Citroën C4 Cactus 2018 UK first drive

Usually when a car is described as “grown-up” or “mature”, it’s intended as something of a compliment; a way of emphasising a vehicle’s distinct sense of purpose, well-roundedness or refinement.

But in the case of the latest Citroën C4 Cactus, driven here for the first time on UK roads, those sorts of adjectives - although relatively accurate - do the car a bit of a disservice. 

You see, the original C4 Cactus, launched back in 2014, was always a bit of an oddball - certainly in the way it looked. The wacky design stood out, turned heads and added a bit of verve into a segment of the car market that at times could be rather dreary.

That mould-breaking aesthetic contributed to Citroën selling around 30,000 of the things in the UK after it first rocked up on the scene.

This new model, though, billed by Citroën as a “mid-life product evolution”, loses some of the original’s visual charm, favouring a more reserved and - you guessed it - grown-up look.

The prominent Airbumps that originally divided opinion have been moved to a more discreet location, and the abundance of black plastic cladding that gave it its rufty-tufty, off-road-style appeal has been reduced in favour of a cleaner, arguably more premium image.

It’s not that it looks bad – it doesn’t – it’s just that it's lost a bit of the charm that made its predecessor unique and likeable.

But we’re not just here to discuss looks: we’re here to find out how the C4 Cactus deals with the UK’s notoriously battered roads - especially now it has Citroën’s ‘Progressive Hydraulic Cushions’ suspension and Advanced Comfort seats.

We’re driving the top-of-the range Puretech 130 Flair edition here, which pairs a turbocharged, 128bhp three-cylinder petrol engine with a six-speed manual transmission to send its power to the front wheels.

That engine is one of the C4 Cactus’ most likeable features. Its 170lb ft of torque is available from just 1750rpm courtesy of its turbocharger, meaning there’s a good deal of low-down shove to get you up to speed in a timely manner.

There’s an endearing three-cylinder soundtrack that accompanies any bursts of acceleration, too, which doesn’t become aurally unpleasant as you reach the upper climbs of the rev-band. Overall, it’s a refined and characterful powerplant that’s barely audible once you’ve settled down to a cruise.