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 engineer so good he got banned, and designed a £30k sports car you can buy
Richard Hall Great British Sports Cars
Features

The engineer so good he got banned, and designed a £30k sports car you can buy

From 1:10-scale beginnings via building kit cars, Richard Hall’s passion for engineering led to the creation of his own modern‑day Lotus Seven interpr…
27 Sep 2026
The Nissan Z ‘Kaze’ makes Japan’s V6 coupe T-top
Nissan Z Kaze concept
News

The Nissan Z ‘Kaze’ makes Japan’s V6 coupe T-top

Nissan has gone back to the ’90s with the one-off Z Kaze, making the V6 coupe open-air with a T-top
25 Sep 2026
Teenagers are dreaming about Mazdas, not McLarens. I think I know why
McLaren W1
Opinion

Teenagers are dreaming about Mazdas, not McLarens. I think I know why

Supercars are everywhere today, but they don’t have the old allure, says Porter
25 Sep 2026