The Skoda Citigo is yet another model to fall under an umbrella of small car platform sharing – which in its case refers to the Volkswagen Up! and SEAT Mii. With this in mind, the Citigo has a tough job on its hands.

As it sits in the city car segment of the market, the Skoda Citigo will no doubt attract younger buyers and frequent city goers.

This means it will have to appeal in terms of low running costs, emissions and price tag. A little style doesn’t go a miss either. There are many rivals for the Citigo to contend with, including the Hyundai i10, Ford Ka and Peugeot 108. Immediately working in its favour though is the fact that the Citigo is not just cheaper than the Up, but it’s also cheaper than almost every rival.

Performance

As with many city cars there is just one engine available on the Citigo, which is a three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit. This 1.0-litre engine is available with two power outputs - 59bhp and 74bhp.

The entry level 1.0-litre 59bhp is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and delivers enough speed and composure to keep you happy when out and about in the city. It does, however, lack a little oomph when out on the road as it takes 14.4 seconds to reach 62mph and has a top speed of just 99mph – but this can be expected in such a small car. 

It’s pretty much on par with the entry-level engines offered by most other city cars around. The 74bhp unit does offer a noticeable leg-up in power, be it very slight, completing the benchmark sprint in 13.9 seconds.

If you really want to benefit from the nippy, city-dwelling character of the Citigo, then avoid selecting the five-speed automatic gearbox. The auto ‘box holds onto gears too long, lingers in-between changes and will let you down when you need a burst of energy in busy traffic.

Ride and Handling

Going over speed bumps and potholes is a doddle as well, as the Citigo’s suspension deals with them with ease – again, much like a bigger car.

The Skoda Citigo is surprisingly good at gripping corners and, thanks to its minimal body roll, you will think you are driving a much bigger car. Its light steering is great for when you are traversing the concrete jungle, but greater weight behind the wheel is missed when you start to throw it around corners – although you are unlikely to push it this far anyway. Going over speed bumps and potholes is a doddle as well, as the Citigo’s suspension deals with them with ease – again, much like a bigger car. In general, the driving experience in the Citigo feels very easy-going and parking is incredibly simple – two characteristics you look for in a city car.

Interior and Equipment

The Skoda Citigo is the Czech-brand's first every city car.

There is plenty of space up front for driver and passenger in the Citigo, in terms of both head and leg room. This unfortunately results in the rear passenger space being a little cramped. However, passengers in the rear shouldn't be too disgruntled providing the journeys are relatively short. Boot space is the same as its SEAT Mii and VW Up counterparts at 251 litres. The durability of this boot may surprise you as large suitcases can be fitted in with minimal effort. The rear seats also fold down for added convenience. Although kit is a little sparse at entry level, with highlights including an AUX input and radio, equipment is hardly essential on a city car. The Elegance trim we had on test offered the likes of heated leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and, most importantly, Skoda’s portable Bluetooth and sat-nav system – which simply clips into place on the dashboard. The materials used in the cabin aren’t quite as luxurious as those used in the Hyundai i10, but it is still great when it comes to ergonomics.

Cost

The entry-level 59bhp 1.0-litre petrol emits 105g/km and returns a combined 62.8mpg.

All engines in the Skoda Citigo are pretty economical, with CO2 emissions ranging from 95g/km to 105g/km. The entry-level 59bhp 1.0-litre petrol emits 105g/km and returns a combined 62.8mpg. The starting price for the Citigo is just £8,210 for the three-door version, which is over £500 less than the Up! It also undercuts the Hyundai i10, Ford Ka, Citroen C1, Peugeot 108 and the Renault Twingo.  The lowest priced 74bhp engine version of the Citigo starts at £10,390, which isn’t dissimilar to alternatives with a similar power output.

Our Verdict

Not to sound cliche, but the Skoda Citigo does exactly what it says on the tin. It will efficiently get you from A to B in the city environment, it is cheap to run, its small engine means lower tax rates and it’s not a bad looker either. As it sits a tad cheaper than the VW Up, it essentially means you will pay a small premium for the German brand’s badge – which may end up paying for itself when it comes to resale time. However, if you are on a strict budget, then it’s not really worth getting too concerned about the VW badge being slapped on its nose – the Skoda Citigo can hold its own. This is one of the best city cars around at the moment for delivering good, simple, motoring.