Citroen C4 Cactus Review
Caroline drives the 2018 Citroen C4 Cactus.
The Citroen C4 Cactus first went on sale in Ireland in 2014 at a time when crossovers were cool and hatchbacks were becoming less de rigeur.
In 2018 you could say we are still in this phase. Consider that Citroen used to market a C4 hatchback. Now that model has been discontinued and this second iteration of the Citroen C4 Cactus has been designed to plug the gap. As buyers continue to go gaga for crossovers, raised ride heights and SUV-inspired styling, the Citroen C4 Cactus seems like a car that could make a lot of people very happy.
What's new for the 2018 Citroen C4 Cactus?
For 2018, Citroen has toned down the styling of the C4 Cactus. It's marketed now as a C-segment hatchback but still with plenty of crossover attitude, like last year's Citroen C3 supermini. The innovative 'Airbumps' are less prominent, and have been moved further down. Customisation packs still feature so there is the option to keep your C4 Cactus discreet or go more colourful.
The dimensions of the 2018 Citroen C4 Cactus have not changed and once you slip inside, you are welcomed with a spacious airy feel to the cabin and wide, slim seats that add to a ‘lounge’ feel inside that characterises this current generation of Citroens. There are new 'Advanced Comfort®' seats and yes they are very comfortable and supportive!
The interior trim features quite a few hard black plastics but the two-tone colour scheme on my 'Flair' test model added some pleasant distraction. A digital instrument panel displays your speed and other relevant information, but there is no rev counter. So if you are the type of person that likes to keep an eye on your revs while driving, then this is not the car for you!
On a practical note interior space in the 2018 Citroen C4 Cactus remains competitive for this segment with rear accommodation more suitable for two rather than three. Weight-saving measures mean that there are still pop-out windows in the rear, but air conditioning is standard on all models. There’s a relatively high load lip but the boot makes up for it in outright space (358 litres), and a spare wheel included.
Pricing and equipment for the Citroen C4 Cactus
In Ireland there are three trim level: Touch, Feel and Flair. Pricing starts from €19,995 for an entry level Touch 1.2 petrol model or €22,195 for a diesel. Standard equipment on Touch models includes cruise control, 7” touchscreen, front fog lights, air con and LED daytime running lights.
Feel models start from €22,495 and add 17” alloys, rear privacy glass, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, and automatic air con.
Flair models start from €24,495 and add an exterior colour pack, front parking sensors, Active Safety Brake, driver attention alert, speed sign recognition, lane departure warning and keyless entry/push button start.
The 1.2-litre turbo petrol is available in two outputs (110hp or 130hp), while the 1.6-litre diesel has 100hp. Manual or automatic gearboxes are available. Emissions are low with motor tax for the range from €180 to €200.
My test car was a 1.2-litre turbo petrol with 130hp, mated to a six speed manual gearbox. In Flair trim this model retails from €25,795.
What's the Citroen C4 Cactus like to drive?
On the road the 2018 Citroen C4 Cactus is softly sprung and soaks up uneven road surfaces very well. The C4 Cactus is the brand’s first car in Europe to use a new suspension system with’ Progressive Hydraulic Cushions’. With the perky petrol power of the 1.2-litre turbo petrol the C4 Cactus is agile and fun to drive, while also scoring for efficiency and running costs. It's lighter than rivals and feels it on the road. It's stable but doesn't have the same hunkered down feel in corners as some of its hatchback rivals and the steering is on the light side. But the C4 Cactus is more charming for being smooth, comfortable and quiet on the move.
Citroen is currently revolutionising its line up with some very current and comfortable models. The new positioning of the Citroen C4 Cactus is spot on: pitched as a hatchback but offering something completely different to rivals with its distinct, crossover-like styling. The interior can feel a bit budget in places and dynamically it's not the sharpest among rivals. The petrol models are particularly pleasant and efficient, but the real charm of the C4 Cactus is that it's just so relaxing to drive and spend time in!
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Citroen C4 Cactus Puretech 130 Flair
Price: €25,795 (Available from €19,995)
Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol
Power: 130hp
Torque: 230Nm
0-100km/h: 8.2 seconds
Top speed: 193km/h
Claimed Economy: 4.8l/100km
CO2 emissions: 110g/km
Motor tax: €190 per year
Citroën Welcomes New Dealership Citroën South Dublin
Citroën Ireland has appointed a new dealership - Citroën South Dublin - based on the Whitechurch Road, Rathfarnham.
