When the C4 Cactus burst onto the scene it was, like Nissan’s quirky Juke, a bold statement that the Citroen of old, the Citroen that created the wonderfully radical DS with its futuristic aerodynamic body, disc brakes – a first for a production car – and, of course, hydropneumatic suspension that included a self-levelling system and variable ground clearance, was back.

While the Cactus can’t lay claim to as many world firsts – the air-filled plastic cushions on the flanks, known as “Airbumps” the only feature to fall into that category – the funky, innovative exterior styling was matched to an equally interesting interior and demonstrated a welcome return to form for the French firm.

That was four years ago and Citroen decided it was time to give the Cactus a bit of a makeover. And quite a sizeable one at that.

I’ll start by touching on, perhaps, the most important change. One that you won’t even notice until you drive the new Cactus and one that, arguably, takes the company right back to where it all started, the DS.

It rides on a new type of suspension. It’s not as revolutionary in technological terms as the Ds’s, but it’s radically different to anything implemented by any of its rivals. It’s called Progressive Hydraulic Cushion (PHC) and it replaces the rubber bump stops in each suspension corner with a pair of hydraulic dampers.

The dampers cushion the wheel travel at the top and bottom of the coil suspension unit allowing Citroen to fit softer springs and dampers achieving, according to the firm, that elusive “magic carpet ride”.

That’s what Citroen claims, but what’s the Cactus like on a rainy Tuesday night in Stoke? I have no idea, but I can tell you that in relatively pleasant spring weather in Kent, it certainly comes close to living to the French firm’s claims. The ride is isolating, absorbent, without producing too much wallowing. There’s a little more lean in corners than I would like, but it’s never excessive nor uncomfortable.

The handling is also remarkably composed for what is a car with quite a high centre of gravity. There’s a surprising amount of tenacity where the tyres meet the road and the Cactus will hold it’s line well, although you can catch it out with a sudden change in direction.

The five-speed manual gearbox is smooth and precise, and works well combined with the 1.5-litre diesel, which is itself a good fit for the character of the Cactus. It’s refined and quite relaxed in it’s power delivery and, although it might appear underpowered on paper, there’s a healthy amount of torque to call on to provide decent in-gear performance that makes for a comfortable and competent motorway cruiser.

Other, more noticeable changes can be found on the outside where the Airbumps have been reduced in size and moved to sill-level. It’s the same aesthetic treatment as you’ll see on other Citroens such as the C3 hatch.

There’s a new grille, bumper and chrome detailing that runs the width of the bonnet, tracing a line that encompasses the badge and the daytime running lights. There are also larger, horizontal light clusters at the back.

The interior is largely carried over unchanged, which means you get the same quirky, briefcase-style glovebox, the same welcome smattering of soft-touch plastics but, conversely, still too many places where the materials feel a little cheap and brittle.

As well as the glovebox there are large doorbins – the rear ones with bottle holders – two front cup holders and recesses in the rear doors.

The standard-fit infotainment system, accessed via seven-inch touchscreen mounted, as is the fashion these days, on top of the dashboard, is equipped with Android Auto and Apple Carplay so, for most, the absence of built-in sat nav will not be of consequence.

There’s also DAB radio, USB socket and Bluetooth audio streaming and handsfree calling. There are no analogue dials and buttons for the climate control, you have to work your way through the menus on the touchscreen which really doesn’t, as manufacturers must surely believe, make life easier.

There’s no change to the interior space, which means that there’s plenty of head and legroom up front, and that three adults can squeeze into the back in reasonable comfort, which is about all you can expect from a car in this class. The front windows are powered but in the back Citroen have persisted with the hinged variety.

The seats are comfortable and now the rear bench splits 60:40 improving practicality hugely. The boot is about average for the class, holding 358 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,170 with them stowed away.

The latest incarnation of the C4 Cactus is quite different, remarkably so considering it’s just a mid-life facelift and not a new model. The styling is more restrained, more mature, but this reviewer thinks it retains enough unique features to get noticed in a crowd. Unfortunately there’s been no step up in the quality of the interior which, in places, badly needs it.

What it does have, however, is clever suspension that gives it a very comfortable and cosseting ride without impacting on handling and body control. Now, it’s unlikely that people buying the Cactus will be the type to hustle it along challenging B roads, but even at slower speeds it provides a welcome degree of reassuring composure.

It’s safe to say that the Cactus has gained more than it’s lost.

Citroen C4 Cactus Feel Blue HDI 100 Manual

Price: £19,020

As tested: £20,615

Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Max power: 100hp @ 3,750rpm

Max torque: 254Nm @ 1,750rpm

Max speed: 114mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 10.7sec

Urban: 65.7mpg

Extra urban: 85.6mpg

Combined: 76.3mpg

Emissions (CO2): 94g/km

For more information visit www.citroen.co.uk