Citroen C1 review

From £11,015

The Citroen C1 is a perfectly adequate urban runabout. It’s easy to drive, the 1.0-litre petrol engine provides just enough poke, and it should be cheap to fuel and maintain.

  • Citroen C1
  • For: Cheap, fun to drive, Airscape option
  • Against: Small boot, cramped in rear, ho-hum interior
  • Verdict: Fun in the city and affordable to run

The Citroen C1 is part of a long-established city-car trio, which also includes the Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo.

There are three versions available: three-door, five-door and Airscape. The latter features a large electric sliding roof, giving a pretty decent impression of a convertible.

Prices start from £10,500 for the three-door C1 in Touch trim, but standard specification is so miserly you’ll want to spend nearly £2,000 more to upgrade to Feel. This adds air conditioning, improved smartphone connectivity and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Flair trim completes the core range, although Citroen has a habit of launching value-packed special editions.

In isolation, the Citroen C1 is a perfectly adequate urban runabout. It’s easy to drive, the 1.0-litre petrol engine provides just enough poke, and it should be cheap to fuel and maintain.

It’s let down by a low-rent interior, cramped rear seats and a tiny boot.

KEY INFO

  • Launched: 2014
  • Facelifted: 2018
  • Due for replacement: 2021
Specs
Model: Citroen C1
Prices from: £11,015
Engines: 1.0
Gearboxes: 5-speed manual
Bodystyles: Hatch, Convertible
Trims: Feel, Flair, Touch, Origins
Euro NCAP:
(2014)
Power: 72 hp
0-62mph: 12.6-15.7 seconds
Fuel economy: 52.2 mpg
CO2: 108-111 g/km
Dimensions (l/w/h): 3,466/1,615/1,460 mm
Boot capacity: 196 litres
Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles