Citroen C4 Cactus review
The Citroen C4 Cactus is a quirky and comfortable hatchback that stands out from the crowd with its unique style and super-low running costs.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
7th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
If you’re looking for a car that’s a bit different from the norm, the Citroen C4 Cactus is a fantastic choice. It’s a car that blends the practicality of a hatchback with the chunky styling of a crossover, and it’s packed with personality. Originally launched in 2014, it was famous for its unique ‘Airbumps’ – those plastic panels on the doors designed to protect you from annoying car park dings. It’s a simple idea, but a brilliant one! In 2018, the C4 Cactus was updated to be more of a comfortable hatchback, toning down some of the quirkier styling but adding a new super-smooth suspension system and extra-comfy seats. It’s a car that prioritises a relaxed driving experience above all else. With its funky design and excellent value for money, the C4 Cactus is a refreshing and characterful alternative to more conventional family cars.
Pros
- Very cheap to run thanks to efficient engines
- Quirky and unique styling that stands out
- Incredibly comfortable ride, especially on post-2018 models
Cons
- It’s not a car you’d choose for a fun driving experience
- The interior quality could be better in places
- The central touchscreen isn’t the easiest to use
Interior
Dashboard & tech
The inside of the C4 Cactus is just as quirky as the outside. You’ll find unusual design touches like a uniquely shaped steering wheel and stylish belt buckle-like straps on the door cards. It’s a cabin with real personality. A seven-inch touchscreen sits in the middle of the dash, controlling most of the car’s functions, including the air conditioning.
While the design is fun, the quality of the materials is a bit underwhelming. It doesn’t have the same premium feel as some rivals, and the touchscreen can be a bit fiddly to use while driving. However, all models come with a good level of kit, including smartphone connectivity, a DAB radio, and a digital instrument display.
Comfort
This is where the C4 Cactus really excels, particularly the facelifted version from 2018 onwards. Citroen fitted it with a new hydraulic suspension system and what it calls ‘Advanced Comfort’ seats. The result is a car that feels like it’s floating over bumps in the road, making it one of the most comfortable cars in its class.
The seats are soft and supportive, like sitting on your favourite armchair. It’s a fantastically relaxing car to be in, although some passengers in the back might find the 'floaty' ride a little unusual. Another quirky feature is the pop-out rear windows, rather than conventional ones that wind down.
Quality
While the design of the interior is interesting, the quality feels a bit budget-focused. You’ll find a lot of hard, scratchy plastics, which is a reminder that this is a car built to be affordable. While everything feels solid enough, it lacks the upmarket feel you might find in a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
The C4 Cactus sits in a middle ground between a regular hatchback and a crossover, and its practicality reflects that. There's a good amount of space in the back for passengers to get comfortable, so adults should be fine on shorter journeys. However, if you opt for a model with the panoramic glass roof, you will find that headroom is noticeably reduced.
Boot space
The boot offers 358 litres of space, which is a decent size for a car of this type. It's slightly smaller than what you'd find in conventional hatchbacks like the Ford Focus, but it’s still big enough for the weekly shop or a couple of suitcases. If you need more room, the rear seats fold down to increase the space to 1,170 litres.
Versatility
The C4 Cactus is a practical car for a small family. Its five-door layout makes it easy to get in and out of, and the boot is a usable shape. It's a car that can handle most daily tasks with ease, from the school run to weekend trips away. Its unique styling and comfortable ride make it a characterful choice that’s a bit different from the mainstream.
Driving
Driving experience
The driving experience in the C4 Cactus is all about comfort and relaxation. The light steering makes it very easy to drive around town, and on the motorway, it’s a quiet and composed cruiser. The super-soft suspension on post-2018 models means it glides over bumps and potholes beautifully.
This focus on comfort means it’s not a car for driving enthusiasts. There’s a fair amount of body lean in corners, and the steering doesn’t provide much feedback, so it’s not as fun or engaging as a Ford Focus. But if you’re looking for a car to get you from A to B with minimum fuss and maximum comfort, the Cactus is hard to beat.
Performance
The C4 Cactus is available with a good range of efficient petrol and diesel engines. The most popular choice is the turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine, which is available with either 108bhp or 128bhp. They are great little engines that feel lively and provide plenty of performance for a car of this size.
Diesel options are based on a 1.5-litre unit, with outputs of either 99bhp or 118bhp. While none of the engines are particularly powerful, the C4 Cactus is a surprisingly light car, which means even the lower-powered models feel nippy enough for everyday driving, with all versions managing to get from 0-60mph in around 10 seconds or less.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
This has always been one of the biggest strengths of the C4 Cactus. Thanks to its lightweight design and efficient engines, it’s a very affordable car to run. The diesel models are the most economical, with some versions capable of returning over 63mpg in official tests. The popular petrol engines are also very frugal, with most able to achieve around 50mpg. This means you’ll be spending less time and money at the fuel pumps.
Value for money
The C4 Cactus offers brilliant value for money. It’s competitively priced and comes with a good level of standard equipment. On the used market, it’s an absolute bargain. Because it depreciates quite heavily from new, you can pick up a nearly-new model for a fraction of its original price, making it a very shrewd purchase.
Reliability & Warranty
The C4 Cactus uses engines and technology that are widely used across other Citroen and Peugeot models, so it should prove to be a fairly dependable car. From new, all Citroens come with a three-year warranty. Some owners have reported issues with the quality of the interior trim and the infotainment system, so it’s always worth checking these areas carefully on a used example.
Safety
Safety features
The C4 Cactus comes with a decent level of safety equipment. All models get cruise control and a driver attention alert. To get more advanced safety features like autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition, you’ll need to look for a higher-spec Flair model, where these were included as standard. It’s worth noting that when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP back in 2014, it received a four-star rating, which is lower than the five stars achieved by many of its more modern rivals.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
Over its life, the C4 Cactus has been available in a few different trim levels. The range starts with Feel, which is well-equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, rear parking sensors, and air conditioning.
The top-spec trim is Flair, which is the only version available to buy new today. This adds features like a reversing camera, front parking sensors, and a range of extra safety kit. Special editions like the Origins model have also been available, adding unique styling details.
Engines
The engine range is focused on small, efficient units. The petrol lineup is based on a 1.2-litre PureTech engine. This is available as a non-turbo version with 82bhp (on earlier models) or as a more powerful turbocharged version with either 108bhp or 128bhp.
The diesel range consists of a 1.6-litre BlueHDi engine on earlier cars, or a more modern 1.5-litre BlueHDi on later ones. These are available with either 99bhp or 118bhp. Depending on the engine, you have a choice of a manual or an automatic gearbox. All models are front-wheel drive.