• Small petrol engines, and five-speed gearboxes only
• Great fuel economy, with 60mpg achievable in the real world
• Affordable servicing and running costs

What are the running costs?

Small (less than 3.5-metres long), light (less than one tonne) and powered by a tiny engine, Citroen C1 running costs promise to be remarkably low. During our resting, the VTi 72 engine returned 58mpg in real-world testing on a mixture of A- and B-roads, as well as some motorway running. Expect more than 45mpg in city drving, while those with a light foot should see 60mpg on gentle runs in the country.

Used C1s can be found with non-VTi 1.0-litre and Puretech 1.2-litre engines, and there’s an ETG automatic gearbox as well. The Puretech’s 82hp is appealing, but for simplicity and longevity we’d stick to the 1.0 VTi.

The C1 has always been popular with younger drivers, and this new model will be no exception, as it too will sit in a low insurance band – regardless of trim or engine choice.

View detailed MPG and CO2 figures on the Citroen C1 specs pages

Servicing and warranty

Servicing and maintaining a Citroen C1 is a painless and inexpensive affair, as there is good dealer coverage and costs are competitive with rivals. A number of service packages are also available from main dealers, which further help keep costs in check.

Warranty is three years and unlimited mileage for the first two years up to 60,000 miles for the balance of the cover. Compared with up to 10 years offered by Toyota, Citroen’s warranty is beginning to look a little off the pace. You can optionally extend your C1’s warranty up to 100,000 miles.

Reliability

• Engines used across the PSA Group
• Interior quality has improved over previous 5008
• Well-engineered and thought out cabin should last

The C1 might wear a Citroen badge on its nose, but it’s built at the same factory as the Peugeot 108 and more importantly the Toyota Aygo. And it’s the Japanese firm that is responsible for the engineering of the project, save for the bodywork, so you can get a modicum of famed Japanese reliability. It has had no recalls issued since 2015.

The cabin of the C1 is basic but well put together, and while it’s not filled with soft-touch plastics or lush fabrics that does at least mean it should be relatively hardwearing – especially for those with children.

Read Citroen C1 owner reviews on Parkers