Citroen C1 (2014 – 2022) Review

The Citroen C1 launched in 2014 was the second generation of the French brand’s city car, designed and built as a joint venture resulting in the near-identical Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo, built to take on cars like the Hyundai i10 and SEAT Mii.

With a relentless focus on cost, the C1 and its relatives have been consistently one of the cheapest new cars that money can buy. Even so, this second-generation version has improved in a number of key areas over the original C1, with greater refinement, improved specification and more capability to deal with traffic conditions outside of the city.

Citroen has stuck to the friendly and cheeky approach for the second-generation model as it aims to differentiate its C1 from the now more aggressive Toyota Aygo and the Peugeot 108. As before, all three are part of a joint venture, but this C1 is a significant improvement on the original model.

It still retains the compact dimensions with a length of under than 3.5 metres but there's more interior space and a larger boot too. The big changes are in refinement, with improved ride quality and less noise on the move. Citroen has also revised the gear ratios on the five-speed manual and as a result you don't have to work the C1 as hard to get meaningful performance.

Originally launched with a choice of two petrol engines, the C1 range has now been cut back to leave only the 1.0-litre VTi. Thankfully this engine provides characterful performance despite its size, has enough power and is economical with more than 50mpg possible. 

In town, the C1 is highly manoeuvrable thanks to its short wheelbase and light power steering. It's better than before on the motorway, with less noise intrusion and the handling has been improved thanks to new suspension springs, new shock absorbers and a new large-diameter anti-roll bar. It's not quite as agile as the Skoda Citigo but it's still very composed and safe.

The interior of the C1 shows a significant improvement over the previous model whilst still being functional and hardwearing.

You also have the option to jazz it up with optional packs which add a dash of colour to the central console and air vents. Storage includes twin cup holders and a lidded glovebox that can accommodate a one-litre bottle.

All models bar the entry-level Touch are fitted with a seven-inch touchscreen in the dash that is a genuine plus on a car at this price, although features like the old fashioned trip computer display make it feel a little dated. On the plus side, an open-top version called Airscape is available and comes with a fabric roof which electrically retracts and adds to the fun feel of the little Citroen.

It's cheap to run and feels solidly built. There are some dated elements inside and it's not as roomy as a Skoda Citigo, but it still has plenty of appeal, helped by good equipment levels across the range.

Expectations are generally low when it comes to space inside a city car, but the C1 gives away a little to its rivals in terms of space.

Getting in is pretty easy whichever version you choose. Big doors on the three-door model mean climbing into the back is no chore, but once you get there the C1 is relatively short on space, particularly legroom, and lags behind key rivals like the SEAT Mii in this respect.

Like the SEAT, both three and five-door models come with pop-out rear windows which helps to keep costs down and saves a few more millimetres of space. 

The boot is smaller than the Mii too, with the C1 offering 196 litres while both the Mii and the Hyundai 10 have a capacity of more than 250 litres. That said, Citroen has managed to find 28 litres more boot space than the near-identical Toyota Aygo.

The seats are a big improvement on the old C1 and are wider with better support so you feel like you're sitting in them rather than on them.

The interior certainly feels solid and well finished so although there are hard plastics, they don't feel cheap and are what you'd expect in a car at this price level.

All models, with the exception of the entry-level Touch, come with a seven-inch touchscreen on the centre stack. It controls the stereo, media inputs with a clear screen and easy to use layout. The Touch model makes do with a twin-speaker MP3 audio system with USB input.

One clever feature is Mirror Screen which mirrors the screen of certain smartphones allowing you to control your phone - and various apps - through the touchscreen. It means you can run navigation of your phone as an alternative to the optional integrated system.

Citroen’s official prices list states the C1 range begins at £10,910 for the three-door Touch model, although this low-cost version does not appear immediately on the Citroen website as it is designed as a loss-leader to attract buyers in, but can be selected in the online car configurator.

As you might expect equipment is modest; electric front windows, remote central locking, an MP3 audio system and ESP are the highlights. It is also worth noting that the Touch is available with three doors only.

