Many modern cars, while fantastically functional, practical and reliable, lack a sense of fun.

That’s not an accusation that could ever be levelled at Citroën.

From its beginnings in 1919, the French carmaker imbued its models with a sense of what motoring is really all about – freedom and the sense of excitement generated by being able to go exactly where you want.

Citroën’s design philosophy has always involved innovation and a willingness to take a risk, even with a car competing against a host of conventional family hatchbacks.

The Cactus name alone and a quick flick through the paint options, from Hello Yellow to Blue Lagoon, Jelly Red to Deep Purple, are enough to raise a smile.

Externally the car is a serious eye-catcher, which, with its Airbump panels full of air capsules to absorb door-banging impacts, to its distinctive lights, looks like nothing else on the road.

But it is behind the wheel that you find much more to put a grin on your face.

The interior is truly stylish and stands in stark contrast to the button-cluttered dashboards that seek to impress in other models. The wide front seats are designed in the style of a sofa, to create a more comfortable feel in the cabin and the decluttered interior with its low dashboard creates more space for the front passenger.

The cabin design also offers more than a nod to the world of luggage design, including door handles that take the form of luggage-inspired leather straps and a storage compartment on the top part of the dashboard, with hinge fittings.

The traditional instrument cluster has been replaced by a digital screen with a chunky digital speed read-out and the conventional control buttons have been replaced by an iPad Mini-sized seven-inch touchscreen, grouping together all the main vehicle functions including the air conditioning, media, navigation, vehicle settings, telephone, Internet connectivity and driving aids.

Just five buttons are left on the dashboard with a further ten dotted around the steering wheel.

In the rear, passenger legroom is similar to that of the Citroën C4. With an equivalent wheelbase, the new C4 Cactus provides the same amount of space, but with more compact exterior dimensions. At just 4.16m long, the new Cactus also provides decent boot space.

Under the skin, Citroën engineers have been busy cutting fuel consumption, by using weight-reducing features such as an aluminium bonnet and pop-out rear windows and fitting new engines.

The three-cylinder PureTech petrol engine in the test car, while only 1.2 litres in size, is able to deliver punchy acceleration, quiet cruising and day-to-day fuel mpg in the 50s, making it a competent long-distance cruiser.

Priced from about £13,000, the Cactus offers a range of options and the test car, whose basic on-the-road price was £17,555, rose to almost £19,000 with the addition of pearlescent paint (£730), chocolate airbumps (£150) and a panoramic sunroof (£425).

Driving aids that make life easier range from park assist that carries out parking manoeuvres automatically when a suitable space has been identified, to a reversing camera that displays an image on the large touchscreen.

Hill-start assist keeps the vehicle stationary for two seconds on a slope without the vehicle dropping back when the brake pedal is released and static cornering lights provide an additional beam of light to illuminate the inside of bends, improving visibility at corners and junctions.

The Citroën eTouch service includes a localised call system in the event of an accident to ensure the emergency services can locate and reach the vehicle promptly.

So the Cactus, which follows in a long line of innovative models such as the Traction Avant, 2CV, DS and Ami, continues the tradition of delivering solid practicality with more than a dash of pure Gallic flair.

AUTO FACTS

Model: Citroën C4 Cactus Flair PureTech 110

Price: £18,860 (with options)

Insurance group: 16A (1-50)

Fuel consumption (combined): 60.1mpg

Top speed: 117mph

Length: 415.7cm/163.7in

Width: 172.9cm/68in

Luggage capacity: 12.6 ft

Fuel tank capacity: 11 gallons/50 litres

CO2 emissions: 100g/km

Warranty: Three years/ 60,000 miles