Were any French cruisers still good by World War I?

Were any French cruiser designs successful?

Yes for their original period, but most had become old and increasingly obsolete by World War I.

Some French cruisers were capable ships when new, and the fleet inventory includes armored cruisers that had once been credible opponents. The problem is time: by World War I those designs were generally long in the tooth. Evaluating them fairly requires separating original design quality from the consequences of slow replacement and modernization. This distinction helps explain how France could possess many cruisers without having a modern cruiser force.