All you need to know about the new Citroen C1

Today our focus is firmly on Citroen and one of the newest cars in their fleet, the C1. A new version of this car came out a few months ago, and i finally got a chance to play around with it. Here’s everything you need to know about the Citroen C1.

Citroen C1

Engine

Most small city slickers are built around an economic engine. The whole idea of them is to be able to zip around the city, and release very little carbon emissions. With the C1, you’re given a choice of two different petrol engines. You can either get the 1.0-liter one, or a 1.2-liter one. Most people recommend the larger one because it gives you a little extra boost. The car feels quicker, and you can cruise around town in it more comfortably. But, what makes these engines so great is that they’re highly efficient. They’ve both got exceptional fuel economy and release very little carbon emissions. The result is an engine that’s good for the environment, and good for your wallet too. It’s no secret that this car isn’t going to be breaking any track records, that’s not what it’s for. If you’re after a fast car, then you’re looking in the wrong place. Citroen has created a car that’s meant for city use, and the engines compliment this perfectly.

Driving experience

When you buy a car like the C1, you want it to be easy to drive. It’s a vehicle you’ll be using a lot, and probably on tight city roads. So, it has to be easy for you to handle, and simple to park as well. And, well, the Citroen C1 ticks both of these boxes, and then some. It’s easily one of the best city cars to drive right now. When you’re behind the wheel, you barely have to think about what you’re doing. It feels very responsive; it does what you want it to do. You haven’t got to struggle against mighty power or extreme g-force when turning corners. The suspension makes the ride feel fairly comfortable too. You won’t be getting bumped around when you drive around town in this. It’s a soft ride, but nothing to write home about. The main criticisms of the C1’s performance are that it isn’t fast and can be a pain to drive on motorways. To this I say; so what? It’s not meant to be a fast car; it isn’t designed to be driven on long motorways all the time. A city car is a city car. The Citroen C1 is perfect for people that live in a busy city and need something to travel around in on a daily basis. It’s absurd to ask it to do things that it wasn’t meant for. That’s like buying a Ferrari and complaining because it’s bad to drive off-road. Use this car for what it was built to do, and you’ll have no problems at all.


Citroen C1

Design

If you’re aware of Citroen, and the cars they make, you’ll know they love coming up with interesting designs. The DS3 was one of the most well-designed cars out there. When it was released, it looks ahead of its time. Recently, they’ve brought out the Citroen C4 Cactus, which sports an interesting design. They’re not a company that like to follow the crowds, they try and do things differently. The Citroen C1 is a car that looks similar to other city slickers and yet does not’t at the same time. It’s a similar size to other city cars but has a distinctly Citroen look about it. The headlights are especially different, and make the car stand out. The body of the vehicle is all about smooth curves and soft edges. On the inside, everything is colour coded to fit with the overall design. Some people don’t like the interior, but I think it suits the car well. Design-wise, this is a very good looking and stylish car.

Technology

These days, we all pay great attention to what technology a car can boast. And, when the company's logo is ‘creative technology’ you’re expecting some good stuff. In the C1, you get a range of tech for different uses. My favourite thing is the Active City Brake system, which brakes when you get too close to a car in front of you. It’s a nice bit of tech that increases car safety. You also have a reversing camera, as well as hill-start assist technology too. Add to that a touchscreen and keyless entry, and the Citroen C1 is packed full of tech. It’s great to see a small car get given lots of cool technology. Normally, all the good stuff is saved for the bigger, more expensive, cars.


Citroen C1

Price

Most Citroen’s are reasonably priced; they’re a brand that prides themselves on being affordable. They don’t want to price anyone out of their cars, so try and keep costs down low. Regarding the new C1, things are no different. It’s a very well-priced car and is considerably cheaper than some of its rivals, like the Mini Cooper. If you’re buying a compact city car like this, you don’t want to pay through the nose for it. Thankfully, Citroen is aware of this and have tried to make it as cheap as possible. As with most cars, you have a standard model that is the cheapest on offer. Then, you can add get other models with additional features that cost slightly more. It’s entirely up to you which one you get; you're not obliged to buy the cheapest one there is. In fact, even the most expensive C1 comes in at a lower price than some competitors. Because the car isn’t too expensive, it makes it great to buy using a car finance option. There are companies like the Pentagon-Group that offer various financing plans for the C1. The benefit of financing a cheap car is that it’s even more affordable for you to buy. All in all, if you want a car that won’t break your bank balance, the Citroen C1 should be one that you keep in mind.

Running costs

As well as having a low price, the C1 is well known for being cheap to run. This all comes down to that engine we spoke about earlier. This car has a very eco-efficient engine, and that means you will fill the tank up less than other cars. You can drive it around the city for quite some time before it needs filling up. The beauty of the petrol engine is that it makes the car easier and cheaper to insure too. So, you’re keeping those costs down low as well. The Citroen C1 is also an extremely reliable vehicle, which means you won’t have to worry about regular breakdowns. This can save you money on servicing costs, restrict you to the recommended one per year. It’s a far shot better than some vehicles that need to be serviced two or three times every twelve months. For me, one of the best bits about this car is that it doesn’t cost a lot to run. When you’re buying an affordable car, it helps that it can stay affordable too.

All things considered, the Citroen C1 is a very handy little car. The big question is, should you buy one? Well, if you’re after a small car, then you won’t find many that are better that this. Sure, it’s not the best regarding performance, there are others that beat it. But, for the price you pay, cheap running costs, and awesome design, it’s worth the sacrifice.  

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