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Hatchback
Cars that are this cheap aren’t always very talented, but the Citroen C1 manages to combine rock-bottom prices with a broad spread of abilities. The C1 certainly has the looks to attract the young drivers at whom it is aimed.
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The styling is fresh and contemporary, inside and out, which means that, unlike many city cars, young drivers will be proud to be seen in this Citroen. They’ll also enjoy driving it. The handling is fine, as long as corners are taken with the respect that they’re due, and although the ride is firm, it’s unlikely to bother many people. The C1 is definitely best in the urban jungle, because its keen powerplants and compact proportions are ideal for city life. The engines struggle more with motorway driving, and refinement isn’t terrific. It’s not such good news on practicality. Rear-seat passengers will struggle for room, and the boot is tiny.
Running Costs
There’s very little chance that a used C1 will bankrupt you. Even when compared with the Toyota Aygo, with which it shares many of its parts, it loses its value quicker, so it should be cheaper to buy second-hand than the Toyota. It’ll cost you peanuts to run, too. Fuel economy is among the best that you’ll get from any car: the petrol returns an average of 61.4mpg, and although this is a very strong performance, the diesel has it beaten. With an average of 68.9mpg, you’ll be able to travel more than 530 miles between fills. Insurance costs, another big consideration for young drivers, are also as good as it’s possible to get. Both engines carry a group 1 classification, so premiums will be minimal. Routine servicing is also extremely cheap, even for a city car.