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

Kia K4 2026 review – can it fill the gap left by the Ford Focus?
Kia K4 – front
Reviews

Kia K4 2026 review – can it fill the gap left by the Ford Focus?

With Ford killing the Focus, there’s space in the market for a semi-premium family hatch to take on the Volkswagen Golf. Kia hopes to fill it with the…
23 Mar 2026
Peugeot’s new petrol engine swaps belts for chains to improve reliability
Peugeot Turbo 100
News

Peugeot’s new petrol engine swaps belts for chains to improve reliability

New engine isn’t performance-oriented but does address some reliability issues around so-called ‘wet belts’, swapping them out altogether for chains
16 Mar 2026
My Audi S8 started acting possessed, until I found the culprit in the back...
Audi S8 – front
Long term tests

My Audi S8 started acting possessed, until I found the culprit in the back...

Our Audi S8 was showing signs of being haunted, but the mystery has finally been solved
23 Mar 2026