Citroën C1 hatchback

Drive

With its basic, functional cabin and cramped driving position, the C1 doesn’t feel very cutting edge. That said, a big part of the C1's appeal is its back-to-basics vibe: you feel connected to the road with every turn and bump. The light, accurate steering makes the little car feel very agile and the gearshift glides through changes with ease. This is a car that's easy to manoeuvre around town and park in tight spaces. All round visibility is great too. Unlike Toyota's and Peugeot's versions of the car, Citroen offers a diesel - it's pointless though, as it's noisy and notably more expensive. The 68bhp petrol engine is peppy enough in town, but whines on the motorway and wind noise whistles against the thin window pillars; if you plan to clock up dual carriageway mileage it's probably best to look elsewhere. 

Comfort

The Citroen C1 offers just enough legroom for four adults, but you’ll struggle to fit a child seat in the back of the three-door model. Some drivers might find the pedals too close together, and the wheel won’t adjust for reach, but only the tallest will really struggle. Around town the ride is firm, though not uncomfortably so, and the petrol engine is much quieter below 40-50mph. The 55bhp diesel is noisy regardless. Small wheels and slender tyres means road noise isn’t much of an issue, but lack of sound insulation means the suspension and gearbox can often operate loudly, adding to the C1's basic feel. 

Reliability

While all cars get CSC electronic stability assistance and anti-lock brakes as standard, the VT model doesn’t get side airbags, whereas the VTR+ does. Both VT and VTR models also come without ESP electronic stability control. Still, the C1 gets a respectable four-star Euro NCAP score. Toyota provides the petrol engine and when it comes to reliability has a far better record than Citroen generally; the C1 should prove mechanically sound.

Practicality

The boot is compact and accessed though a glass aperture, so you’ll feel like you’re dropping your shopping into a small well. VT cars get a folding rear bench seat, which expands the boot's 139-litre capacity to 751 litres. VTR+ trim adds versatility with a split-folding rear bench. For such a compact city car, with such a small cabin, there is a good amount of storage.

Value for money

The low list price, combined with Citroen's appetite for discounting, means you should aim to get a cracking discount on the C1. That said, the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto are priced lower and have more by way of standard equipment, so they’re worth a look too. The 'Plus Pack' is available to order on entry-level VT models, priced at around £750. It includes some useful equipment, including ESP electronic stability control, daytime-running LEDs, remote central locking and front electric windows.

Running costs

The 1.0-litre petrol engine returns 65.7mpg when fitted with a manual gearbox, and produces emissions as low as 99g/km - VED tax band A. Insurance premiums are low too, making this a great first car for a young driver.