New Citroen C1 – review

Some cars are forgettable, some grow on you and others immediately put a smile on your face.

The new Citroen C1 is definitely the latter. Perhaps it’s partly because it has a big, cheeky smile.

It also has a lot to do with the way it drives. I genuinely haven’t had as much fun in a small car for ages – it reminded me of the original Mini.

Just in case you don’t know, the new C1 is closely related to the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 108. It’s what used to be called badge engineering in the old days.

All made in the same Czech Republic factory, these siblings have emerged with similar, but individual looks and different personalities.

The trio is up against some strong opposition in the shape of the VW Up!, Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo, to name but a few.

The new C1 has a hard act to follow. The popular original was launched in 2005 and is now a common sight on our roads with sales of 780,000 worldwide.

Only in July it was named the most reliable new car of 2014 in the annual Which? Car Survey, with a reliability rating of 99.3% for the first three years.

The new C1 is about the same size as the car it replaces (just 3.46m long, 1.62m wide and 1.46m tall) which means four adults can squeeze in, though it’s a bit tight in the back.

No such issues if you’re driving. My car was fitted with leather seats front and back. The front seats were some of the comfortable I’ve ever encountered on a small car and it was easy to create the perfect driving position.

The chunky little steering wheel with the flat bottom feels great, the wheel-mounted controls are well positioned, the single large dial up ahead is simple but effective, while the seven-inch touchscreen multimedia unit in the centre console was very clever.

Intuitive and able to hook up to your smartphone via Mirror Screen technology, it means that all your music and apps, including a Sat Nav, are available at the touch of a button. I’ve also never seen a reversing camera on such a small car. The sound system (with DAB thankfully) was good quality too.

The C1 isn’t just a pretty face. My car’s 1.2 petrol engine had plenty of grunt, while the car seemed well planted, giving me the confidence to hustle it around country roads. It more than held its own on the motorway too, while city driving was a doddle.

The steering is light, boasting a turning circle of just 4.8 metres, while the five-speed manual box was a joy to use.

My car was pretty in pink (officially Sunrise Red) and I was even stopped in town by a Mk1 C1 owner. Mine was the first new C1 he’d seen on the road and he was eager to see what had changed. And I have to say, I’ve driven cars several times the price and barely got a second glance from passers-by.

It’s not all good news. The three-cylinder engine is slightly rough, especially when accelerating off after a cold start, but I forgave it, such was the driving experience. Thankfully, it’s also very frugal – capable of 66mpg.

Some of the materials used are a little cheap too, especially the front and rear skirts, but overall it’s nicely put together and the cool alloys add to its sporty look.

The new Citroen C1 is priced from from £8,245 to £11,935 with the choice of 1.0 or 1.2-litre engines and three trim levels – Touch, Feel and Flair.

The Flair 1.2 PureTech I drove was loaded with extras, bumping up the initial £10,095 price to £12,475.

Overall, the Citroen C1 is a revelation – it’s fun to drive with cheerful, good looks, clever interior design and efficient engines.