Move up to the Feel model starting at £12,660 for the three-door and the equipment levels take an instant hike. Fitted as standard is air conditioning, the 7-inch touchscreen system including DAB and Bluetooth, larger 15-inch wheels and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. You also get smarter interior trim which helps to lift the cabin.

Flair models start at £13,450 for the three-door version and add a reversing camera, 15-inch alloy wheels, a speed limiter on manual transmission models, a rev counter, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors plus a chrome finish on the door mirrors and door handles.

Citroen offers the C1 with a full-length retractable fabric roof dubbed Airscape, and treats this as a separate body style that can be had in both Feel and Flair trims, starting at £13,990. In addition the C1 is frequently available in a number of special editions, both in the standard body style and with the Airscape roof.

The options list for the C1 is relatively modest and is mostly centred around paint choices and visual upgrades. However, an Automatic Pack including air conditioning, automatic headlights plus keyless entry and start costs £570, as well as an Active City Brake option for £480.

Citroen models suffer from slightly higher depreciation than the average, although within that the C1 model performs well, helped by a reputation for decent reliability and the low initial purchase price.

Used versions of the second-generation model are now close to £3,000 and frequently have low mileage thanks to living the city life.

You can expect some of the lowest running costs of any petrol-engined car on the market if you go for a C1.

In terms of reliability, the C1 is one of the best-performing Citroens - chiefly because much of the engineering was handled by partner Toyota, a manufacturer with a reputation for producing some of the most reliable cars on the market. So you can buy one with a good deal of confidence that it will go on happily for many years.

Expect low insurance costs too, with both Feel and Flair models coming in at insurance group 8E.  You can also expect relatively low servicing costs too, with small wheels meaning smaller (and cheaper) tyres helping to cut costs.

The fact that it is a light car, with power steering and skinny tyres means the steering is effortlessly light, and this really comes to fore when you’re out and about in traffic. Also being under 3.5 metres in length makes it one of the easiest cars to park at any price.

In normal driving, the C1 is capable if not outstanding. It offers a comfortable ride in most conditions, although the fact it has a short wheelbase means it finds longer undulations more difficult to cope with.

The handling is also geared towards safety and predictability rather than fun. You are aware of what the front wheels are up to and it remains predictable even if you start to drive it more quickly.

Although the C1 now comes with a single engine option, the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder unit is something of a gem. Economy is impressive, with all versions capable of more than 50mpg under WLTP rules, helped by a stop/start system as standard.

The five-speed manual gearbox has been improved compared to previous versions with better ratios, and as a result the C1 is easier to drive with less noise at motorway speeds.

As an option, the 1.0-litre engine comes with an automated manual gearbox, labelled ETG, although it's best avoided unless you must have an automatic.

The 1.0-litre engine has enough get up and go about it, helped by the fact it's a three-cylinder unit. It's good fun around town and despite a modest 95Nm of torque it has enough poke due to the light weight of the C1 - it tips the scales at just 840kg. Away from a standstill it has real pep while at motorway speeds it feels far more comfortable than the previous C1 with less engine and road noise.

The C1 was tested by Euro NCAP in 2014 and scored an impressive four-star rating overall - city cars tend to be at a disadvantage in safety testing as they tend to be small, and their low cost means they frequently do without expensive safety systems.

The C1 scored 80 per cent for both adult and child protection, with a solid 62 per cent for pedestrian mitigation.

On the options list the Active City Brake package, which includes automatic braking, lane departure warning and speed limit recognition, costs a reasonable £480 and is available on all models bar the basic Touch trim. 

Citroen does not offer a tow bar for the C1, and although it might be possible to get one fitted from an aftermarket supplier, it doesn’t have the torque to tow anything other very light loads and so is not recommended.

The entry-level Touch model is true bargain-basement model, with just the essentials in terms of equipment. It makes sense if your budget is super-tight or perhaps as a first car, but given how much additional equipment you get by moving up to the Feel it is likely worth the additional £1700, making it the best value of the range.

The Airscape models are fun, but given the sticker price is close to £15,000 it’s close to the money required to buy some small hatches.