Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 79%

Want to go green? Options are increasing and Citroen say this version of its C2 will see fuel economy improved by up to 15 per cent.

It does it by cutting the engine when the car is at rest and you’ve got your foot on the brake.

But what’s it like to live with? We drove one for a week to find out.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs |Reliability |Safety | Equipment | X-Factor| Rivals

1. Looks

The C2 is that nice combination of eye-catching and liveable. The side view is very funky with the lower, rear window, slightly bulbous rear and distinctive front end combining to form one good-looking car. Gallic flair executed well.

8/10

2. Looks inside

Simple, classy and easy to use. The interior delivers everything you could want from a town runaround. Beyond the steering wheel the analogue rev counter arcs above the digital speedo and fuel counter. Air-conditioning and CD/radio controls occupy the central console while two sets of gear controls provide visual interest. The conventionally-positioned automatic gear knob is clear, matching the interior door trim while rally-style paddle shifts are mounted on the steering wheel.

8/10

3. Practicality

Based on the same platform as the head-turning C3 Pluriel, this is by no means a big car.  With the parcel shelf in place it can only accommodate 166 litres of luggage. However, with only two travelling, the rear seats are a cinch to fold forwards creating room for 879 litres of luggage. The boot is easy to access thanks to a split rear tailgate system which can bear 100kg weight. In the cabin itself there is a lockable glovebox, a single cupholder in the front and two in the rear.

8/10

4. Ride and Handling

The C2 Stop & Start is fun to drive, though other higher performance models in the range cater for more driving thrills. It is also responsive and nimble, with a tight turning circle making it easy to manoeuvre. Plus its comfortable for those undertaking journeys beyond commuting and driving short distances.

7/10

5. Performance

There is one diesel model (for which Citroen claim the best fuel economy of any “mainstream” car in the UK) and a choice of four petrol engines – ranging from the 61bhp 1.1-litre model to the 1.6-litre 125bhp model. We drove the five speed 90bhp 4cylinder 1.4-litre petrol model. It’s not the quickest out of the blocks - 0-62mph in 14.2 seconds – but 98lb/ft pulling power is plenty to give this small, light car a nippy feel at low urban speeds. The automatic will do the work for you, albeit a bit slowly, or you can choose to make your own gear changes using the steering wheel-mounted, rally-style paddle shift gears. The Stop & Start technology means the engine stops and goes into standby mode when the footbrake is applied to a complete stop. However the restart, triggered when the driver lifts their foot is prompt. The top speed is 112mph.

8/10

6. Running Costs

The Stop & Start model offers an average 50.4 mpg – decreasing to 41.5mpg for town driving and rising to 58.9mpg at its most economical. CO2 emissions are reduced to 133 gm/km (less than the 1.1-litre petrol models but 20 gm/km more than the diesels) falling into band C which currently delivers an annual bill of £115.However, Citroen claim the Stop & Start technology can decrease fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent. It comes with a three year/60,000 warranty with service intervals every 20,000 miles. 

8/10

7. Reliability

Citroen comes tenth in our list of most reliable manufacturers and this model should not present buyers with problems. Overall it has a quality feel and is a robust little car.

7/10

8. Safety

Each model comes with safety aids: anti-lock braking system, emergency braking assistance and electronic brakeforce distribution. Two airbags come as standard which helped the C2 to achieve a four star rating following EuroNCAP crash tests. Brake hard and your hazard warning lights are automatically activated to alert drivers behind.

8/10

9. Equipment

Standard equipment includes radio/CD player with steering wheel-mounted controls, tinted windows, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, body colour bumpers and height-adjustable seats. Our model also included digital air conditioning pack, curtain airbags and hazard light activation when braking hard. It also included independent sliding and folding rear seats.

8/10

10. X-Factor

If you’re going for this model it’s got to be the Stop & Start technology which stops the engine when the vehicle is at rest and the brake pedal is pressed down. Of course, it is a novelty to start with but we soon got used to the silence at traffic lights and were impressed with how swiftly the engine returns to life. Citroen say this could save 15 per cent on fuel. But this obviously won’t include those occasions when you have used the handbrake rather than the footbrake to hold your position. If you use a tank of fuel a week you’ll be saving more than £1,000 a year, which certainly isn’t to be sniffed at.

8/10

Rivals:

You might want to consider:
Honda Jazz
Ford Fiesta
Mazda 2