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Probably the birth of the Cactus at an advanced time is to look for the third bottle of wine and somewhere in a nice bar in Paris. Presumably sat there three French, eternally long standing at Citroën in baguette and red wine, philosophized about the duck, the goddess, about the avant-garde and the completely uncomplicated realization of simple cars. Like in old times. Maybe even before 1975, before being swallowed by the competitor Peugeot and integrated into the new PSA group. From then on, Peugeot and Citroën jointly developed their cars. And because not everything was bad in the old days, they wanted to put something like that on their bikes again. Like then. Before you developed everything together. Simple. Likeable. Cheap. Different. Just a little bit like the duck back then.
French weeks - part 2
In the driving report:
Citroën 4 Cactus BlueHDI 100
Because sometimes it's better: With the C4 Cactus has Citroën proved how easy it can be. Presumably the idea is too sympathetic to be true, but the thought would be nice: three Frenchmen, one from marketing, one from development and one from sales. A quiet evening in a Paris pub and after countless bottles of red wine is a fixed idea at the end of the Cactus.
With the eyes of these three motorists I want to look at the test car C4 Cactus. In just 14 days, he showed me how easy a good car can be.
The Cactus from the point of view of marketing
He looks different. And he's big. Although the C4 Cactus takes over many assemblies from the smaller Citroen C3 / DS3, as a crossover it fits exactly into the trendy segment of compact SUVs. In his case, the term crossover is better. Nevertheless, the ground clearance seems astonishingly increased and one of the cool ideas of the C4 Cactus, the airbumps, would also go well with real off-roaders.
With a total length of 4.16 m and a wheelbase of 2.60 m, the C4 Cactus hits right at the heart of the C segment, the so-called golf class. With the range of engines from 75 hp to 110 hp, it is clearly one of the “sensible solutions”.
Being different will be rewarded
The C4 Cactus is finally back a Citroën, which surprises not only foreign brand drivers, but also those who have already gained experience with Citroën in recent years. The interior is almost frivolous for this vehicle class. The wide seats create a forgotten sense of comfort and freedom. In times of pseudo-athletic stools, the C4 Cactus is a comfortable boon.
The interior was pleasantly minimized. A simple digital speedometer and a multimedia unit that can do without unnecessary buttons. This directs the focus on the small loveable details in the interior. For example, the front passenger airbag was packed in the headliner, creating a passenger for the passenger large glove box, its opening upwards instead of going down. Loving decors and the impression that the glove compartment is closed by a leather belt round off the sense of wellbeing. The C4 Cactus holds in the interior what its avant-garde appearance promises. A great rediscovery of the Citroën ideas.
Although one wonders at first about the idea of installing the rear side windows as “vent windows” instead of normal retractable windows and about the rear seat bench that cannot be folded down in two parts. But somehow it doesn't bother you, no, it even helps to understand the idea of the “clever” simple car. You save what you don't really need. Or you can leave it out completely.
The cactus from the technician's point of view
The fact that the C4 Cactus is technically more related to the C3 than to the C4 also helps revive another virtue of the past. The low curb weight. As a three-cylinder Cactus, the curb weight is just above 1.000 kilograms, well below the average in the Golf class. The airbumps on the side of the doors are unlikely to be lighter than ordinary doors, as the polyurethane panels are mounted in addition to the normal door panel. A bonnet made of aluminum and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes save extra pounds when welding the body. The low weight of the Cactus helps actively reduce costs and then use smaller engines. Wherein the test car was equipped with the highly recommended BlueHDI100 diesel engine.
Diesel, the French can easily
Four cylinders, 1.6 liter displacement, 99 PS and 254 Nm force. The figures of the BlueHDI can be guessed at along with the low empty weight of the Cactus: No one has to do without this. As a test car, the Cactus has covered just under 1.100 km and spent many miles on the highway. More than 8 liters (on 100 km) could not be pushed through the injectors even on extreme tours. Normally, however, it is more like 5.3 liters that the Cactus approves.
The Cactus looks well motorized on the highway. The five-speed gearbox is designed for practical use and the French genes also come through when it comes to suspension comfort.
As a typical front-wheel drive he spooled his time safely and mildly understeer. That fits as it is. The Cactus renounces dynamic nonsense and pampers with the comfortable seats, the solid chassis and the powerful diesel engine. And despite the hard-nailing diesel, the noise comfort in everyday life is convincing!
The Cactus from the sales point of view
In times of platform technologies and cross-brand collaborations, it is becoming increasingly difficult for automobile manufacturers to give their own cars their own unique character. Citroën is doing this very cleverly with the Cactus. In addition to the design with completely new elements. The idea of using large plastic pads to protect against scratches almost sounds like rebellion in times of fully painted plastic bumpers. In addition, the interior has reduced controls. Some controller probably even found the tachometer too much and, in a kind of overzealousness, saved it too. Thanks to the loving details in the material and workmanship, all of this seems more likeable than annoyingly economical. Although the feeling of “renunciation” never arises. As a driver, you find the “less is more” of the Cactus a blessing.
Less is more
But also in the price list a rethinking has taken place. Less is more, that only applies to the basic Cactus. Here is a base price of € 13.990 sympathetic to revolutionary. We remember: The Cactus is almost golf size. However, Citroën has also understood how the game works with the extras and the fine details.
The BlueHDI100 test car costs €22.390 in the “Shine equipment” and can be pushed to over €25.000 with parking assistant, individual paint, panoramic glass roof, seat heating and stylish rims. This means that the character of the “cheap” cactus has disappeared for the time being. What's left is a cool cactus.
A car that wins by its otherness and the omission of the familiar.
test consumption
[tabgroup] [tab title=”Everyday driver”]In terms of standard consumption, Citroën gives an average of 3.4 liters per 100 kilometers. In the cycle for the everyday driver we came to 5.5 liters.[/tab] [tab title=”Eco-Expert”]In the eco-test we pushed the consumption below the 5 liter mark and achieved 4.4 liters.[/tab] [tab title=”Without Consideration”]And if you squeeze everything out, drive a lot on the highway, then 8.1 liters come out in the “representative round”.[/tab] [/tabgroup]
Criticism:
I could live with everything: the rear view windows, the undivided rear seat and the sloping airbumps. But without a tachometer, you feel like a novice driver.
And finally ...
The Cactus does so many things differently than its established competitors. That’s what makes it so French, so “Citroën”. And yet you never feel like you're missing out on anything. There is more than enough space, grandma's armchair in row one, a relief. And the crisp diesel also fits an older 5-speed transmission.
What a successful idea!
Here is the Citroën configurator
Vehicle registration: Citroën C4 Cactus BlueHDI 100
| Manufacturer: | Citroën |
|---|---|
| Type: | C4 Cactus |
| Class: | Crossover C-segment |
| Engine: | R4 |
| Transmission: | 5G manually |
| Drive: | front-wheel drive |
| displacement: | 1.560 cc |
| Power / power (electric motor): | 99 hp b. 3.750 rpm | - |
| Torque: / Torque (E-Motor): | 254 Nm b. 1.750 rpm | - |
| Weight ready to drive: | 1.145 kg (EEC with driver) |
| From 0 to 100: | 10,7 s |
| Top speed .: | 184 km/h |
| Consumption of petrol (NEDC): | 3.4 liter |
| CO2 output (NEDC): | 89 g / km |
| Emission Class: | EU 6 |
| Efficiency: | A+ |
| CW value: | |
| Comment: | - |
Photos in the article: Bjoern Habegger Cover photo: Bjoern Habegger
