Citroen Cactus – on sale now

The stylish new Citroen C4 Cactus has gone on sale today, priced from £12,990. The Cactus’ simple design allows Citroen to keep weight down for excellent fuel economy, low emissions figures and sprightly performance. Despite being smaller than the Volkswagen Golf, the Cactus offers a similar amount of interior space.

Take a look at our full road test of the Citroen C4 Cactus, or keep reading for everything you need to know about the new crossover hatchback-SUV.

Citroen C4 Cactus styling & design

With its raised suspension and boxy styling, the Cactus has a crossover-style design, although Citroen calls it a ‘crosshatch’. Unlike some crossovers, the Cactus has no aspirations to go off-road and isn’t available with four-wheel drive. The car features a raised ride height, wheelarch protection and the model’s unique Airbump plastic mouldings for added protection. The blacked-out top of the rear pillar (which holds the rear windscreen) gives the appearance that the roof is floating, while at the front there are LED daytime running lights and distinctive headlights that integrate into the bumper.

The Cactus is available in 10 body colours, including eye-catching Hello Yellow and classy Pearl White. The Airbump side mouldings can be specced in Stone Grey, Dune and Chocolate, depending on which body colour you go for. The standard black door mirrors and inserts above the back wheels can also be specified in red and white.

There are five choices of interior upholstery – velour, cloth and leather – to choose from, plus three colour options for the interior plastics including Stone Grey, Purple Highlight and Habana Highlight.

The classy interior includes door handles inspired by leather luggage straps and a lidded Top-Box dashboard storage compartment. The large panoramic sunroof features a protective coating that filters out UV light and reflects heat, to negate the need for a blind and make a 6kg weight saving. The car does without winding rear windows (they pop out instead) for the same reason. Combine that weight-saving with the extensive use of lightweight materials (such as aluminium for the bonnet) and the result is that the car weighs just 965kg - thats 535kg lighter than the Citroen C3, despite the Cactus feeling bigger inside.

Citroen C4 Cactus price and release date

The new Citroen C4 Cactus is on sale now. There are three trim levels; Touch, Feel and Flair, and five engines to choose from – with prices ranging from £12,990 for the basic petrol model, to £18,190 for the range-topping diesel.

Citroen is also planning to offer a bundle payment scheme, which means insurance and finance will be combined into one simple payment. That means customers will pay a rate that is relative to their mileage.

Citroen C4 Cactus specs

Entry-level Citroen C4 Cactus Touch models are fitted with a 7-inch touchscreen display, steering wheel controls for the stereo and electric front windows. DAB radio, USB connectivity and a gear change indicator are also included, while outside all models get the innovative ‘Airbump’ body panels, LED daytime running lights and remote central locking. Prices start at £12,990 for the 74bhp PureTech petrol engine, and rise to £15,390 for the 99bhp BlueHDi diesel. No Touch models are available with an automatic gearbox.

Upgrade to the mid-spec Citroen C4 Cactus Feel model, and you’ll add body coloured door mirrors, gloss black door mirrors and roof bars and a leather steering wheel. You’ll also benefit from Bluetooth phone connectivity, sofa-style front seats and all-important air-conditioning. Prices for the Feel models start at £14,590 for the 81bhp petrol engine (the 74bhp version isn’t available), rising to £16,790 for the e-HDi diesel model with an automatic gearbox.

However, if you like your toys and want a long list of standard equipment, then the top-spec Citroen C4 Cactus Flair models are your best bet. These models start from £15,990 for the 81bhp petrol, and include equipment like sat-nav, a hi-fi upgrade, a rear parking camera and automatic lights and wipers. Not only that, they also add LED mood lighting for the interior, front fog lights and a front armrest with storage compartment. A range of petrol and diesel engines are available, with the range-topping e-HDi diesel costing £18,190 with the automatic gearbox.

Citroen C4 Cactus engines

To make the most of the weight-saving efforts, the Citroen Cactus will get a range of five economical engines from launch. The most frugal of which will be a 99bhp, BlueHDi 1.6-litre diesel that will be capable of a scarcely believable emit just 87g/km. Citroen will offer another e-HDi 1.6-diesel, which produces 91bhp and emits 92g/km of CO2 – though this one will only be available with an automatic gearbox. Both diesels are compliant with tough new emissions regulations that come into force next year.

The Citroen Cactus can also be had with a trio of small petrol engines, with 74bhp, 81bhp and 109bhp. Both the lower-powered engines emit 105g/km of CO2, while the range-topping petrol increases slightly to 107g/km.

Citroen C4 Cactus interior

The Cactus is actually shorter than a Volkswagen Golf, but boasts a 358-litre boot (a Golf has 380 litres) and decent rear legroom. Lots of glass give the interior an airy feel, and the Cactus feels more spacious inside than models that match its size.

A pair of digital displays, which replace the conventional dials, will dominate the Citroen Cactus’ interior. The car also gets a centrally-mounted, seven-inch touchscreen that will be used to control things like the car's ventilation system, stereo, and optional sat-nav. Locating the car's controls in the touchscreen also means the cabin can be less cluttered, and the touchscreen will be compatible with various downloadable apps, too.

Cars fitted with Citroen's automatic gearbox will also free up space by using a button selector rather than a conventional gearstick, while the passenger airbag is located in the roof, which means the dashboard can be placed lower in the cabin. Cactus customers will be able to spec the car with a full-length glass sunroof and it will use clever tints – as seen on expensive sunglasses – to block UV rays and counter the need for a heavy blind.

For more information on the current Citroen range, visit the Carbuyer Citroen reviews page.