If you’re in the market for a new car our Tried And Tested column should help you decide.
With so many brands and types to choose from, it can often be quite hard to know which car is the right car for you.
From testing them out on the motorways to driving around the back roads of Ireland, we give you the highs and lows of many of the market’s leading brands.
So sit back, relax and get ready to go cruising…
This week we set our style meter to “stun” in an eye-catching Citroen C4 Cactus.
_______________________________________________________
They Call Me Mellow Yellow
Appearances aren’t everything, granted – but there’s no denying this is one attention-grabbing car. This particular Her.ie writer noticed many admiring glances over the week of her test drive… and not for the driver.
Safety First
If you were wondering about the side panels, you’ll be pleased to learn that they house unique “Airbump” technology to absorb minor impacts.
Pocket Friendly
The Cactus, for all it delivers, is a very fair price indeed. Starting from €17,795 and running to €23,845 – there’s very little to quibble with on the cost front.
The Science Bit
You’ll continue to reap the rewards on the wallet front post purchase. The C4 Cactus is 200kg lighter than an equivalent Citroën C4 and will deliver up to 3.1l/100km fuel economy. You can expect your running costs to be 20 per cent lower than conventional C segment hatchbacks.
Touchscreen Technology
The C4 Cactus boasts a fully digital interface with controls grouped around a 7-inch touchscreen. This does take a bit of getting used to for drivers who are used to working by touch alone, but a bit of practise and you’ll be away in a hack. It looks good too.
Custom Is Key
Drivers are afforded a whole range of customisation options, should the entry level not be sufficiently stand-out enough for your needs. You can opt for one of three high specification trim levels – Touch, Feel & Flair – with prices starting from €17,795 for the petrol PureTech 75 manual Touch, rising to €23,845 for the BLUEHDi 100 Flair.
The Fun Factor
Driving this car is a lot of fun. It has the specs the tech-head will want, the smooth road experience every driver wants and the style appeal every fashion forward driver might dream of. All in all though, this car is a fun ride. And lets face it – anything that makes the work commute a more pleasant experience is very welcome indeed.
Our star rating?
A fabulous 4/5.
Why?
A combination of factors added up to this high score. On looks alone this might be a Marmite car – you’ll love it or hate it – but we were in love from the off. The feeling that we might be driving Bumblebee from the Transformers was an added bonus. At the end of the day though it’s what’s inside that matters, and we found in the C4 Cactus a smooth, economical ride that just happened to boast some serious style. Win.
And on that note…
Video via YouTube/ChamillionaireVEVO
