With the C4 Cactus, Citroën almost at a stroke swept away decades of bland, bulk-filler models such as the Xsara and Saxo and the pile-em-high-flog-em-cheap mentality that so damaged its long-term residuals.
Instead, with the Cactus, Citroën found a third way between premium and discount brands. The Cactus is a car that's cheap to buy and run because it is small, light and mechanically simple. Those three things do have their downsides – cabin and boot space in the Cactus isn't great, the rear windows don't wind down and the driving position is more than a little awkward. But you do tend to forgive it, thanks to that cute styling (yes, the AirBump panels on the doors really do protect you from dings) and the genuine frugality of its engines.
Either the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol or the 1.6 HDI diesel make excellent bedfellows for the Cactus, which thanks to its low weight never feels slow even when it is returning better than 50mpg. The dashboard layout is a little bit muddled but we like the suitcase-style door handles and glovebox.
Price range: €17,795 to €25,195
C02 emissions: 89 to 107g/km
Which one? 1.2 PureTech 82hp Flair
PCP from €101 per month