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Citroen C4 Cactus 1.6 Blue HDi 100 Flair: 3rd report – Epic drives and an EU near miss

Cactus pavilion
The eyes have it - a Cactus with character

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28 June 2016

WHICH was it to be – the distinguished safari-style Land Rover Defender 110 with an aristocratic history at the roots of the European Parliament, or a frugal Citroen 2CV Charleston? ‘Charlie’ won in the battle of bank balances and my European link became history as I joined the Citroen family.

The Cactus at 2,500 miles - 53.9mpg
Cactus at 2,500 miles – 51.3mpg

Decades on, I’m driving the Citroen C4 Cactus 1.6 Blue HDi 100 Flair finished in Tapenard Grey, a mushroom brown-grey reminiscent of the grey coachwork of the Charleston which became part of an amazing Citroen heritage for my family.

The Defender that got away had belonged, as I was led to understand, to the 10th Earl of Bessborough, son of a  Governor-General of Canada, whose stately home was a stone’s throw from my rented flint cottage.

A pioneer European parliamentarian, he served as a Member of the European Parliament 1972-79, as Vice-President 1973-76, and Deputy Leader, European Conservative Group 1972-77.

But the Land-Rover would be thirsty and pricey to run, the 2CV a far better bet, even if the ‘two horsepower’ air-cooled engine wheezed and fumed as I slip-streamed scrap metal trucks to touch 60mph on the M4 in South Wales on my way to a car launch.

I knew the 2CV was a safe bet for “getting there” after my Uncle Ray “recreated” one from assembled salvaged parts at his fishing fleet workshop in Jordan amid the 1970s Middle East crises so that he could check out a new life for his family with ours in Hampshire.

The engineer drove from Amman to Hampshire, found a job, drove back and collected his family and drove back again to join us – until Jordanian tensions eased and the British pace of life became too much and the amazing 2CV took them back yet again.

And so for me to land up with a Cactus is not so far flung from my late uncle’s epic desert and continental marathons, and if you appreciate that kind of heritage you feel reassured in your motoring.

What he and his family would have really appreciated is the roominess, wide-seat comfort and frugal pace of the Cactus. It hasn’t got the ragtop rollback canvas roof or those flapping side windows, it’s not posh but it’s practical and got character and texture.

Just like the old 2CV, Cactus drivers know they’re a breed apart and acknowledge each other with friendly waves. Park up and you’re likely to find another has nestled alongside.

What’s racing into the news?BMW M4 GTS

  • Catch it all here

The texture’s there inside and out, in the exterior vinyl trim “air bump” panels protecting the doors and front and rear corners – something Uncle Ray would have appreciated as he was bashed by a French taxi in the no-man’s-land of the Arc de Triomphe giratory, his only incident on those marathons. Inside, with the robust and practical suitcase-style trim with strap detailing.

As an engineer he would have appreciated the ergonomic simplicity, as a traveller the touch-screen infotainment system with satnav – not to mention the hands-free phone that he never knew!

And as a Welsh-born businessman who grew up in what was once the global centre for lead mining, and followed the family’s mineral quest to the Middle East, he would really have appreciated the frugality and business sense of this car.

Want to know more about the Cactus?

The Citroen C4 Cactus smooth 1.6 HDi 100 diesel engine, with its low 95g/km emissions equalling 17% company car tax band, is a positive.

Whether on runs into London which no fewer than four blue light incidents to cause jams on one run, going with the motorway flow, or using all the gears – and brakes – through the country lanes, I’m happily seeing well over 500 miles on a tank of diesel.

The official figure of 82mpg still seems a mirage for this Cactus, but I’m close to 52mpg and in a real world that’s pretty good to me.

It’s lean but proficient, and the only time it seems a little lacking is at very low speeds in traffic, when first is too low a ratio and second too high in the five-speed box. That’s when I miss the grunt of my son’s 2-litre Citroen C4 Coupe a decade ago.

Citroen C4 Cactus 1.6 HDI 100 Flair – the figures

Doors and body style  Five-door hatchback
P11D: £18,140
Engine/gearbox: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder Euro 6 turbo diesel/5-speed manual gearbox
CO2 Emissions: 95g/km
Economy (combined): 80.7mpg
Power/torque: 100PS/ 254Nm
0-62mph/top speed: 10.7secs/ 114mph
Company Car Tax band: 17%
Company car tax at 20% yearly/monthly: £617/£51.42
Company car tax at 40% yearly/monthly:  £1,234/£102.83
Insurance group:  19A

 

 

 

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