Citroën is synonymous with innovation. It was the world’s first car brand to be mass-produced with front-wheel drive, followed by a number of other technological and structural feats (more on that below). Building a reputation for no-nonsense, reliable cars, Citroën manages to combine style and quality without compromising on practicality, comfort, and handling.
The brand’s countless awards are testament to this. Citroën has produced eight Auto Europa-winning models over 28 years, three Car of the Year models, and garnered numerous other industry accolades. Recent wins include ‘Microcar of the Year’ at the GQ Car Awards 2021, and the ‘EV Innovation Award’ for the Citroën AMI at this year’s WhichEV Awards, to name but a few.
A brief history of Citroën
Citroën is a French automobile brand owned by global mobility heavyweight, Stellantis. The company’s roots, however, go all the way back to the early 1900s. This is when the founder of the famous avant-garde French car workshops, André Citroën, decided to revolutionise automobiles.
His day job was building armaments for France during World War I. Even back then, the man at the helm of the brand understood change and was always thinking ahead. He knew that the best post-war opportunities in auto-making would be in producing a lighter vehicle of good quality that could be mass produced and sold for an enticing price.
In February 1917, Citroën contacted engineer Jules Salomon. The brief from André was both bold and daring, and simple and straight-talking; to create an all-new design for a 10 hp car. The vehicle was to be well-equipped, more robust, and cheaper to mass produce than any rival car at the time.
The result was the Citroën 10 HP Type A. And just eight months after the war ended, the first customer took delivery of the Type A in July, 1919.
The brand went on to cross off quite a few firsts in the automobile industry. In 1934 came the inventive traction avant, spearheading the world’s first car to be mass-produced with front-wheel drive. While in 1954, Citroën introduced the world to the first hydropneumatic, self-levelling suspension system. The following year saw the pioneering DS line born with the first mass-produced car to come with modern disc brakes. A decade later, Citroën was praised again for introducing swiveling headlights on their cars. This led to countless national and international awards, the most notable being a hatrick for European Car of the Year. You can read more history highlights from Citroën here.
Today, Citroën has cemented itself as a pioneering brand within the automotive industry. With world sales reaching nearly 2.5 million per year (according to this 2019 report), Citroën is seeing strong growth in Europe, and beyond. The brand’s focus, as expected, has shifted to more CO2 efficient models, and cars that offer something stylish and practical for drivers across a range of segments. Here are the different Citroën car models available in the UK…
Citroën C1
Citroën has taken years of feedback onboard to create the Citroën C1 with newer, better, and more competitive specs. The all-new Citroën C1 measures 3.46 metres in length, and is the brand’s iconic drive for city life. The C1 is a commodious car on the inside with space to comfortably accommodate four adults alongside a 196-litre boot. However, it remains compact in appearance.
With naturally agile handling, the C1 has an optimal turning circle of just 4.80 m, and electric power steering for unparalleled precision to nip around town. Starting from £12,945, the C1 is available in two trims: Urban Ride, and Shine. There’s a snazzy list of add-ons to ensure that every driver has exactly what they need for whizzing about the city.
The standard Urban Ride comes with distinct style; chunky wheel arch extensions, dark tinted rear windows, and an optional bi-tone black roof.
Comfort is abundant in the C1 – for a city car, it’s rather clever. With optimised acoustic treatment and trademark Citroën suspension, the interior features shaped seats with integrated headrests and lots of practical storage space throughout. The C1 also comes equipped with Mirror Screen including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto featured as standard. And, it can be customised with a choice of 26 possible colour combinations.
Urban Ride
Citroën C3
This hatchback has gained mixed reviews from car experts, however, it’s a small segment car with some interesting features. This is mainly due to the abundant colour combinations offered to drivers; the roof, bumper inserts, door mirrors, and Citroën’s trademark air bumps can all be customised with the colour palette of your choosing. These custom picks are simply wide strips of rubberised plastic that are applied on areas of the car which are prone to dents and scratches – great for thwarting off rogue entanglements with lampposts, stray luggage, and supermarket trolleys.
The Citroën C3 stands refreshed with a distinctive and bold design. It is both modern and connected, offering up to 11 driver assistance systems including new Front Parking Assistance for true stress-free driving. The potential to customise the Citroën C3 is endless thanks to its mix of seven body colours, four bi-tone roof colours and three roof decals. There’s also the choice of three interior styles. With a nifty update to its bold exterior, the C3 is sharpened with a more assertive front-end, smooth LED headlights, and dynamic looks.
With four trims to choose from; C-Series, Saint James, Sense, and Shine Plus – drivers have even more customisation choices that are decent enough to stand up against the C3’s rivals like the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo. Prices for the C3 start at £14,180.
C-Series
Saint James
Shine Plus
Citroën C3 Aircross SUV
Offering real versatility in use with its compact exterior dimensions and generous cabin space, the C3 Aircross SUV is an ideal vehicle for motorists with active lifestyles – particularly those looking for more comfort and practicality from their vehicle on a day-to-day basis.
The C3 Aircross SUV has been restyled with a distinctive new look, even greater in-cabin space and comfort, and more safety and tech features for drivers’ peace of mind. Showcasing the importance of personalisation, this model is available in three trims: C-Series, Shine, and Shine Plus and starts from £17,320. The majority of current C3 Aircross SUV customers have opted for high-end versions, with the Shine Plus trim level now accounting for 75 per cent of UK sales.
