Citroën Cactus
Price £16,356
MPG 62.8
Top speed 117mph
CO₂ 104g/km

If you can’t stand out in the car park for being beautiful, then you might as well grab some attention for being ugly – or maybe jolie laide is a kinder way of putting it. Which is exactly what Citroën decided to do with the Cactus. With its bizarre Airbump side panels, tiny wraparound headlamps, acres of plastic cladding and jazzy interior, it made quite a splash when it was first launched in 2014. It was a distinctively different and very quirky crossover which became the Marmite hit of the year.

Now Citroën has rolled out the second generation of the Cactus and, to some eyes, it’s lost some of the exuberance which made it such a success. Make no mistake, objectively, it is now a better car. It’s wonderfully smooth to drive thanks to Citroën’s new Progressive Hydraulic Cushions suspension technology, which slays potholes and speed bumps. Extra insulation and thicker glass in the windows also makes the ride quiet and peaceful. A range of feisty yet frugal engines will reward the more enthusiastic driver, too.

The new car still feels fresh, modern and unusual (it has 31 colour combinations to choose from), but by becoming less extrovert, Citroën’s Cactus has lost some of its appealing prickliness.

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166