What they said when the Citroen C1 was new… (Jun 6 2005)
FUN, funky and flexible is how Citroen describes its all new city car.
But while it's definitely all three, it's the "affordable" tag that the French car maker also gives it which is set to have the biggest impact.
At just £6,495 the new C1 is a whopping £600 less than the present king of the lucrative city-car sector, the Ford Ka.
And as the Ka has been around for 10 years now, the C1 is hoping to steal its crown.
The C1 is manufactured in the Czech Republic and is one of three similar cars being made at the same factory, the others coming from Toyota and Citroen's sister company Peugeot.
And while all three share the same one-litre engine and body shell, the three manufacturers have somehow managed to make them look totally different.
Stylish clear headlamps, a rounded bonnet, deep bumpers and ultra trendy rear lights give the C1 its own distinctive appearance and character. But there's far more to it than that.
Unlike the Toyota Aygo, for example, the five-door version of the Citroen has rear doors which stretch right back to the rear lights - a feature emphasised by the flared wheel arches.
The C1 is available in two trim levels, the entry-level Vibe, from £6,495 and the more upmarket five-door Rhythm at £7,345.
The Vibe is well equiped but if you pay the extra you get a wide range of additional comfort, convenience and safety features which include remote central locking, electric front windows, a rev counter and velour upholstery.
The C1 is aimed at first-time buyers, families looking for a second car and couples whose children have left home leaving them with less need for a large vehicle.
But while the C1 might be lacking in inches it certainly doesn't feel like a small car when you get behind the wheel.
Thanks to a clever design which has pushed the wheels about as far into each corner as you could possibly get, this is a full four seater with plenty of headroom and a reasonable amount of legroom, even in the back.
As a city car, its luggage capacity is designed more for shopping than suitcases, but the rear seat backs will fold down to accommodate larger items.
The interior of the car is as innovative and trendy as the outside. There are no less than 12 storage areas and the half moon shaped speedometer moves up and down with the steering wheel adjustment.
Strikingly, the tachometer on the Rhythm spec models is in the form of a pod attached to the speedo rather than integrated into the dashboard.
But it's on the road that the C1 shows why it's set to be a real winner. It may only have a one-litre engine but this little car is as lively and willing as they come.
On paper it will reach 62mph in 13.7 seconds but it definitely feels much quicker. With two people on board, I found the 68bhp, 93mph C1 much more rapid than I expected and it has a superbly smooth gearbox.
A tiny turning circle - an essential in a city car - makes it a cinch to park and overall you can expect a very creditable 61-plus miles to the gallon.
Combine this economy with the lowest insurance rating around and it's easy to see why this car will appeal to first-time buyers.
They will also appreciate the pin-sharp handling and superbly stable cornering ability - adding more than a bit of sparkle to city car driving.
Words: Edward Stephens
Copyright