Citroen C1 (2005 - To Date)

Models Covered: (3/5dr hatchback 1.0 petrol, 1.4 diesel [Rhythm, Vibe])

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

If, like me, youve been inundated with headlines about rising insurance premiums, soaring fuel bills, punitive emissions taxation and frankly ludicrous congestion charge pricing, you might well be looking to ditch your gas guzzler and switch to a titch and little cars dont come much more funky and fun than Citroëns C1. Affordable pricing from new has seen these cars sell like hot cakes with the inevitable effect of softening the used valuations. If youre looking for a low-mileage city scoot, you cant do a whole lot better than the C1.

Unlike many tots, the C1 offers a choice of either three or five-door body styles. It also has an unthreatening and fun appearance with a face that looks as if its either grimacing or grinning depending on the angle at which you view it. The wide wraparound bumper, the rounded bonnet and bulbous headlamp clusters may not endear the C1 to the sort of pimply adolescents who hang around McDonalds car parks and revere the C2 VTR, but it has sold well to those with a little less testosterone coursing through their system. The rear end is very nicely finished with a glass tailgate, big crystal and anthracite rear light clusters and a deep under-bumper assembly.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

The wheelarches are surprisingly beefy and the rear set are sculpted a little further forward in the three-door bodystyle. The five-door car sees its rear doors meet the rear light clusters in a very neat piece of packaging. Citroën has been regaining its reputation for bold and exciting interiors of late and the C1 continued that trend. The first impression when looking at the virtually symmetrical fascia is that this must have been a vehicle that was very cost effective to convert to right-hand drive but the design is neat and ergonomically sound. Headroom inside the car isnt at all bad, even for someone well over six feet tall and the big glass area up front gives an airy feel to the cabin. The rear of the three-door car is notably more claustrophobic and is really only suitable for kids and short journeys.

Rear knee room in the five door car is little better but at least the cars beltline is a little lower, making it feel a little less hemmed in. The front seat backrests are hollowed out to provide a little more rear legroom for back seat passengers, but there really is only so much that can be done with a car with a 2.34 metre wheelbase. Citroën learned a whole bunch of lessons from their experience of MPV-style vehicles and the C1 offers no fewer than twelve storage compartments dotted about the centre console, dashboard and doors, with the door bins easily capable of holding an A4-sized atlas. Total luggage room with the rear seats in place is quoted at 139-litres, but drop the rear seats and theres an impressive 751 litres of space. This makes the C1 a car that can do more than just a light shop.

Prices start at around £4,525 for a 1.0-litre C1 Vibe, with the Rhythm model commanding £5,675 on a 2005 05 plate. Youll still need around £5,700 to get your hands on one of the desirable diesel variants. Although it may not initially seem that way, for most buyers the petrol will work out the more cost-effective proposition.

As you might well expect, insurance for the C1 is extremely cheap with the 1.0-litre cars rated at Group 1 and the 1.4-litre diesels at Group 2. Citroën dealers often offered free insurance schemes to tempt younger drivers into C1 ownership with some youngsters deciding to sell when this period expired.

The C1 hasnt had any major faults or serious recalls but do insist on a fully stamped up service record and inspect the car carefully for parking knocks and scrapes. The C1s plastic bumpers can shrug off some quite hefty scuffs without affecting their function but if there are abrasions use them as a negotiating point. The interior is very hardwearing.

(approx based on a 2005 C1 Vibe 1.0) C1 spares are relatively cheap with an oil filter retailing at around £8, a starter motor retailing at around £90 and front brake pads costing a very reasonable £30 a pair.

Parking at the supermarket for the weekly mission isnt going to present too many difficulties. At just 1.6m wide, the C1 will easily be able to take advantage of those awkward spaces next to the concrete columns that are so often rejected. Whats more, at just 3.

4m long, youll probably be able to access the tailgate while still tucked safely into your bay, away from errant trolleys and distracted drivers. You get to choose between petrol and diesel but thats as far as it goes. The range starts with the entry-level 1.0-litre Vibe variant or theres a plusher Rhythm trim level that was £500 more from new.

If you want a diesel, you have to have Rhythm and five doors. Plump for the green pump and you get a 68bhp 1.0i unit, while those looking for a diesel option get a 54bhp HDi engine. As might well be expected, both units are EuroIV-compliant and both return over 60mpg on the combined fuel economy cycle.

Even in town, youll be hard pressed to nudge below forty in the diesel. Five speed manual gearboxes are fitted as standard.

Of the Citroën C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo trio, the C1 has been by far the best buy if youre after a brand new car. It still represents the best value if youre after a diesel car although Id probably plump for the Toyota if petrol power was a priority now that prices have levelled. Whichever C1 you choose, youll end up with a cracking citycar and one which manages to make most of its rivals look old and limited.