Instantly recognisable in the competitive C segment market, the Cactus boasts a striking design that certainly divides attention.I drove a Hello Yellow coloured on with black airbumps, and it drew attention and comments not only on the daily commute to work, but also from family and friends who wouldn't normally notice too much what I was driving, and it was even the talk of the members and staff at the gym.Citroen has a long history of producing vehicles that stand out from the norm, but the Cactus combines functional with what I believe is also attractive – although I must admit the bright yellow may not have been my first choice of colour.However, I've watched enough property programmes and have moved home enough time over the years to know that you have to see past smaller matters such as the colour when looking at these things.On the day that I know I am having a car delivered to test drive I often feel different emotions. With some models it is genuine excitement after reading and hearing rave reviews and with others it might just be a case of understanding what all the fuss is about. But with the Cactus it was almost a feeling of intrigue as to what was making it win so many awards since it was launched – the most recent of which being the 'Most Beautiful Interior' of the year prize at the 30th International Automobile Festival in Paris.After I week I can honestly say that I genuinely understand the reasons behind the Cactus' success as it truly is a brilliant, yes brilliant, car that I didn't want to hand back.So what's so good about it? Well, for a start, alongside it's looks and functionality, Citroen estimates that overall running costs are almost 20 per cent less than the benchmark in the compact hatchback segment.It's 200kg lighter than the Citroen C4 and powered by latest generation Euro 6 engines which mean fuel consumption is just 91.1mpg with CO2 from 82g/km.Design wise I have to admit that I'm on the side of those that love the look of the Cactus, with its pure, smooth surfaces and flowing lines that are free of harsh edges.And then there's those padded bits on the side - Airbumps to give them their official title. What are they for? was the most common question I was asked during the week.Fitted to the bumpers as well as the sides of the car, they are not only a talking point but are there to provide day-to-day protection as the supple thermoplastic polyurethane skin comprises air capsules to absorb impacts.Exclusive to Citroen, Airbumps are available in four colours which can be matched with the 10 body colours and three choices of interior trim to offer a range of customisation options.Now you might not be surprised to read that the modern feel of the Cactus continues with the interior of the car, which features door handles that resemble leather luggage straps and a storage compartment on top of the dashboard instead of the more traditional glovebox which reminded me of the top of a treasure chest.The easy-to-use seven-inch touchscreen bears resemblance to a tablet and groups together all the vehicles main functions such as temperature control, entertainment, mobile phone connections, vehicle settings and satellite navigation.The traditional driver's dashboard featuring the instrument cluster is also replaced with a smaller digital screen to give a spacious, clutter-free feel to the car.Two other ways in which this is achieved is by the dashboard being lower and the airbags being transferred to the roof and deploying it over the windscreenIt's comfortable too as the front seats are wider than usual and designed believe it or not in the style of a sofa.There's plenty of room in the back also, and the boot capacity is a generous 358 litres.But don't for one minute think that the Cactus is all about style over substance and that the drive has been compromised in any way. Far from it. The Cactus bought fun back to driving and I enjoyed every minute of it.Due to its dramatic loss of weight, the Cactus is now offered with smaller sized engine that not only reduce fuel costs but also maximise drivability, and it was more than powerful enough on the motorway and A1 when I took it on a family trip out to York.The handling was great and changing gear was effortless and smooth, and the reversing camera made light work of parking manouevres with the image displayed on the large touchscreen.The on-the-road price for the Cactus is £14,690. The model I drove came with a whole raft of extras including gloss white roof bars (£50), white door mirrors (£50) and 17-inch diamond cut cross alloy wheels (250) to bump the cost up to £16,650.With the Cactus, Citroen has put together a range of funding options similar to mobile phone price plans. They come in the form of a monthly flat-rate or mileage-based payment, meaning customers can select their preferred trim level and the level of service they require without exceeding their budget.
