• Additional safety kit added with the facelift
• New model yet to be EuroNCAP tested…
• …but the old one was a four-star performer

The Citroen C4 Cactus gets a suite of new safety kit added with the facelift, bringing it largely in line with its rivals. We’ve quoted the EuroNCAP figures for the original C4 Cactus, when tested in 2014, and we expect due to the additional kit, a similar, if not improved, performance.

Now available – although not all as standard – are the following driver safety systems:

• Active Safety Brake: Citroen’s way of saying Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). A camera at the top of the windscreen detects obstacles moving in the same direction or when stopped. The system engages the brakes automatically when a risk of collision is detected between 3-52mph.
• Speed Limit Recognition and Recommendation: Recognises speed signs and displays the information on the instrument panel. The speed can be registered as an instruction for the speed limiter/cruise control with one simple instruction.
• Lane Departure Warning System Active at speeds of above 37mph, the system detects the accidental crossing of white lines when the indicator has not been used. It warns the driver via a sound signal and visual alert on the instrument panel. Now lane-keeping assist system is offered.
• Coffee Break Alert: This feature prompts the driver to consider taking a break after they have been driving for two hours at A-road and motorway speeds.
• Driver Attention Alert: Warns the driver wanders unintentionally.
• Blind Spot Monitoring System: Lights in the door mirrors warn the driver if a vehicle is present in the blind spot on either side of the car.
• Grip Control: Enables the vehicle to adapt its front wheel grip depending on the surface (snow, mud, or sand for example).

• Very impressive amount of storage space inside
• Good front and rear leg- and headroom
• Decent boot, marred by high loading sill

This is a car that’s been designed with families in mind. There’s ample space for nick-nacks throughout the cabin, and we’re particularly impressed by the useful shape and size of the glovebox and doorbins.

Although head- and legroom are good in the front, we could do with a tiny bit more rearward set travel upront, while the kneeroom is a touch tight in the rear. Getting three in the rear is reserved for good friends, although the flat floor does mean that the (small) centre passenger won’t struggle for footroom.

The Citroen C4 Cactus is relatively compact by class standards, so it’s well-sized for UK garages and city centres. Despite being reasonably small outside, it’s roomy inside, and easy to see out of too – especially so if you specify the reversing camera.

Boot room is good by the standards of the class, and there’s now a split-fold facility, so there’s more usefulness than before. The rear seats fold down easily, although they’re far from flat when lowered, lessening the usefulness of the load space.

The same could also be said for the size of the boot opening, as it’s let down by a high loading lip, which you won’t thank it for if you’re putting anything heavy in there. Importantly, though, with the seats up, it’s 100 litres larger than the Ford Focus…