Citroen C1

Our verdict

Part of the C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo triumvirate, the Citroen C1 is a supermini that makes budget-car shopping at least a little bit more interesting. Cheap doesn’t have to be dull.

Comfort

The C1 can get a bit choppy - a short wheelbase and firm damping see to that - but it's not a bad performance. The three-cylinder engine can get a bit buzzy when pushed, but it'll cope with revs. You can manage short motorway trips too, though a cross-continental jaunt is probably a bit beyond the comfort zone.

11 out of 20

Performance

Two engines on offer; a natty little 68bhp three-pot, 1.0-litre petrol or a 1.4-litre, four-cylinder diesel with 55bhp. The three-cylinder is great, hitting 62mph in 13.7 seconds, which sounds slow but feels fine in the car. The diesel is slower, hitting the benchmark in 15.6 seconds, but it's a bit more relaxed and you don't have to batter the five-speed manual to get the best out of it. Neither car hits 100mph. But who cares?

3 out of 20

Cool

Not really. But as an anti-fashion statement for an urban-based humanoid then perfectly acceptable. You can justify, but you won't be showing off about it.

13 out of 20

Quality

Toyota builds all three variants, so although they are definitely built to a budget with fairly Spartan spec, the dash is funky and well put together. Nothing feels like it'll break, just don't expect a leather dungeon.

11 out of 20

Handling

The minuscule size means the C1 feels nippy and easy to place, especially in town. Grip disappears quickly once you're suburban and beyond though, fading quickly into understeer, but it's a fun car to play in if you keep within the well flagged-up limits.

14 out of 20

Practicality

For town-based driving little beats these three, simply because they are small, easy to see out of and cheap-but-not-tacky. You can seat four - something a Smart can't do. There isn't any luggage space to speak of though, despite that all-glass tailgate it manages just 139 litres. You can fold the seats down in a 50/50 stylie to get 751 litres, but the access to it is really quite, erm, quirky.

12 out of 20

Running costs

As cheap as it gets. The cars are either group 1 or 2, get enormous mpg figures (petrols over 60mpg, the diesel nearly 70) and generally make light work of running a car. Cheap tax, cheap servicing - it's all good.

20 out of 20