Citroen C1
Ratings
3 stars
Summary
Clean, green and clever - but why would you pick one over the pretty much identical Toyota Aygo?
Review
There's lots to like about the Citroen C1. Along with its Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo sister cars, you could make a good case for it being a far more realistic look at the future of motoring than expensive hybrids or will 'o the wisps like hydrogen power. The C1 is small, light, good fun to drive and very, very economical.
The cutesy styling is probably the least successful of the three cars, with Citroen's chevron radiator grille looking as if it's been grafted onto the rest of the design. The cabin has some neat design touches, but various of the materials feel very cheap and, being priced below the Toyota and Peugeot, the Citroen is also really lacking standard equipment.
Front seat occupants enjoy a respectable amount of room, but the back seats are cramped and the boot is almost laughably small. Anything above the smallest loads require you to fold down the rear seat - and the most basic C1 doesn't even come with a 60:40 split in its back pew. That's taking penny pinching too far.
On the road the C1 impresses, certainly in town where its combination of a rev-happy engine, accurate gearchange and direct, responsive steering make it easy to dart into tight spaces. Out of urban areas the bouncy ride and poor refinement against wind noise tell against it. The petrol engine is excellent, so don't even think about the loud (and barely more efficient) diesel version.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
3 star
Cutesy looks are distinctive enough, although the Citroen front-end looks like a bit of an afterthought.
Handling
3 star
There's not much grip to play with, but the C1 helps you to make the most of what little there is. Agile, responsive and keen to dart into gaps.
Comfort
3 star
Bouncy ride and loud higher-speed cruising knock the C1's case as anything more than urban transport.
Quality & Reliability
3 star
Construction feels solid enough, but some of the interior plastics are very cheap-looking.
Performance
3 star
The little 1.0 litre petrol engine gives plenty of urge for a car in this segment - it certainly never feels painfully slow. Diesel engine is loud.
Roominess
2 star
Even by the standards of city cars, the C1 feels cramped in the back - and the tiny boot is pretty much a joke. There are MPVs with bigger glove boxes?
Running Costs
4 star
One of Britain's cheapest cars to run, although higher depreciation than the Toyota Aygo offsets much of the lower initial price. Diesel makes no case for itself over petrol - it would take 100,000 miles to pay off its extra list price.
Value for money
3 star
Very attractive pricing, and Citroen dealers are famously prepared to haggle further - but the basic versions are very, very basic.