Citroën South Dublin is part of the family owned Fort Motors Group, which was founded in 1959 by Cyril Molloy and is managed today by his sons, Paul and Cyril. The team at Fort Motors are very proud to have built up a great reputation with customers thanks to their knowledge and dedication to customer service and satisfaction.
Speaking at the contract signing, Pat Ryan, Managing Director, Citroën Ireland, commented, “We are delighted to appoint Citroën South Dublin as our latest addition to our growing Network. It's a very exciting time to join the Citroën Brand with the 100-year anniversary taking place in 2019 and the highly anticipated Citroën C5 Aircross and New Generation Berlingo launching later this year. We are really looking forward to working together with Cyril, Paul and all the team to serve many current and new Citroën customers in South Dublin over the coming years.”
Cyril Molloy, Dealer Principal, Citroën South Dublin said, “We are excited at the opportunity which the Citroën range of cars and vans holds for the South Dublin area. Our understanding of this local market has been built over almost 60 years, and we are confident that the Citroën brand will resonate with motorists here on a number of fronts, not least its individualism and contemporary styling.”
Citroen C3 Aircross Review
Caroline reviews the Citroen C3 Aircross.
The Citroen brand is undergoing a styling renaissance that began with the C4 Cactus in 2014 but really hit its stride with last year’s colourful Citroen C3 hatchback. At the end of 2017, Citroen entered the competitive B-SUV segment with the equally quirky Citroen C3 Aircross. This summer will see the launch of a new Citroen C4 Cactus.
The new Citroen C3 Aircross is based on the C3 hatchback and is a blend of curves, colour and plastic cladding making it a very distinct competitor in its segment. Other features include a raised ground clearance, elevated driving position, and front and rear skid plates.
There’s also a lot of choice to personalise the car. The bi-tone roof is available in three colours and can be complimented by one of four exterior colour packs that accentuate the light surrounds, door mirrors, wheel centre caps, rear quarter window and roof bars.
Get comfortable in the Citroen C3 Aircross
The Citroen C3 Aircross is effectively the replacement for the C3 Picasso, which was pitched more as a compact MPV. For its compact size, the Citroen C3 Aircross is a very spacious and practical car. The interior has a unique ‘living room’ feel with soft but supportive seats in beautiful fabric and a fabric dash panel that would not look out of place on a designer sofa. It’s very chic and rear passenger space is generous too, while the boot has a low flat loading sill and 410 litres of space.
Infotainment is provided via a touchscreen and the ventilation controls are accessed from the screen too.
In Ireland the C3 Aircross is available in three trim levels: Touch (from €20,695), Feel (from €21,995) and Flair (from €25,095).
Standard equipment includes manual air con, rear parking sensors, four electric windows and lane departure warning. Equipment on Feel includes 16″ alloys, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and rear privacy glass, while Flair includes wireless phone charging, 17″ alloys, satellite navigation, keyless entry and start, and more safety equipment.
My test car was a 1.2-litre turbo petrol Flair model with 110hp. This model retails at €25,095. Other engine options include a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 82hp and a 1.6-litre diesel with 100hp.
What's the Citroen C3 Aircross like to drive?
On the road, the C3 Aircross really shines with the 1.2-litre engine. It has a lovely spread of power and is good for town and motorway driving. The C3 Aircross is softly sprung and is comfortable for this class of vehicle. There is not much in the way of feel from the steering but the Citroen C3 Aircross can still hold its own through a series of corners. This model is cheap to run with motor tax of €200 per year. My fuel consumption was 6.3l/100km over a week of driving.
The Citroen C3 Aircross stands out in the compact crossover class for its quirky design and colourful presence. It’s not the sharpest handling small car, but it has some excellent petrol engines at its disposal giving an injection of fun behind the wheel. Comfort, practicality and a chic cabin ambience make the Citroen C3 Aircross a great accompaniment to modern life.
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Citroen C3 Aircross FLAIR PureTech 110
Price: €25,095 (Range from €20,695)
Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol
Power: 110hp
Torque: 200Nm
0-100km/h: 11.3 seconds
Top speed: 185km/h
Economy: 5.0/100km
CO2 emissions: 115g/km
Motor tax: €200 per year
Citroën Ireland Appoints James Tomkins Garage In Gorey
Citroën Ireland has added James Tomkins Garage in Gorey, north Co. Wexford to its dealer network.
James Tomkins Garage Ltd. is a family run car dealership established in 1995 in Gorey. The dealership prides itself on delivering a personal, friendly and efficient service to all their customers covering both sales and aftersales.