With an assertive SUV-like design, a spacious interior and a dominating stance due to its raised ground clearance and large wheels, the C3 Aircross SUV is underpinned with lower-body and wheel-arch protection, front and rear skid plates, and stylish roof bars. The C3 Aircross is available with seven different body colours. Three are new for 2021: ‘Khaki Grey’, ‘Voltaic Blue’ and ‘Polar White’.
Some of the technological standouts include a large 9-inch touchscreen for improved interaction, and 12 intuitive driving aids that simplify everyday life and make each journey easier and safer. These include a colour head-up display to keep useful information in the driver’s line of vision, speed sign recognition and recommendation, and Active Safety Brake and automatic high/low-beam headlights to name but a few. Plus, the SUV can be equipped with Grip Control with Hill Descent Assist – a system that enables drivers to deal with challenging weather and road conditions.
Citroën C4 and Ë-C4 100% Ë
The Citroën C4 is an elegant and dynamic compact hatchback with the robust build of an SUV. With large alloy wheels, and strong muscular shapes, the C4 is an amalgamation of reputed Citroën engineering and technology. It features the innovative suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions, which absorbs all the minor imperfections in the road in order to prioritise comfort and a “flying carpet effect”, for the benefit of on-board well-being. The Advanced Comfort seats incorporate 15 mm of thickened foam for optimal softness and support and its compact dimensions ensures its dynamic ability, whilst generous interior space provides plenty of room for all passengers.
The C4 introduces a 100% electric version to the range for the first time – the ë-C4 100% ëlectric. If driving in all-electric mode on a daily basis is your goal, this car is a pretty solid choice.. Enjoy being free from the noise and vibration of road surfaces and from the stress of the outside world. The ë-C4 100% ëlectric is built to let motorists travel in peace, in a cocoon-like environment where all external elements are filtered out. Savour the quiet driving experience, with its direct acceleration and smooth suspension. There are soft, welcoming Advanced Comfort Seats, surrounded by the carefully designed ergonomics, with interfaces and dedicated services that integrate perfectly into your life.
What Car? awarded the C4 Car of The Year 2021 as “Best for Value” coupe SUV. With an option of three different powertrains – 100% electric, petrol or diesel – it’s easy to understand why. Starting from £21,310, you have the choice of four trims: Sense, Sense Plus, Shine, and Shine Plus.
Sense Plus
Shine Plus
Citroën C5 Aircross SUV
Measuring 4.50 m long with a rounded silhouette, the C5 Aircross SUV packs together everything you would want in a reliable car. With a benchmark boot volume (580 to 720 litres), storage space is no issue for the C5. Comfort also takes centre stage in the C5, rear lights, set in relief with 4 oblong 3D LED modules, give it character and a broad stance.
C5 Aircross SUV is the most comfortable SUV in its segment, with the Citroën Advanced Comfort programme, which includes two exclusive Citroën innovations: suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions and Advanced Comfort front seats for ultimate comfort. It is also the most versatile in its segment.
With C5 Aircross SUV C-Series you get a comprehensive features list, and C-Series personalisation. C-Series versions stand out thanks to the Anodised Deep Red colour pack comprising coloured fog light surrounds, roof bar lower faces and Airbump inserts. If environmental awareness is on your list of driving priorities, the Citroën C5 Aircross SUV Hybrid plug-in should be on your radar.
Motorists can opt for the quiet of 100% electric driving which also lets its 180 hp petrol engine take you even further. You can also benefit from dedicated services including charging scheduling and cabin temperature pre-conditioning.
Moreover, the Citroën C5 Aircross SUV offers a wide selection of accessories, such as roof boxes or carriers for all your leisure activities. Inside, elevate your interiors with protective front seat covers or a dog guard to ensure comfortable family journeys.
Starting from £34,630, the C5 comes in five trim options: Sense, C-Series, Shine, Shine Plus, and Black Edition, with the latter three being Hybrid models.
Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer
The Grand C4 SpaceTourer with its flowing lines and high-end character has become a second home for many drivers. The vehicle has impressive volumes. It goes all the way up to a massive 2,181 litres of load space when the second and third row seats are folded down. The seats are wide, there’s loads of storage space, and connectivity features are endless. The three-tier light signature on the front-end is the symbol of today’s modern Citroën.
The multi-award winning Grand C4 SpaceTourer comes in two trim levels: Sense and Shine, with prices starting from £26,210.
All models are exceptionally well specified, with a 12-inch panoramic HD central display, a 7-inch Touch Drive interface with Bluetooth and DAB radio, rear parking sensors, and Citroën Connect Nav with a three-year subscription to TomTom Live Services standard on both versions. Sense models go further with a reversing camera, dark tinted side and rear windows, keyless entry and start, Active Safety Brake and Driver Attention Alert.
Range topping Shine models enjoy a large glass panoramic roof, Xenon headlights, a motorised tailgate, active cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.
Coming soon…
Citroën C5 X
Keeping the automotive world guessing, and delivering on its promise of stronger, sleeker models, the Citroën C5 X will be available with petrol and plug-in hybrid engines, going on sale in the UK at the end of 2021. Compared to traditional large car rivals, the new C5 X is inspired by the 2016 CXperience Concept car. It combines saloon elegance with estate versatility, and the commanding attitude of a solid SUV.
Citroën AMI 100% Ëlectric
The Citroën AMI has built up a good reputation worldwide and is making its way to the UK in spring 2022. With a range of 43 miles and a top speed of 28mph, the AMI is a modern solution for nipping around town. With zero emissions and a 5.5kWh battery that charges up in just three hours from a standard electric socket, the AMI will challenge urban driving solutions with an increased awareness of protecting the environment too.