1.2 Puretech 110 Flair 6speed Start+Stop 5dr

Character over usability

Positives:
The engine is peppy and, contrary to some reviews, aided by a manual gearbox with reasonable shift quality.
Seats are immensely comfortable and can be adjusted.
Visibility is good.
The cabin is attractive to look at.
Refinement is OK, despite a grumble at a particular MPH in 6th.
Brakes are pretty decent.
Good DAB and Bluetooth connectivity.
Glass rood is nice as a gimmick, although invisible to the driver and too heavily tinted to make the interior much lighter.
Tyre wear is good.
Negatives:
Supplying dealer delivered car with too much oil, tyres inflated to a dangerous level, SOS button not working and Car Play/Android Auto also not working.
Cabin and boot space merely adequate.
Minimal instrumentation a minor inconvenience.
Paintwork thin.
Diamond cut wheels began to corrode after a month, despite being cleaned appropriately.
Fan controls on a screen are dangerous and require a couple of prods.
Headlights poor.
Economy so/so. Given the car's light weight and engine tech, it ought to be better, particularly having enjoyed a diet of V Power since day one.
Android Auto doesn't work. A dealership suggested trying a better cable, which doesn't make any difference.
Reliability isn't great. Windscreen wiper motor failed after six months, rather dangerously. Various warning lights appear and the car suffers from acceleration on a closed throttle. Also, the reversing camera which isn't essential by any means has become contrary. None of these faults were solved during its first service.
Rolls and rocks down the road. The seats, rather than suspension, help with comfort. Wheels patter and thump at motorway speeds.
Auto wipers need switched on every time and wiping isn't frequent enough. There also isn't a courtesy wipe as fitted to similar cars.

I should have followed my head and selected a Leon or Astra for similar money. The Cactus is far from being a poor car but could and should be so much easier to live with for the money.

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