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Citroën C2 Hatchback (2003-2009) engines, drive and performance

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Performance rating: 2.5 out of 52.5

Written by David Ross Published: 6 June 2019

The C2 comes with a decent engine line up, starting with the 60bhp 1.1-litre. This entry-level model is cheap to run and fine for town work, but really lacks power on the motorway and needs to be worked hard to get decent performance. The 1.4-litre is a better choice for drivers who spend more of their time on dual carriageways plus it’s the only engine to be offered with Citroen’s Stop-and-Start technology which saves fuel.

The 1.6-litre 16v engine is the most potent in the C2 range with 110bhp (this was later upped to 125bhp) and is the only engine that’s fairly relaxing to drive. The sole diesel is the 1.4-litre HDi with 70bhp. It’s quite noisy and not overly quick – managing the 0-62mph sprint in 13.5 seconds, but it is very frugal and capable of an impressive 66mpg.

The small Citroen is an easy car to drive, with light, accurate steering and a tight turning circle making light work of town driving. But while body roll is well contained on more open roads, the steering lacks feel and doesn’t inspire confidence, feeling too over-assisted. The ride is also a little too firm and bumps in the road can send vibrations through the cabin.

The SensoDrive gearbox offers the driver the choice of manual or automatic gearchanges. The changes are mainly smooth and you’ll find it useful if you spend most of your time in town. Stop-and-Start models meanwhile switch the engine off in stationary traffic then re-starts it once the driver’s foot comes off the brake. It saves petrol and means less pollution is created.