Skip advert
Advertisement

Citroen C4 Cactus review - driver appeal of a different kind - Citroen C4 Cactus interior and tech

Not an 'evo' car in the traditional sense, the Cactus is nevertheless quite a likeable car

Evo rating
RRP
from £12,990
  • Interior design, comfort, light weight
  • Overly light steering, quirky styling may put off some

The cabin is possibly one of the C4 Cactus’s best features. For a car that starts at such a modest price it’s a thoroughly refreshing piece of design.

While there are some hard plastics dotted about (and in fairly prominent positions, such as the door cards), they’re offset by some pleasingly tactile surfaces, soft fabrics and some really neat details, such as the luggage-strap door handles and upper glovebox lid.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s a simple layout too, with most auxiliary functions handled by a central touchscreen system. This takes a little getting used-to and some unsteady prodding while on the move, but once you’ve lived with it for a week or so it’s simple enough to use and responds fairly quickly to inputs. Instruments are also digital, on a small panel in front of the driver. There’s no rev counter, which furthers the relaxing vibe. In all, there’s a sense of occasion in here that few other small crossovers get close to matching.

The major touch-points are all nice enough, though there’s a hint of long-arm/short-leg in the driving position that’d be solved if the steering column adjusted for reach as well as rake. The wide seats are much softer than most modern cars (more like an older Citroen in fact), which will suit some drivers and deter others – though they do lack side support if you’re driving enthusiastically.

Manual transmission models have a fairly conventional control layout but the automatic versions have a neat party trick, including an aircraft throttle-style low-mounted handbrake and dash-mounted gear selection buttons, both of which clear space for the front seat to become a bench. Very retro, though with no central seatbelt it doesn’t turn the Cactus into a six-seater car.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Are classic cars as good as we remember them?
Eras 80s
Opinion

Are classic cars as good as we remember them?

Looking back, were we viewing the ’80s and ’90s through rose-tinted glasses? Or were they in fact the definition of the thrill of driving?
16 Oct 2025
Were the 2000s and 2010s the performance car sweet spot?
Audi R8 and Lamborghini Murciélago
Opinion

Were the 2000s and 2010s the performance car sweet spot?

The 2000s saw an abundance of cheap finance and brilliant new performance cars, but were the 2010s actually even better?
20 Oct 2025
Maserati MCPura review – redemption for the MC20?
Maserati MCPura
Reviews

Maserati MCPura review – redemption for the MC20?

The Maserati MC20 took top honours at evo Car of the Year 2022, but since then it’s been overshadowed by McLaren and Ferrari’s latest and greatest. Ca…
17 Oct 2025