This is strange. The Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107 look remarkably similar. In fact, these city cars could be twins. Perhaps this is because they are built in the same factory and owned by the same parent company (PSA Peugeot Citroen). Entry-level versions even have identical prices, £8,695. These budget versions also share the same engine, a 1.0- litre 68bhp petrol unit. This averages 62.8mpg, whether fitted to the Citroen C1 or the Peugeot 107. The secret is out then, these machines are the same car in different clothing.
As such, picking a favourite is like choosing between your children – possible, but rather tricky. The Citroen C1 stands-out from its sibling as it hits 62mph in 13.7 seconds, compared to 14.2. It has an MP3 compatible stereo too. Sibling rivalry has no limits though, so the Peugeot fights back. With the rear seats folded flat, its luggage capacity is 751-litres. The basic-spec C1 only holds 712-litres. The alternative, for both cars, is to carry 139-litres of luggage plus four passengers. These figures are reasonable for the class.
Both cars are easy to drive thanks to: positive steering, light controls, and excellent visibility. Both have a fair amount of traction too, plus reasonable ride quality. Best stick to town work though, as they become noisy at higher motorway speeds. That said, in city car terms, the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107 tick the boxes. They are cheap, have low running costs, and are easy to live with. As for which one to choose – shut your eyes and point.
