92: Citroen C4 Cactus – Repurposed to take on the hatchback big guns

Citroen has drastically revised the C4 Cactus this year. When first it arrived, it was supposed to be a cheap-to-buy-and-run small crossover, sort of like a Dacia Duster with style. Now though it's been repurposed, and moved upmarket as a potential Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla rival, which seems a bit of a stretch to be honest. With a base price starting with a €17, the Cactus made good, affordable sense. Now that it's starts at €19,995 we're not so sure.

On its side are styling that looks agreeably French, both inside and out, and Citroen’s rediscovered commitment to comfort. That includes clever new hydraulic suspension bump-stops (essentially copied by BMW for the new 3 Series) and sofa-like seats, which are truly lovely. It eschews all pretensions of being sporty to drive, which is to be applauded, but its rear seat and boot space can’t compete with rival five-door hatches. Engaging, but flawed, is the final result.

Best model: C4 Cactus 1.2 PureTech Feel 110hp for €22,495

Price range: €19,995 to €26,695. Finance from €404 per month.