Citroen C4 Cactus 2018 review

Well enough. It's almost like driving a manual, but it's actually an auto, which I didn't mind at all. I quite like feeling the engine behind the accelerator, it makes things fun and at least feels like I'm driving the car, rather than it being on autopilot.

It's not exactly smooth, and the stop-start feature turns on as soon as the car pauses which is something to get used to. The 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine doesn't necessarily have a lot of power, but it has a lot of zip and I feel like I'm in a little European car, zig-zagging through traffic, because it's quite agile.

Dean McCartney The 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine doesn’t necessarily have a lot of power, but it has a lot of zip.

The steering is responsive, I can hit the accelerator and overtake easily, it zooms up hills and is a fun experience. Driving in the Citroen C4 Cactus evokes memories of zooming across the autostrade in country France, and winding through tiny streets in small European villages.

It's a small SUV, so is up against cars like the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-3 and Toyota C-HR. The size makes it easy to park and I was able to squeeze into some tiny parking spots this week.

You're not buying this car to lounge around in and have a picnic in the back. The Citroen Cactus is a city car. It's a small SUV that is easy to park but still gives you enough space inside so you don't feel like you're in a small hatch.

The roof is strangely shaped and in some parts, low - even for me and I’m 161cm.

I've got plenty of leg space and so did my 185cm husband, but the roof is strangely shaped and in some parts, low - even for me and I'm 161cm. I hit my head a few times. My two girls, aged four and six, had a good amount of room in the back, it fit their carseats perfectly fine, but I wouldn't put a third one in the middle.

The boot is large for a small SUV. It fits a CarsGuide pram, which the C-HR and the Kona also do, but the Mazda CX-3 doesn't. But it also fits grocery bags as well as the pram, something the Kona didn't. This is a great thing in a small car, and definitely a major selling point.

The boot is large for a small SUV.

Because it's small and zippy and doesn't have too many bells and whistles, there are no fancy components to get used to. This car is a breeze to use every day, everything is where you think it should be. The doors open wide to make getting things in and out easier. The children can climb in by themselves and the boot is a good height off the ground, so you're not hoisting a heavy pram up too high.

There is one cupholder in the front, which is rather small and doesn't fit my Keep Cup, however it will fit a regular takeaway cup if you're still using those. There are no cupholders in the back, but there are bottle holders in the back doors, and storage spots in the front doors.

On the inside, it's fairly basic, with a standard dash, centre console and old school park brake situation.

The biggest complaint I have about the Citroen C4 Cactus actually came from my four-year old daughter, who tried with all her might to open the back window. But she couldn't. And that's because when I finally stopped the car to figure it out, I realised it was an awning back window, so it pops out about four cm at the back.

Now, opening the window is the only scrap of independence she has in the car, and not being able to do this really made her... unhappy, to say the least. So this was a deal-breaker for me and my family. Sure, it's a subjective thing, if your children aren't as concerned with fresh air as much as my little one is, you'll probably be fine.

It's also missing back air vents, but that is fairly standard across the class in small SUVs.

The Citroen Cactus comes with airbags for the passenger, driver and side curtain airbags extending to the back row. There are two ISOFIX points and three top tether points for children's car seats. However it's missing Auto Emergency Braking which now comes standard on a fair few of its rivals, and things like collision warning systems.

The Citroen C4 Cactus I drove comes in at $29,990. It's also one of the most fuel efficient, with Citroen claiming 4.7 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, which is almost two litres less than the Toyota CH-R and the Hyundai Kona, so that's also going to be a significant saving.

The Citroen comes with a three year/100,000 km warranty and roadside assist for that time period.