Skip advert
Advertisement

Citroen C1 review - does French hatch offer the thrill of city driving? - Interior and tech

Good value city car, but unrefined on the road

Evo rating
RRP
from £8,345
  • Efficient, easy to park, well-equipped and good value
  • Poor body control, coarse manners, better rivals

Citroen's C1 retains the minimalist look of its predecessor, but the designers have seemingly been given a little more free rein and it certainly looks contemporary. All versions other than the sole C1 Touch model come with an easy-to-use seven-inch touchscreen system mounted high up the dashboard. It features the latest MirrorLink technology that attempts to mimic compatible smartphones when they're hooked up, using apps such as internet radio and satnav. This display is also used by the reversing camera that is standard on the C1 Flair.

In terms of space, the C1 isn't a class-leader. The front seat occupants won't complain so long as they're not too broad-shouldered, but this is a very small car in terms of width and length and you feel it inside. Headroom is perfectly fine. The five-door version ostensibly makes it easier to get into the (not very capacious) rear seats, though the rear doors don't open anywhere near wide enough, making it feel even more cramped than it should. The rear seat splits and folds 50:50 in all but the entry-level Feel model, and you'll be needing all the space you can get, as the boot holds just 196 litres of luggage - and there's a high lip to lift baggage over. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best cars of the 1980s – performance icons from the decade of excess
Best '80s cars
Best cars

Best cars of the 1980s – performance icons from the decade of excess

The performance car as we’ve come to adore it has its origins in the 1980s. Family cars got fast, fast cars got faster, all of them were huge fun
19 Aug 2025
Mercedes-Benz EQS 2025 review – electric S-class takes aim at the BMW i7
Mercedes EQS – front
In-depth reviews

Mercedes-Benz EQS 2025 review – electric S-class takes aim at the BMW i7

Mercedes put all of its resources into creating a bespoke all-electric flagship, but it’s not quite worthy of replacing the S-class yet
18 Aug 2025
Gordon Murray has built two new supercars, and one of them looks just like a McLaren F1
GMSV S1 LM and Le Mans GTR
News

Gordon Murray has built two new supercars, and one of them looks just like a McLaren F1

Gordon Murray has announced the Le Mans GTR and S1 LM – a pair of track-oriented spin-off supercars from a new Special Vehicles division
15 Aug 2025