Category: City Cars 
Price Range: £8,445 to £9,895
Pert looks, willing petrol engine, surprising legroom (even in back), decent safety spec, excellent value.
Dull and expensive diesel option, boot good for weekly shops, but not monthly ones; beaten for practicality by Panda, Picanto; with Citroen's special offers, more versatile C2 can work out cheaper to buy.
Arguably a better-value proposition than the 107 and Aygo, though all three are class-leaders
Little cars are never going to fare as well as larger, more substantial vehicles in a collision, but the Aygo/C1/107 triad still managed to score a class-leading four stars in NCAP's crash tests. That's largely down to the strengthened supports placed in key impact areas, and the crumple zones that disperse the initial brunt of a crash. Two airbags come as standard, but two more can be specified on Rhythm models. Pedestrians have been considered, too: the bonnet is raised a few inches above the engine, so limbs and heads don't impact on sharp components in a collision. Brakes are discs at the front, and standard-fit ABS with CSC (cornering stability control) should help prevent shunts in the first place. Security provisions are less complete: remote central locking is only available on Rhythm models, and forget about an alarm. All models do get a locking fuel cap, though.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Citroen C1
wrote on 07 04 2008
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wrote on 15 10 2006