Citroën C1 - TopCarNews

Citroën C1 (2014 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Citroën C1 is a small city-car class hatchback, available in either three-door or five-door form. It is also available as a cabriolet version called Airscape, which features a full-length fabric sunroof in a similar vein to the Fiat 500. The current model is the second generation, which was launched in 2014.

The C1 is essentially identical to the Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo, with the three models developed together and built at the same factory in the Czech Republic. It has been speculated that, when the current model ends production (expected to be in 2021), it will not be replaced. With Citroën’s parent company Stellantis now also owning Fiat, it is likely that any future Citroën city car will be based on the new, all-electric Fiat 500.

The Citroën C1 has received generally positive reviews from the UK motoring media over the last seven years, although its overall Expert Rating of 53% (as of August 2021) now falls a long way short of the class-leading Hyundai i10. It has been praised for its low running costs and overall driving dynamics, but criticised for a lack of refinement compared to newer rivals.

Key specifications

Body style: Small three-door and five-door hatchEngines: petrol
Price: From £12,945 on-road

Launched: Summer 2014Last updated: Spring 2019
Replacement due: N/A

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Airscape“Citroën has undertaken a general programme of improvements, and the C1 is likely to continue to appeal across a wide and particularly young audience.”
Read review

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“It’s got plenty of style and it’s decent to drive, but the Citroën C1 loses out to more practical city car rivals”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual FurioScore: 6 / 10“The Citroën C1 Furio might not be a hot hatch, but it could be worth a look if you want to save a bit of money and still end up with a sporty city car. It looks good, the engine is efficient and fun to use, and the equipment list is pretty good too. However, the C1 is completely outshone in all these respects by the Skoda Citigo.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Airscape convertible rangeScore: 6 / 10“If you do have your heart set on a Citroën C1, we’d opt for the more powerful 81bhp 1.2-litre engine. Economy is affected fractionally, but it’s a small price to pay for the welcome dose of performance.”
Read review

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Citroën C1 is a funky-looking city car that’s easy to drive and has lots of personalisation options that give it plenty of character. There’s a choice of three-door, five-door or convertible, and running costs should be pretty low too.”
Read review

Autocar

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“The Citroën C1 has been usefully updated and shows a decent turn of performance, with economy, but it is surprisingly unrefined against the competition.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual FeelScore: 6 / 10“The Citroën C1 is a cheeky, fun and efficient city car that has few foibles. While not exactly a bargain, it’s competitively priced, is fun to punt around city centres and has plenty of visual drama with an exterior that’s better finished than the VW Up!”
Read review

Car Keys

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Citroën C1 is a fun city car that is definitely suited to that environment, but can struggle when asked to go further afield. It may not be the most refined or the largest city car around, but the C1 does the job well – so is well worth considering.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7.2 / 10“The Citroen C1 is a stylish city car with plenty of kit and personalisation options, but it’s not quite class-leading”
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: C1 Airscape rangeScore: 6 / 10“The Citroën C1 Airscape proves that you don’t need to spend much to get the wind-in-your-hair feel. However, just about any alternative has more interior space and pokier engines.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Citroën C1 is a fun and funky little city car, but some of the alternatives feel more grown up and higher in quality.”
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 5 / 10“There are three- and five-door body styles and even a pseudo-cabriolet model to choose from. However, the city car segment is a full one and the Citroën C1 has to compete with best-in-class alternatives from Hyundai and the Volkswagen Group. It’s just not refined or enjoyable enough to do that convincingly.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“Overall the Citroën C1 is a good quality small hatchback that builds on the qualities of the original model but with some much-needed improvements in quality and refinement. It’s cheap to run and feels solidly built. There are some dated elements inside, but it still has plenty of appeal helped by good equipment levels across the range.”
Read review

Motors.co.uk

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“One of the Citroën C1’s key selling points has always been its low price. Unfortunately, while this low entry price may get you a car with a funky and eye-catching exterior, the interior is something of a let-down.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“Cheap to buy and run and easy to drive”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Citroën C1 is cheap to buy and run, plus there are enough big-car luxuries to keep you entertained. However, the Hyundai i10 offers you a lot more space for similar money, while the VW Up is classier inside and better to drive.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“Fun to drive, fun to operate and cheap to run. Other city cars are cleverer, but it’s still competitive”
Read review

What Car?

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“Decent, but lags behind the class leaders in too many key areas to be a class leader”
Read review

Which?

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6.3 / 10“The 1.2-litre engine feels much livelier than the 1.0, and the manual version is much better all-round than the automatic. Push for a decent discount at your local dealer.”
Read review

Safety rating

No safety rating

The Citroën C1 was assessed by Euro NCAP back in 2014 and achieved a four-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2021 and is no longer valid.

Euro NCAP’s crash testing standards are raised almost every year, and ratings will expire when a vehicle no longer meets the latest standards for that rating. Sometimes a vehicle will be re-tested against the newer standards and awarded a new (usually lower) rating, but this has not happened in the case of the Citroën C1.

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Citroën C1 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP, and only a few cars have do far been assessed. The C1 is now an old car, so it is likely that it will never be tested by Green NCAP. If it does ever happen, we’ll update this page with the results.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Citroën Berlingo has received

2021

Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best MPV
DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Utility Vehicle

2020

Autocar Britain’s Best Car Awards – Best Large Car
What Car? Awards – Best MPV
Parkers New Car Awards – Best Medium Family Car

2019

Auto Express Awards – Best MPV

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Citroën C1, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Buy or lease a Citroën C1

Regardless of whether you’re looking for a new or used C1, The Car Expert’s partners have thousands of cars to choose from

Buy a car online from your sofa.
We’ll deliver it.

We only have the best used cars for sale from selected dealers.

Search less, live more. We make finding the right car simple.

The UK’s automotive search engine. All the cars in one place.

Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing.

Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing.

Personal contract hire deals from Moneyshake.

Personal contract hire deals from Pink Car Leasing.

Keyword: Citroën C1