Much like a cat sitting at the back door, Citroën has been in and out of the South African market more times than we care to count. The relaunch of the Peugeot and Citroën brands took place last year (Citroën is owned by PSA/Stellantis group of which Peugeot is a majority stakeholder) and we are assured that their presence is one that will be felt in the years to come. When they left in 2017, they took with it the first generation Citroën Cactus. You will find similar tech in their current C3 and C5 offerings but the original C4 Cactus has been relegated to the used car market.
Attractive pricing after initial depreciation makes the Citroën C4 Cactus an attractive alternative to the likes of the Renault Duster and Captur. Here's what you need to look out for when taking one for a test drive.
Related: Citroen C4 Cactus - Video Review
1. Airbump technology
This was a ground-breaking innovation from Citroën and one that paid off - it's been replicated by several other manufacturers since. This thermoplastic polyurethane panel is filled with raised pockets of air that protect the side of the vehicle from minor bumps and abrasions. It can withstand an impact of up to 4 km/h and will protect the doors from shopping trolleys, other vehicles doors, and more.
2. Infotainment system
All models in the C4 Cactus range come fitted with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the system pre-dates the integration of smartphone mirroring, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it still allows for audio streaming via Bluetooth. This system is relatively easy to use but note that the climate control is also controlled via this unit. Familiarise yourself with it and check to see how your phone connects on your test drive.
3. Cabin layout
Citroën placed a lot of emphasis on making the C4 Cactus light and spacious. In order to achieve this, they had to rethink the interior design. To give the front passenger a generous amount of space, they relocated the passenger airbag to the roof lining. As a result, you do get additional legroom but this decreases the headroom. Make sure that getting in and out is not an issue if you're slightly taller.
Make sure that you can get a decent driving position. Don't rush the setup of the car, the Cactus has a strange driving position and the steering wheel doesn't extend far enough for many. Check that this will not be an issue for you.
4. Engine
Citroën made the C4 Cactus available with a choice of two engines and two trims. The Feel model was made available with a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder PureTech engine that produces 60 kW and 118 Nm. The Feel model also got a more powerful 1.2-litre, turbocharged 3-cylinder, the PureTech e-THP unit, that makes 81 kW and 205 Nm.
The naturally aspirated engine in the 60 kW Feel model was lamented for being a little underpowered at higher altitudes, such as you'd find at the reef. The 1.2 turbo was better in this regard. The turbo engine does struggle a little in the lower RPM and the turbo boost comes in fairly strong. Watch out for this when taking it for a drive.
5. Rear windows
Remember how we said that Citroën was trying to save weight? While weight saving is good for fuel economy, some sacrifices need to be made. One of these sacrifices was the removal of wind-down windows in the rear. The removal of this mechanism saves a ton of weight but means that the rear windows are rather fixed in their position. To allows for airflow in the cabin, Citroën made the windows swing open just a fraction with latches holding it in place. This isn't the end of the world and is actually safer for young children.
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