Skip advert
Advertisement

Citroen C1 Airscape convertible review

How does Citroen's C1 city car work in Airscape guise with a folding fabric roof?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Citroen C1
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The four criteria that help determine the success of a new city car are all present and correct in the C1. It looks great, it’s fun, it’s cheap to run and can carry four adults at a push. However, there are models out there that fulfil this brief and take things a step further with incredible levels of comfort and refinement. That’s why we prefer Hyundai i10 and Skoda Citigo – they just feel that fraction more luxurious.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Cracking the city car market is arguably one of the toughest jobs in the motoring world. To be a success any newcomer has to be stylish, fun to drive, cheap to run and spacious enough to carry a car full of adults. We were impressed with the new Citroen C1 in France, but how does it fare in the UK?  

As you might be aware, the C1 shares all of its mechanical running gear and chunks of bodywork with Toyota’s quirky Aygo and Peugeot’s plush 108. So standing out from the crowd is of paramount importance. 

It’s certainly the most eye-catching of the three with two-part headlights, a gaping grille, 3D-effect rear lamp clusters and vertical LED daytime running lights. Buyers wanting a touch of open-air motoring can go for this Airscape model with a peel-back roof that costs £200 more than the hard-top. 

Things are more familiar inside, as the trio share an almost identical dash layout. The design is modern and clean, plus the fancy interior panelling matches the exterior body colour, so there’s no longer any unsightly exposed metal work. Elsewhere, interior space remains as it was from the previous C1, so head and kneeroom are a little tight, especially for those in the back. 

But there’s plenty of kit on board, with air-con, electric mirrors and a seven-inch touchscreen that can mirror your smartphone’s functions, all fitted as standard to our Feel-spec model. 

There have also been improvements under the skin. A new 81bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine is now on offer, as well as a cleaner, revamped version of the 67bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. 

Our test model is fitted with the smaller-capacity motor, which claims 68.9mpg economy and emissions of 95g/km. It may appear underpowered at first glance, but the C1 is so light, at just 855kg, that you can extract reasonable performance at city speeds. 

On faster, twisty B-roads the car feels a little out of its comfort zone and wind noise isn’t well contained. Updated springs and shock absorbers mean the Citroen rides a lot better than the previous model. If it were our money, though, a Hyundai i10 or Skoda Citigo still gets the nod ahead of this car. 

If you do have your heart set on a C1, we’d opt for the more powerful 81bhp 1.2-litre engine. Economy is affected fractionally, but it’s a small price to pay for the welcome dose of performance. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025