THE LITTLE DIFFERENCES

Suzuki’s budget city car, the Celerio, takes on rivals from Citroen and Kia in our group test

THE VERDICT

The small hatchback segment holds the lion’s share of the British car market, so it follows that city cars – the smallest of all the small hatches – are important for their manufacturers.

We’ ve taken three of the more popular models – the Citroen C1, Suzuki Celerio and Kia Picanto – to find out which is best.

LOOKS AND IMAGE

You might think that there isn’t all that much styling you can apply to a city car. After all, there’s only so much metal you can shape and bend. these three cars, though, show that it’ s entirelypossible to give even the smallest cars a distinct character.

The C1, for example, is all rounded edges and clean lines. It’s a touch fussy at the front, but from the headlights back it’s a fresh, modern design. The Celerio, on the other hand, is a little busier, with bulging headlights, a wider grille, and a host of lines and creases down the doors.

Both cars feel a bit upright, albeit in an amicable, sit-upand-beg sort of way, but the Kia sits a little squatter on its more muscular bumpers and skirts. The South Korean manufacturer has tried to graft styling cues from its larger products onto the little Picanto, and the result is a car that looks slightly squashed, but nonetheless has a chunky stance. It’s like a west highland terrier that’s been in one too many fights.

Picking a winner is a matter of taste, but to our eyes the Citroen is the most attractive of the three.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY

In terms of boot space, the most practical of the three cars here is the Celerio. Its 254-litre luggage bay is streets ahead of the Picanto and C1’s 200- and 196-litre spaces respectively.

It’ s also the roomiest in terms of passenger space, with decent amounts of head- and legroom for those in the rear. At the other end of the spectrum, the C1 feels cramped and claustrophobic in the back seats, although this isn’t helped by the bulky, sportylooking front seats that almost entirely block the view forward.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

City cars have to walk a tight rope when it comes to driving dynamics. As the name suggests, they need to be nippy around town, but they have to be up to occasional motorway use and serve up a modicum of driving pleasure when the road gets winding.

It’s no surprise, then that many city cars fall short in at least one, if not more, of these areas. These three, though, offer a better experience than some. The best compromise is pi canto, which feels small and agile in town, yet still feels reasonably solid on faster roads. It’s relatively comfortable, too.

If you’ re solely driving around town centres, though, the Celerio will be perfectly adequate. Of the three, it has the most forgiving clutch, and it’s also endowed with gearing that’s well suited to the perky three-cylinder engine.

The Citroen, on the other hand, is better suited to long distances. it’s surprisingly comfortable in the cruise, and the final ratio in the five-speed manual gearbox is long and tractable.

Nevertheless, it’s the Kia that serves up the best mix. Light but accurate steering, a numb yet smooth clutch, and a ride quality that wouldn’t be out of place in a car a segment above.

VALUE FOR MONEY

None of these cars are expensive, with prices ranging from about £7,000 to around £14,000. It’s a big range, granted, but given our test C1 came with the optional folding roof and high specification trim level, it’s no real surprise.

In their most basic guises, the Celerio is the cheapest at £6,999, while the C1 costs £8,195 and the Picanto comes in at £8,695.

However, it isn’t all that simple, because the C1 is the only car here that’s offered with a touchscreen infotainment system, while the Picanto is the only one to have air conditioning as standard across the range.

Despite this difference in equipment, though, it’s difficult to ignore the fact that the Celerio is so much cheaper. Even the most expensive automatic model is less than £10,000. In comparison, the top-spec Kia costs £12,745 and the top-spec convertible C1 starts at £12,625. If all you want is a runabout, that’s a compelling argument.

In truth, this comparison test is something of a two-horse race. The Suzuki is very cheap and its minimalist approach may appeal to some, but many will be put off by an interior that already feels dated, old-school driving experience and a distinct lack of refinement compared to its rivals.

The Kia’s solid driving dynamics and impressive cabin make it a serious contender, while the marginally cheaper C1 majors on style, desirability and technology.

Choosing between these two comes down to a question of taste. Those prioritising street cred and city chic will be drawn to the Citroen, while those with an eye for an urban runabout with a big-car feel will prefer the Kia.