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