Citroën C4 Cactus pure tech THP 110 Shine

There are a few things you can call this car, but middle of the road and safe are not among those. It is French, after all, and therefore built by a nation that not only marches to the beat of its own drum, but looks down its nose at the rest of us while doing so.

The French invented the term “avant-garde” and it’s one that not only describes their love of impenetrably odd artforms but, occasionally, their approach to automobile design too. the Bugatti Type 32, Citroën DS, Panhard Dyna Z, Matra Murena and Renault Avantime were all cars that pooh-poohed convention and went (way) out on a limb. And out on that same branch we find the Citroën C4 Cactus.

But what is it exactly? Citroën calls it a crosshatch. It is C-segment in size, front wheel driven all standard hatchback criteria but has a slightly higher ride height, roof rails and cladding that nod toward SUV-dom. the big difference, of course, is that, unlike other hatches that have received the SUV once-over (think VW Cross Polo and Volvo V40 Cross Country), the Cactus has been designed like this from scratch.

It is 4,16 metres long and has a wheelbase of 2,60 metres the same dimensions as the C4 hatch, which the Cactus will replace in the SA market and is based on the Citroën DS3 platform; although, with the Cactus, Citroën’s designers have created one of the boldest body shells driving the roads. Like the DS3, it has a sharkfin C-pillar and “floating” roof. Like its C4 Picasso cousin, the Cactus has a step-up headlamp arrangement with futuristic LED strips sitting above conventional headlamps. the latter include static cornering lights that provide an extra beam to light up the inside of bends for better visibility.

Its signature design, however, is that thermoplastic polyurethane cladding on the side. Called AirBumps® (yes, Citroën trademarked the name), think of them as akin to smartphone covers that are designed to protect the Cactus from the inevitable car-park scuffles. Functionality aside, the cladding also adds a colour element to the exterior, allowing you to mix and match a combo that represents your personal taste.

Is it the same vibe inside, then? Not quite. Whereas the exterior is quirky, the Cactus’s interior aims for interesting and chic. What it may lack in upmarket finishings, it makes up in clever design touches. Front airbags deploy from the roof, freeing up space for a large 8,5-litre cubbyhole designed to look like a piece of luggage with integrated leather straps and clips. this theme is echoed in the front doors’ leather strap and chrome accented grab handles.

Our car had a tinted panoramic roof that has no inner blind. Citroën claims its special tint keeps the heat and UV rays out and it seems to work. We were blessed with sunshine throughout the trip and not once did I feel like the cabin was becoming uncomfortably bright or hot.

In the driver’s seat, a simple but effective rectangular digital screen behind the wheel gives you most of the info required (no revs, though, which is odd) and there's a generous seven inch touchscreen on the centre console that’s simple enough to navigate. This Touch Drive interface, as Citroën calls it, is standard across the range and provides access to the car’s various controls. The downside of this is that you have to dive in and out of various menus to access the controls you need, but the system is very intuitive.

The cloth seats are comfy and soft, and interior space is decent thanks to good rear passenger knee and headroom. The 358 dm'3 (claimed) boot, while perhaps not quite pukka-SUV size, took three medium-sized pieces of luggage and some backpacks without too much fuss.

The derivative we drove from Brussels through Flanders is the one that Citroën will initially launch in SA. The three-cylinder, 1,2-litre turbo petrol engine produces 81 kW and 205 N.m of torque at 1 500 r/min and there are two spec levels: entry-level Feel and Shine. The latter boasts 16-inch alloys, electric and heated mirrors, sat nav, park assist, a reverse camera, hill hold and climate control. In June 2015, a base model will join the range with a naturally aspirated 1,2-litre, three cylinder engine.

As they all do, the three cylinder power plant sounds a little gruff and diesel-like, but once moving it quietens down. It also punches above its weight and, with three adults and accompany ing luggage, it never laboured during our two day tour. I wouldn't call it punchy, but I didn't find myself having or even wanting to work the gearbox too much to keep it on the boil. The car’s light weight helps here, too at only 965 kg, it’s some 200 kg lighter than the C4 hatch.

But the Cactus isn't without niggles. The ride is appropriately soft, without being wobbly, but I did find there is insufficient damping. Small bumps or road imperfections transmit too loud a noise and vibration to the cabin.

The other drawback is the gearbox. The car will be available only with a five-speed manual and, while I liked the spacing of the ratios, the ‘box didn't feel quite as direct and tight as I generally prefer manual transmissions to be.

Citroën will target both the C-segment hatch market as well as compact SUV crossovers. That will make vehicles like the VW Golf, Ford Focus and the Peugeot 308, as well as the Nissan Juke, Renault Duster, Ford EcoSport, Suzuki SX4 and soon to be launched Kia Soul its obvious competitors.