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

The BMW M2 CS should have been amazing, so why was it the biggest letdown?
BMW M2 CS
Opinion

The BMW M2 CS should have been amazing, so why was it the biggest letdown?

Meaden found his perfect two-car garage at this year's evo Car of the Year, but it doesn't feature Munich's latest
31 Dec 2025
Forget the gloom, Car of the Year proved we're in a performance car golden era
eCoty
Opinion

Forget the gloom, Car of the Year proved we're in a performance car golden era

Fewer manuals and higher weights than ever. But 2025's best performance cars were still thrilling
3 Jan 2026
Was it a mistake to include a Land Rover in a test amongst flagship supercars?
Octa
Opinion

Was it a mistake to include a Land Rover in a test amongst flagship supercars?

The lineup for this year's biggest performance car test was varied to say the least, and one contender stood out from the get-go
28 Dec 2025