FIRST impressions of Citroen's unconventional family hatch, the C4 Cactus, were decidedly mixed.

"It looks like a Lego brick," remarked my 18-year-old son before shuffling off to play on his X-Box.

His prickly observation was no doubt due in no small measure to the so-called Airbumps, large padded areas down each side which are designed to deal with the sort of small impacts one might suffer in car parks.

My mother-in-law, on the other hand, gushed praise in the rear seats, which she found comfortable and accommodating. "This is nice," she enthused as she took in her surroundings. And it's true that there is plenty of room in the back and the C4 Cactus provides a smooth ride.

As the driver for a week, I took a more long-term view.

There's no doubt that the appearance of the Cactus dominates the experience. It has character and certainly stands out from the crowd, but it will not be for the more conservative.

Prod the Airbumps and you realise that damaging one would take a lot more effort than making a scratch in the paint. These air-filled blocks are scratch-resistant and will help avoid expensive bodywork damage.

Enter the cabin and your attention is first drawn to the door straps, rather than handles, and a top-loading glovebox.

Based on a stretched version of the smaller C3 platform, there is a spacious feel to the cabin - thanks in part to the large glass area and also due to the uncluttered approach.

That's also true of the dashboard, which is almost sparse in its simplicity. The digital instrument panel displays that has fuel level, your speed and not much else except when the headlamps are activated.

Sitting on top of the centre of the dashboard is a seven-inch touchscreen that handles car settings, trip computer audio, climate and navigation. It's beautifully simple to use.

Steering is light and the suspension set-up feels just right, and with the torque-rich 1.6-litre diesel for company you are virtually guaranteed a relaxing drive.

When I saw Citroen's claimed average fuel consumption figure of 80.7mpg. I was dismissive (as I am with all the official mpg figures from manufacturers), but a motorway drive saw the fuel economy figure actually top 82mpg at one point.

There's a choice of advanced three-cylinder PureTech petrol engines and BlueHDi diesels, with CO2 emissions as low as 82g/km.

All Cactus models get the touchscreen system, DAB audio, cruise control and of course the Airbumps. With a choice of vibrant body colours, it certainly makes a style statement without costing a packet.

Such is the quirky styling that it would be easy to lose sight of the fact that the Cactus is a very accommodating family car that offers something different to those not wishing to spend a fortune on a new set of wheels.

There are some nice options available, too, such as part-leather seats, roof bars and a thermally insulated panoramic sun roof.

Built to a price, there's nothing out of the ordinary about the way the Cactus drives but those chunky seats are very comfortable and the smooth ride is welcome in this age of speed bumps and potholes.

The C4 Cactus has won a number of high profile UK awards since its launch in September last year, including UKCOTY Small Hatchback of the Year, the BBC TopGear Magazine Hatchback of the Year and Fleet News Best Compact SUV Award. This month it won the World Car Design of the Yea’ award at the New York International Motor Show.

It is first and foremost family-friendly transport that provides a good ride with excellent fuel economy figures... and is all the better for being out of the ordinary.

Citroen C4 Cactus Flair

Price: £18,090 (Cactus range from £12,990)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel
Transmission: Five-speed manual driving front wheels
Performance: 0 to 62mph in 10.7 seconds; top speed 114mph
Economy: 80.7mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 89g/km