Review of the new Citroen C1 1.4HDi Range

It's no secret that the Citroen C1, the Peugeot 107 and the Toyota Aygo are one and the same car. Even the manufacturer press offices, who usually deny this sort of thing until they're collectively blue in the face or cynically steer journalists in another direction, have made reference to the fact in their press releases. Aside from some minor specification and styling differences, the badges and a few small variations in pricing, there's little to choose between the three models. All of which places prospective buyers in something of a quandary. Perhaps the 1.4-litre HDi engine in Citroen's C1 could be the determining factor.

The problem with diesel engines in small cars is that they're not always the cost-effective option that some people think they are. You'll invariably benefit in terms of fuel economy if you pick a model that drinks from the black pump but the savings will not always be large enough to justify the premium you pay to get the diesel engine in the first place. In most cases, you'll either have to run the car over a very long period to recoup the extra outlay or else cover the kind of annual mileage that most small car owners simply do not need to do. The best reason to buy a diesel citycar is because you like the driving characteristics of the engine. That way, any fuel economy benefits you incur will be a bonus. Try piloting the Citroen C1 HDi through some urban sprawl and you'll soon find that there's plenty to like.

The C1's other powerplant is a 998cc 3-cylinder petrol engine and if you keep your foot in the corner, it'll produce an appealingly gruff engine note that belies the car's cute styling. Unfortunately, performance, although reasonable, isn't quite as muscular as the acoustic accompaniment suggests. With 55bhp on tap, the 1.4-litre HDi common-rail injection engine actually generates less power than the 68bhp petrol alternative and posts a slower 0-60mph time but it dwarfs the 3-cylinder unit with its massively superior torque.

"The Citroen C1 HDi steps straight into a position at the head of the diesel citycar market"

If your C1 is to be used for low speed, urban motoring where every traffic light seems to be red and pulling out of junctions is a pedal to the metal, drop the clutch affair, the 130Nm of torque available from 1,750rpm in the diesel will be a real boon. The petrol option can only manage 93Nm at a lofty 6,000rpm so that gesticulating driver you've just pulled out in front of will be looming in the mirror like he's sitting in your back seat by the time you get up to speed. The diesel displays more muscularity than the petrol option at the kind of velocities that urban congestion forces us to do and its punchy nature should assist in extricating yourself from sticky situations. The penalty you pay for this is that it's substantially noisier than the petrol when idling and cruising.

When paired with the C1, the 1.4-litre HDi engine returns a stupendous 69mpg on the combined cycle. That's compared to the merely excellent 55mpg you get from the petrol model. There's a big difference but the diesel's £1,000 price premium means you'd have to run it for 8,000 miles a year over nearly nine years before you made your money back at the pumps. The C1's HDi engine can also offer one of the lowest CO2 outputs of any car currently on sale. With just 109g/km leaking from its tailpipe, it's likely to be in the lowest road tax banding for the foreseeable future. A group 2 insurance rating will be similarly easy on the pocket.

So to the really tricky bit - how do you make a buying decision when faced with 3 highly capable but virtually identical citycars? It's here that the 1.4HDi engine could give the C1 an edge. The Citroen and the Peugeot are priced at similar levels with Toyota charging a premium of around £150 for their Aygo. Peugeot don't offer the diesel engine with their 107, however, so buyers with a tight grasp on their finances may be inclined in the C1 HDi's direction. It may sound like we're splitting hairs here but purchase decisions have to be made on some basis or another and there's so little to choose between the trio that a few hundred quid here of there might swing it.

Diesel or petrol, 107, Aygo or C1, whichever model you choose you'll be getting a great value little citycar. Once, paying bottom dollar for a small runabout meant you slammed the door gingerly and operated the controls with a degree of caution because you expected things to drop off but the C1 and its brethren have a level of build integrity that really does inspire confidence. You can see where corners have been cut to keep the price down. There's only one strut to support the boot lid, one piece of string that lifts the parcel shelf and basic equipment levels are, well, basic. In this car though, none of it seems to matter. The money-saving innovations are clever and almost endearing rather than cheap and annoying.

The features you need to get the most from the car day to day work well. The dash layout is neat and modern, the controls are simple and thought has obviously been given to the provision of useful storage space. The C1 offers outstanding rear legroom considering its dimensions and there's a reasonable amount of boot space behind. The car is extremely light with a kerb weight of under 900kg and this translates into handling that's lively and fun, although strong winds tend to give it a bit of a buffeting.

The Citroen C1 HDi steps straight into a position at the head of the diesel citycar market. Offered exclusively in the five-door bodystyle with up-spec Rhythm trim, it's far more car than we've come to expect for £8,825. Though a little gruff, the oil-burning engine is preferable to the petrol from a city driving perspective but make sure you view its excellent fuel economy as a handy bonus rather than the main reason for selecting it over the petrol.