Bumper edition

Bored with the same old hatchback crowd? The Citroen Cactus is a everyday car with some great quirks and an unusual look as

As breaths of fresh air go, the Cactus is like a lung-full of West Scotland’s finest in the middle of rush-hour London. It’s a car designed to fit into real-world lifestyles where you need lots of places to store bits and pieces, where touch-screens are the norm and people always manage to open their doors into your paintwork.

Looks and image

That’s why you’ll find those curious and distinctive coloured panels along the sides. These “Airbump” air-filled blocks are scratch-resistant and a bit bouncy, so errant supermarket trolleys and swinging coat zips won’t leave a mark. The same material is on the boot and in a few other places too, helping to avoid any ugly and expensive bodywork damage.

It’s a bit madcap but not so much so to be off-putting. The controls are where you’d expect them, the pedals do what they should and the wheels aren’t made out of cheese. It’s simply very good at the everyday biffabout thing, and there’s no doubt a lot of people will be very taken by this.

Space and practicality

You don’t get as much outright space as you do in, say, a Seat Toledo, but the Cactus has a far greater character garnish to go with its healthy dollop of practicality. There are door pockets aplenty and a panoramic glass roof to give a more spacious-feeling cabin, and it’s fair to say there’s enough rear legroom for adults, just. A really nice touch is the “suitcase-style” interior detailing on the door pulls and glove box.

Behind the wheel

Citroen openly admits the Cactus is built to a price. That’s half the point, realistic ownership costs. With that in mind it’s amazing how quietly the 1.2-litre 110-horsepower petrol version bimbles around town.

At 30mph in the fourth of five gears, the loudest thing is the air conditioning fan, which itself is only lightly breathing away in the background. There’s nothing remarkable about the way it drives. The driving experience is that of a car you’d never regret buying or dislike owning. It feels a bit like a loyal family pet.

Value for money

In terms of raw space there’s more for your money out there but “value” cars tend to be a bit soulless and that always counts against them. The Cactus definitely has more of a character and a charm that can’t entirely be priced up.

In terms of providing familyfriendly transport that you’re not afraid to see bumped around now and again, what could be better?