Adjusting the rearview mirror
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French brands have a long history of appealing and affordable small cars, and the Citroen C1 - co-developed with the Peugeot 108, and the Toyota Aygo - is another in that long line. The original C1 appeared in 2005 while the second generation we’re covering here was launched in 2014, and ran until 2022, so there are plenty out there to choose from.
The C1 isn’t the most sophisticated of small cars but it’s inexpensive to run, economical, has plenty of flair in its styling inside and out, and is easy to drive too. In other words, it ticks all the small car boxes. Read on to find out more about the C1, and its different trim levels and engines.
The Citroen C1, and its Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo siblings, are one of the default small car choices. Whether you’re looking for your very first set of wheels, need an economical second car, or simply want to spend as little as possible on your daily transportation, the C1 should probably be somewhere on your shortlist.
The C1 makes simplicity a virtue. It’s mechanically straightforward, which keeps maintenance costs to a minimum, and there are no fancy hybrid systems or turbochargers in sight, so the small, three-cylinder petrol engines, pulling very little weight, can be both economical but also affordable to service. Pretty reliable too, since there’s not a lot to go wrong. The cost-cutting only really shows in Citroen’s use of an automated manual as the automatic gearbox option - it does the job, but it’s not as smooth as a regular automatic.
At under 3.5 metres long the C1 is genuinely small by modern standards. This limits interior space, and Citroen has chosen to dedicate most of it to passengers - so you get pretty good legroom and headroom front and rear, but the tradeoff is a small boot, under 200 litres. The funky interior design presents no problems and C1s came with a touchscreen infotainment system from the start, which is nice. The C1 is a doddle to drive too - light controls and good visibility combine with fun handling and a pretty decent ride. Those small wheels mean tyres are cheap to replace, too.
The Volkswagen Up (and the similar Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii) is seen as the sophisticated option in this class. It’s a little less funky and a bit more grown up, which may suit some buyers more than others. The Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto are talented small cars too, while the Renault Twingo and Smart Forfour (another related duo - carmakers like to share development to keep costs low) have quirky styling and ultra-tight turning circles that make them great for parking. All make fine cars and all have low running costs.
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If you don’t mind slightly higher insurance costs then the 1.2-litre engine is appealing for its extra performance and no real economy penalty compared to the 1-litre. But the smaller engine is no hardship and should keep costs to a minimum. The manual gearbox is better than the jerky automated manual (no regular automatic or CVT was available), while in terms of spec, we’d go for at least a Feel model, which came with air conditioning.
The Citroen C1’s exterior dimensions are:
The Citroen C1’s boot space is:
The C1 is one of those cars were opting for an older model might actually be worthwhile for some buyers, since versions registered prior to the tax changes in April 2017 won’t pay a penny in VED - all models have CO2 emissions under 100g/km. After this 2017 date, you’ll pay a flat rate of £190 per year - a good three or four tanks of fuel, so quite a tax penalty.
While it might be surprising that there’s no group 1 or 2 super-cheap version to insure in the C1 range, group ratings of between 6-13 depending on specification should still mean relatively low insurance costs. Feel and Touch models with the 1-litre engine are cheapest, with special editions like the Feel Edition Sunrise, with the larger 1.2-litre engine, are towards the upper end of the scale.
What is the most popular colour for Citroen C1 ?
What is the most popular gearbox for Citroen C1 ?
What is the most popular fuel type for Citroen C1 ?
What is the most popular engine for Citroen C1 ?
What is the average mileage for Citroen C1 ?
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How many Citroen C1 cars are available for sale?
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