After qualifying as a mechanic in the summer of 1986, James decided to set up his own business from the garage at the back of his family home and after building up a large customer base he went on to purchase a garage in Gorey Town which has been transformed into a ten bay car workshop and showroom.
Speaking at the contract signing, Pat Ryan, Managing Director, Citroën & DS Ireland, commented, “We are delighted to welcome James Tomkins Garage Ltd. to the Citroën Dealer Network bringing our network to 20 authorized dealerships throughout the country. We are really looking forward to working with James, Catriona and all the team at James Tomkins Garage over the coming years as we continue to increase the Brand’s market share in the South East.”
James Tomkins, Dealer Principal, James Tomkins Garage, said, “All the team are really excited to be working with the Citroën & DS brands which will be a very welcome addition to our dealership for our customers. We are delighted to partner with the brand and we look forward to welcoming customers into our showroom over the coming months to view and test drive the extensive vehicle range.”
Citroen C3 Review (2017)
Citroen is a brand currently on something of a reinvention with a renewed focus on creating cars that major on design, comfort and technology. The quirky Citroen C4 Cactus of 2014 may have made many more traditional buyers feel uncomfortable with its avant-garde looks, ‘evil eye’ headlamps, and innovative plastic Airbumps stuck to the side, but it’s this sort of bold design that Citroen believe will help their products stand out in the market and drive their sales in the right direction (up!).
The C4 Cactus was bold, but definitely not beautiful. The new Citroen C3 is far more palatable, taking many of the same crossover-style design cues from the C4 Cactus – raised ride height, lashings of plastic cladding and of course the Airbumps – but wrapped up as a cuter and more compact B segment supermini. This segment is highly competitive with many credible competitors. But on looks alone the new Citroen C3 won’t be easily forgotten. Personalisation and the desire to exert some creativity on a car is also a key element of Citroen C3 ownership, and there are a number of cool bi-colour combinations to choose from.
Inside the C3 has all the ingredients to become a little of a style icon. Citroen’s designers drew inspiration from home interior design with an emphasis on creating an uncluttered cabin. The attention to detail in the design is marvellous and it’s a very pleasant environment with beautifully soft seats and neat design details like the oblong shaped air vents. In the spirit of keeping things uncluttered, most of the controls are managed from a touchscreen in the centre of the dash. The ventilation controls and air con are controlled from here too, which is a little fiddly. Tapping on a screen is never quite as practical as turning a dial.
In terms of interior space, driver and passenger are well-accommodated for, while rear seating space is also competitive for this segment. The boot is a good 300 litres, but there is quite a high load lip.
There are three trim levels for new Citroen C3 in Ireland: Touch (from €15,490), Feel (from €16,990) and Flair (from €18,990). Standard equipment includes cruise control, USB socket for media streaming and Bluetooth handsfree, and safety features like lane departure warning and a coffee break alert. Feel is the sweet spot of the range adding 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, the 7-inch touchscreen with Mirror Screen and Apple Car Play, and automatic air conditioning. Top spec Flair models add 17-inch alloy wheels, black Airbumps, automatic lights and windscreen wipers, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. There’s also a ConnectedCAM positioned below the rear view mirror. It can take photos and videos that can then be shared on social media using an app or saved as evidence in the event of an accident.
In terms of engines, the new C3 is offered with 68hp, 82hp or 110hp 1.2-litre petrol engines or BlueHDi diesel engines with 75hp or 100hp.
My test car had the 1.2-litre 110bhp turbo petrol engine that we’ve sampled before in the Peugeot 208. It’s priced from €20,890 and carries a premium over the lower powered naturally aspirated petrol engines but it is a great choice if you value performance matched with low running costs. It’s really nippy at low speeds around town but robust enough to be perfect out of town too.
Comfort has been a key quality for Citroen in the development of the new C3 and it really shows: it’s so stable and composed, and deals with the roughest of Irish roads exceptionally well for a small car. The negative side of this is that the Citroen C3 is not the sportiest drive among its competitors, but Citroen has not set out to be this. There is body roll in the corners if you push it, and while the steering is light and makes the car easy to manouvre at low speeds, there is not much in the way of feedback. Yet there is still charm to this small car that helps forgive a lot of these ails.
There is a revolution going on at Citroen and the brand evidently has a clear vision of the type of cars they want to produce. The C3 is a wonderful execution of this plan and manages to be distinctly different in a segment crowded with competitors. The 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine is definitely a bonus here and makes the C3 good fun to drive even if the steering and handling is weak compared to the best in the supermini segment. But this is a resolutely comfortable small car that’s easy to drive with a distinct personality and a stylish minimialist cabin. It won’t be for everyone but if you are looking for a small car there is now a very good reason to visit your Citroen dealer.
