News: Citroen C4 Cactus - small or large? Definitely different!

Who am I? And if so, how many? The available for almost a year Citroen C4 Cactus raises some questions, he does not just let himself be classified in a vehicle category drawer. Is he, for example, a big small car or a short compact? Smart or just different? An everyday test should help with the personality determination of the Frenchman.

With its length of 4,16 meters, the Cactus moves between the usual small car dimensions of about four meters and the length specifications of the compact of about 4,25 meters. With its bulky-looking planking on the front, rear and fenders, it suggests robustness without playing out the currently popular SUV design card.

Instead of the classic speedometer and tachometer, the driven speed and the fuel gauge are shown in a display behind the steering wheel.
Instead of the classic speedometer and tachometer, the driven speed and the fuel gauge are shown in a display behind the steering wheel.

Speaking of robustness: The so-called plastic "Airbumps" attached to the doors on the outside of the doors make it easier to alleviate enemy contact with shopping carts on supermarket squares or parking bumps with concrete pillars or other vehicles. To Tempo 4 unsightly bumps in the counterpart's plate should be completely prevented. But this only works if you do not "strike" with the unprotected door edge.

The interior design also differs from the standard passenger car standard solutions. Leather loops as door handles, the large, casket-like glove compartment and the continuous front seat in automatic versions make something visually already and let flash the legendary joy of innovation of the Citroen-makers. However, one senses that with all the joy of the red pencil on the designs of the creative people hung and was certainly used. Savings were made, for example, on practical things: The back seat can only be folded down in one piece. Although the luggage capacity of the 358 1.170 can be increased after folding the backrest to XNUMX liters, but since there is no flat loading floor, but rather an awkward and unpractical level, the utility is limited. Less disturbing: in the rear, there are only opening windows, handles on the headliner missing as well as an air vent for the passenger.

After all, there is no over-stimulation of the senses due to too many controls. Citroen dispenses with a conventional instrument display. Instead of the classic speedometer and tachometer, the driven speed and the fuel gauge are shown in a display behind the steering wheel. The handling of the music system, ventilation, air conditioning and navigation via a color touch screen in the center console.

The space is based rather on that of a compact car. At least four people get lodged under; In the rear, no sloping roofline reduces the headroom of the rear seat occupants. In the front, the occupants take their seats on soft chairs. Unlike automatic versions, there are only two individual seats for handset variants, however, the standard cuddly option does not apply here.

How comfortable the driver feels behind the valance depends largely on his body length. The biggest shortcoming for people over 1,80 meters is the lack of depth adjustment of the steering wheel. Where shorter drivers can compensate for this a little by adjusting the seat, the long ones hang - the seat pushed all the way back - like the much-cited monkey on the grindstone behind the steering wheel.

With its bulky-looking planking on the front, rear and fenders, it suggests robustness without playing out the currently popular SUV design card.
With its bulky-looking planking on the front, rear and fenders, it suggests robustness without playing out the currently popular SUV design card.

Our test car was powered by the 1,6-liter diesel with 73 kW / 99 PS. 254 Nm of maximum torque enable relaxed driving. This is helped by the softly tuned chassis, which masters most ground unevenness with a degree of nonchalance. At first a bit rough in the start, the unit sprints cheerfully, mastering the spurt of 0 at 100 km / h in just under 11 seconds and theoretically creates a maximum speed of 184 km / h. So fast we were not on the highway, for one thing, because after Tempo 175 did not do much on the speedometer. On the other hand, because from Tempo 150 a loud loud whistle from the A-pillar penetrated into the vehicle interior and annoyed. Positive side effect of the so moderate propulsion: The fuel consumption was very limited. Although the standard value of 3,4 liters could not be achieved, the experienced 4,8 liter can certainly be undercut. The diesel is however with at least 20.140 euro in the price list. In the top version "shine" driven by us, even 22.390 Euros are due - after all, with almost everything the price list has to offer.

Only the question of which genus one could assign to the French remains unanswered. After the end of the test period, we hold on: He is a big and expensive little one with clever ideas and some comfort deficits.

Author: Elfriede Munsch / SP-X

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Comment

Your e-mail address will not be published. Required fields are marked with * marked

Related Posts