The Citroën C4 Cactus is a French-made subcompact SUV/crossover family car that started its production back in 2014. The C4 Cactus is a relatively popular car because it resides in a fairly popular segment. Crossovers and SUVs have been on a steady rise lately and it does not seem like that is going to change anytime soon. So, Is Citroën C4 Cactus a good car?
Yes, the Citroën C4 Cactus is a good car if this is the type of car you are after. This means that the C4 Cactus is designed primarily for family use. It is a car that isn’t likely going to attract too much attention, but it will easily do everything you ask from it. It also gets sophisticated, efficient, and fairly reliable engines as well.
The design of the C4 Cactus is likely the most controversial aspect of the car as many deem it a bit too over-styled. The interior isn’t much better either, but it gets decent equipment at least. The driving experience is fairly characterless, but that is something that comes with the territory as all cars such as this one are the same.
Reliability is decent, yet there are some issues worth talking about in more detail. Practicality is also fairly good because the car sits four adults without any issues. Visibility is really good and the car gets a sizeable trunk space.
Citroën C4 Cactus – The powertrain
The Citroën C4 Cactus engine lineup kicks off with the 1.2L inline 3-cylinder engine with 110hp and 151lb-ft of torque. The next in line is the more powerful version of this engine which offers 130hp and 169lb-ft of torque. This is also the most popular gasoline engine with the C4 Cactus and also one of the very best ones.
The diesel lineup kicks off with the 1.5L 4-cylinder engine that pushes out 99hp and 184lb-ft of torque or 120hp/221lb-ft of torque for a more powerful version of that engine. However, if you like diesel engines, you should focus your attention on the range-topping 1.6L 4-cylinder engine 100hp with 187lb-ft of torque as this engine balances power and efficiency the best.
You can get the C4 Cactus with either a manual or an automatic gearbox depending on your personal preference. All versions are FWD and AWD is not an option. You can expect up to 65MPG with the 1.6L diesel or around 45MPG with the most efficient entry-level gasoline engine.
Citroën C4 Cactus – Design and chassis
The Citroën C4 Cactus is not exactly a beautiful car and everyone is aware of that. It just looks a bit too fussy and over-styled, especially when you take a look at those weird plastic parts fastened directly onto the car’s doors. The interior of the C4 Cactus isn’t much better either because it utilizes weird shapes and nothing seems coherent at all.
The driving experience is standard for this type of car which means that the car focuses on comfort and ease of use. The chassis is balanced okay-ish while the suspension system is able to tackle most road undulations really well. The car does roll a lot which means that high-speed cornering isn’t an option.
Citroën C4 Cactus – Reliability and common issues
Reliability-wise, the C4 Cactus is okay, but there are some issues worth talking about. For starters, the C4 suffers from various automatic transmission-related issues such as problems with the actuator or simply due to the transmission being lazy. Other issues include problems with the car’s electricals and other pieces of equipment such as the bumpers and hood latches.
Fuel leaks can be a potentially catastrophic problem which is why these need to be fixed asap if they occur. Diesel models sometimes suffer from DPF (diesel particulate filter) issues which can be sometimes repaired, but they can also need replacing.
Citroën C4 Cactus – Value and practicality
You can buy the Citroën C4 Cactus for a fairly affordable price on the 2nd hand market while new C4 Cactus models aren’t particularly expensive either, at least not like some other cars from this segment. This means that the C4 could be a good purchase if this is the type of car you need and you can swallow the car’s design language.
Practicality is really good because the car can easily sit up to five adults without any compromises with the trunk space. The car is easy to get in and out of and the overall visibility is really good too. There is enough space to fit a child seat into the C4 Cactus and the overall ease of use is one of the best things about this car.
FAQ Section
Is the Citroën C4 Cactus a luxury car?
The Citroën C4 Cactus is not a luxury car in the same way as the Citroën badge isn’t a luxury car badge. It is a car that does offer some luxury amenities that are designed to keep you safe, entertained, and comfortable, but these aren’t enough to make the car a true luxury car.
As such, you can think of the C4 Cactus as a more upmarket economy-level car because it dares to look a bit differently and because it gets high-end equipment in high-end trim levels.
Is the Citroën C4 an efficient car?
The Citroën C4 is a really efficient car, likely one of the most efficient cars in this segment. The reason why the C4 is so efficient is that it gets small displacement engines that were designed solely for efficiency’s sake.
This means that owning the C4 is really affordable as well because fuel, registration, and tax costs are all lower thanks to the car’s low Co2 and fuel expenditure.
Why did Citroën name the C4 “Cactus”?
The naming is directly tied to what Citroën was famous for in the past, and that is designing and making fun and interesting cars that stand out from the rest of the crown with cool design touches, bright details, and funky design elements. This made the C4 Cactus somewhat of a marmite as you either love it or hate it.