Caroline Kidd
Model Tested: Citroen C3 1.2 Puretech 110bhp Flair
Price: €20,990 (Range starts at €15,490)
Engine: 1.2-litre, three cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 110bhp
Torque: 205Nm
0-100km/h: 9.3 seconds
Top speed: 188km/h
Economy: 61.4mpg
CO2 Emissions: 103g/km
Motor Tax: €190 per year
If you're looking for a small petrol car you might also like this review of the Peugeot 208.
Citroen DS3 1.2 Petrol Review
Caroline reviews the 2014 Citroen DS3.
Style matters for the premium small car. Mini invented this segment in 2001. Fiat followed suit with the 500. Both used a similar recipe for success - taking a much loved classic and giving it a twenty first century makeover. While crucially retaining a retro character.
The 2014 Citroen DS3 is completely different. It has a fresh, modern design with not a whiff of retro. Citroen Ireland recently teamed up with Benefit Cosmetics to release a special edition in Ireland. It's based on a standard DS3 in DSign specification - the Citroen DS3 by Benefit.
Watch my video review here:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyC1mCyqinE&w=560&h=315]
The DS3 is a stunning car to look at. It has some really interesting design elements. The distinctive ‘shark fin’ B-pillar, the floating roof and the signature LED strips down either side of the front bumper. Inspired by Benetint, Benefit’s cheek and lip stain, the DS3 by Benefit is finished in ruby red metallic paint, with contrasting white roof and alloy wheels.
The interior of the DS3
Inside, the DS3 by Benefit has a special white dashboard insert with Benefit’s Gabbi’s head logo, a white gearknob and floor mats with red stitched Benefit logo and red piping. There is a feeling of quality inside the cabin and it is very pleasing to the eye with a simple, fuss-free design. The plush Alcantara trimmed seats are another highlight. The Benefit branding is subtle inside and out.
There is lots of space up front in the DS3 but it is a little more cramped in the back. The glovebox and door pockets are a bit small but there is handy storage shelves in the centre console for phone, keys etc. and there is one cupholder that the driver or passenger will have to reach back to access.
The boot is a good 285 litres, bigger than what you will find in a Fiat 500 or Mini, though a tyre repair kit comes as standard instead of a spare wheel. The rear seats can be folded down to carry larger items.
On the road, the DS3 feels much more taut and composed than most superminis. It’s got a sports suspension so the ride is a bit firm and bumpy over poorly surfaced roads, but the handling is tight and the steering light but precise, and you notice the way it changes direction really neatly. It’s not sloppy and it does feel rather sporty.
Driving the 2014 Citroen DS3
Though fitted with a 1.2 litre 82bhp petrol engine, the Citroen DS3 by Benefit copes surprisingly well on the motorway, feeling steady, planted and well able to cruise comfortably at motorway speeds. This little petrol engine suits the playful character of the car and it is very pleasant to drive around town. The door mirrors are a good size and it’s relatively easy to park because of the compact size, though you do sit quite far back from the windscreen which is a little bit deceptive when parking.
The Citroen DS3 by Benefit is a very economical petrol car and during my test drive I averaged a respectable 50mpg though the official economy figure is 61.4mpg. Road tax is €190 per year.
Based on the DSign spec, the DS3 by Benefit comes well equipped with air conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, electric windows and door mirrors and Bluetooth. You can listen to your music through the car’s speakers from an iPod or from a USB. Audio controls are mounted just behind the steering wheel for ease of use. As a bonus, buyers of this car will find a make-up bag in the glovebox filled with Benefit make-up products!
Are DS3s good cars?
The Citroen DS3 by Benefit may look a little expensive at just over €20,000 for a supermini but it’s competitive in a segment where style matters. This car is absolutely gorgeous to look at. It’s a fun car to drive offering a sportier and more involving drive than less 'premium' superminis. It is also a cheap car to run. The Citroen DS3 by Benefit delivers as a stylish, lively, small petrol car, and is a quirky alternative choice to a Mini (with a bigger boot and not a whiff of retro!).
Check out our latest review of the DS7 Crossback!
Model tested: Citroen DS3 DSign by Benefit
Price: €20,395 (DS3 range starts at €17,995)
Engine: 1.2 litre three cylinder petrol
Power: 82bhp
0-100km/h: 14.2 seconds
Economy: 61.4mpg (4.6l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 107g/km
Tax band: A3 (€190 per year)