It’s been dividing opinion since 2005, and almost a decade later, the fight for the title of best city car is still hotly debated. With the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 108 sharing many of the same body parts, how could we possibly pick a winner? This week’s edition of Car Wars Wednesdays has the tough task of putting these two small cars head to head – and it’s a battle you don’t want to miss! Brace yourselves.
Design
You’ll struggle to find a Peugeot 108 review that doesn’t mention the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo – and that’s because this trio of motors have been designed together, making them difficult to tell apart. Because these cars have been built on a budget, their design won’t blow you away. Both the Citroen and the Peugeot come with a 196 litre boot – generous for such a small car. The entry-level trims on both cars are basic, but a vast improvement on their predecessors. The small but chic styling of these mini motors is targeted at a younger generation, but both cars are ideal for anyone with a busy city life. For vanity alone, the C1 takes the edge in this round, but only just.
Features
While equipment is basic in both the entry-level C1 and entry-level 108, it’s what we’d expect from an affordable city car. The C1 comes with electric windows and central locking, but you’ll have to upgrade to the Flare model to get tinted rear windows and 15 inch alloys. Moving up the specs for the 108, the Allure adds keyless start and a reversing camera and is arguably the best value-for-money model in the range – making the Peugeot the winner in this round.
Performance
Performance is unlikely to be the deciding factor in this Peugeot vs Citroen debate, but it’s worth noting the numbers, anyway. Both the Peugeot and Citroen offer the same 1.0 litre or 1.2 litre engine options, sharing identical mpg figures and CO2 emissions. The basic 1.0 litre in both cars returns 68.9mpg but in some specs, the 108 offers stop-start technology – which hikes performance up to 74.3mpg. While the 1.2 litre engine delivers 65.7mpg, its emissions are only 99g/km – making all specs free from road tax. The more powerful 1.2 litre sprints from 0-62mph in 11 secs – impressive for a small city car. It’s a draw when it comes to performance.
Price
Pricing is another area where these two cars clash. With the entry-level on both brands coming in at £8,345, the only thing that could sway your decision here is competitive finance options. We hold our hands up, the Peugeot and C1 tie in this round!
The verdict: Perhaps the closest battle of any Car Wars Wednesdays, this Peugeot vs Citroen fight is almost impossible to call. But there has to be a winner, and we’re going with the cheeky Citroen C1. Although with these city rivals, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder!
Whether you’re after a new C1 or a close competitor in the 108, the Car Loan Warehouse can help you finance your winner. Our flexible range of Peugeot 108 finance and Citroen C1 finance options mean you could be driving away in one of this week’s rivals sooner than you think. Check out our online car finance calculator for a quick quote today.
