Skoda's Citigo remains a strong contender among city cars

What’s new?

The Skoda Citigo is about as no-frills a car as you can get today. It’s designed for urban drivers who need a practical but compact way of getting around, as well as for those who don’t want to pay the earth in running costs. The original car did this to a tee, and now it’s been updated for 2017.

What does that mean? Well, the exterior – which was never bad looking in the first place – has been treated to a reshaped front grille and modified bumper as well as daytime running lights. There’s also a jazzy new colour – Kiwi Green – which stands out against the plethora of grey and black hues currently on the road today.

Inside, you now get a redesigned instrument cluster while a new infotainment system gives clearer control over the DAB digital radio and media options. There’s even a multifunction steering wheel available – though this is an optional extra.

Looks and image

The previous-generation Citigo was a good-looking little car, and thankfully Skoda has only improved the package. The previously mentioned daytime running lights give it a little more presence on the road, while redesigned 15-inch alloy wheels fill the Citigo’s arches nicely. The all-new Kiwi Green colour looks great on the car too – though it’s sure to divide opinion.

The Citigo’s interior has a quality to it that you’d expect from cars double its price. Everything feels exceptionally well put together, and though there are some harder plastics to be found, you need to remember that they’re in a car which can be bought for a shade under £9,000.

It’s impressive, just as it was in the original, while the variety of Skoda ‘Simply Clever’ features – an umbrella under the front passenger seat and a fold-out bag hook on the handle of the glove compartment, for instance – only add to the Citigo interior’s quality.

Space and practicality

Given that the Citigo measures just 3,597mm (a Ford Fiesta is 3,969mm, for context) then you wouldn’t expect to find much in the way of practicality. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. In five-door layout, like our test car, there’s 251 litres of seats-up boot space, rising to 959 litres with them folded down. It has a split floor too, giving a far more flexible storage solution.

Front seat passengers get plenty of leg- and headroom, while those in the back are – surprisingly – equally well catered for. Of course, taller passengers may struggle in terms of headroom, but occupants of average height will be more than comfortable sat in the rear of the Citigo.

Behind the wheel

In the modern motoring age of driving assists and autonomous steering, the Citigo offers a driving experience that is nothing short of refreshing. There haven’t been any mechanical changes made to this car over the previous model, which means that it drives just as well as it did.

The steering is light but communicative, while the five-speed manual gearbox has a decent action to it. The engine needs to be worked hard at times – especially when tackling steep gradients – but for most of the time it’s settled and refined – something you wouldn’t expect from a three-cylinder petrol engine.

It’s a basic driving experience, that’s for sure, but that doesn’t stop it from being an enjoyable one. And if you’re after a car that is happier doing longer miles, then the more powerful engine is the one to go for.

Value for money

If you want a Citigo with all the bells and whistles – think dark privacy glass and heated seats – then that’s exactly what you can get in the £11,325 Monte Carlo-edition car. In truth though, we’d recommend going for a more base-spec Citigo, as it lies closer to the car’s no-frills mentality than the more equipment-laden models.

The SE model is the pick of the bunch in our eyes, offering air conditioning, rear folding seats and an infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and six speakers for £9,635 for the 59bhp, three-door model. It also remains a very good car for first-time drivers thanks to its Group 2 insurance rating.

Who would buy one?

The Citigo is ideal for drivers who want a car that isn’t festooned with technology, and one which doesn’t cost all that much to run. As mentioned earlier, it’s also a great choice for just-passed motorists who are looking to keep insurance premiums to a minimum.

Model: Skoda Citigo SE L
Price as tested: £10,700
Engine tested: 1.0-litre petrol
Power: 59bhp
Torque: 95Nm
Max speed:100
0-60mph: 13.7
MPG: 68.9 combined
Emissions: 96g/km CO2