Iconic city car dubbed an ‘all-rounder’ by Top Gear’s Stig that ‘ticks all the boxes’ could be yours for just £1,300

AN ICONIC “all-rounder” city car that “ticks all the boxes” could be yours for just £1,300.

Former Top Gear Stig Ben Collins listed his best motors for new drivers starting out on the road in a recent YouTube video.

In the clip, he compared a number of budget vehicles, including the Citroen C1 VTi, which he praised heavily.

The motor has a 1.0L engine that pumps out just 72hp, taking 13.6 seconds to get from 0-62mph, but Ben felt the compact vehicle still had “a little bit more punch and pep” than its previous versions.

Inside, he called the vehicle's design “ergonomically lovely”, adding that everything is in “easy reach”.

Ben said: “Little bit more spacious in the cabin.

“It's a slightly bigger car – the seats feel roomy.

“Interestingly, the gear lever is slightly closer.”

He also praised how “robust” the C1 is, given its hardened plastic panels.

While he did say the visibility out of the rear was “quite limited”, Ben doubts that it will be an issue for drivers.

He added: “It's got a good turning circle.

“It's a really accessible little car.”

The C1 has a top speed of 99mph, helping drivers through motorway travel, and has an NCAP rating of three stars.

Ben also praised the ride quality of the vehicle as well as its suspension for being “smooth”.

He said: “The suspension on this and the ride are also surprisingly smooth.

“I thought this would have quite a cheap ride to it.

“But it's actually not bad.”

‘I REALLY LIKE THIS CAR'

Ben said the car felt “fun” to drive about, even on bumpy roads, summarising it in one word as “playful”.

He also said that while the car had been criticised for being weak uphill, this wasn't the case when he tested it.

Ben added: “I really like this car.

“Everything is just where you want it really.

“You're sitting in a really good spot and you can see everything you want to see really.”

Newer versions of the four-door motor also come with a “handy” reversing camera.

The boot comes with 196L of storage space, which can be expanded up to a whopping 780L by pushing the rear seats down.

It should be noted the C1 is near identical to both the Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo, which were designed in collaboration with each other.

You can grab an older version of the C1 second hand for just £1,390 online.

If you're looking for one of the newer VTi models, like the one reviewed by Ben, it's likely to set you back closer to £8,000.