Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Skoda Citigo (2012 - 2019) review

The Skoda Citigo is an impressive all-rounder in the city car class

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
  • Practical
  • Cheap to run
  • Grown-up drive
  • Basic entry-level model
  • Unassuming styling
  • Pop-out rear windows
Find your Skoda Citigo
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

The Skoda Citigo is one-third of the VW Group's trio of very similar city cars, with the Volkswagen Up and SEAT Mii sharing the same underpinnings. The Citigo was the second, after the VW, to receive some mid-life updates in 2017. 

All three cars offer a smart design inside and out, a surprising amount of space for their size, and are cheap to buy and own. However, it's the Skoda that has the lowest starting price of the three. Given there's little difference in how they look, what they're like to sit in and the way they drive, it's the Skoda that represents the best value. It's not hard, then, to see why it previously won our City Car of the Year five years on the trot. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Best city cars

Despite the changes, the Citigo continues with the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine it has always had, with either 59bhp or 74bhp. While it's far from fast, it is willing and means the Citigo is brilliant for ducking in and out of city streets. It’s also surprisingly quiet and comfortable on faster roads, while decent handling ensures it’s a superb all-rounder for a city car. 

Factor in its versatility and grown-up driving dynamics, and the Skoda remains a top choice for motorists who want to cut costs without compromise.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The Skoda Citigo is the smallest car for sale in the Czech manufacturer's range, and it's a great choice in the city car sector, whether you're buying new or used. It shares running gear with the SEAT Mii and more expensive VW up!, but the great-value Citigo seems to fit the city car brief best.

Skoda Citigo prices start from just under £9,000, although that's for the basic Citigo S - the better specced Citigo SE and Citigo SE L versions we'd choose start from around £10,200. All cars have either three or five-doors, with the latter is around £350 extra, which is well worth paying for its added versatility.

Front-wheel drive is standard across the range with a three-cylinder petrol engine in two power outputs and a five-speed manual gearbox for all models - if you want an automatic, then you're going to need to look at the used market, as there isn't an auto currently available. Your other option is to wait for the all-electric Citigo e iV which is due later in 2019.

Advertisement - Article continues below

At the moment, the Citigo comes in 60PS and 75PS forms with 59bhp and 74bhp respectively. While these are pretty modest power outputs, both cars are lively to drive, while low emissions mean they're cheap to tax, too, with no Citigo having emissions of more than 97g/km.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The range comprises S, SE, SE L and sporty Monte Carlo trims, while the Colour Edition is a special model that adds a bit more style to the mix. All models are available with the 60PS engine, while the 75PS version is only offered in SE L spec.

The city car class is a hotbed of collaboration between manufacturers. The Citigo shares 90 per cent of its mechanicals with the Mii and up!, although the latter does come with a turbo petrol engine or electric drive, as well as a racy GTI, and the whole range is pricier, too.

Elsewhere, the Citroen C1, Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo are built in the same factory and offer a more youthful look, the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto look different, but are virtually identical underneath, while the Renault Twingo and Smart ForFour are similar to each other, although the latter is electric now. Slightly larger city cars to consider include the Fiat Panda, Ford Ka+ and Vauxhall Viva.

Used and nearly new

Skoda is best known for offering affordable cars, but until the arrival of the Citigo in 2012, the Volkswagen subsidiary had never produced a city car; its smallest offerings had previously been superminis such as the Fabia, Felicia and Favorit. 

  • For the latest Skoda Citigo prices check out our sister site buyacar.co.uk

Skoda Citigo history

Citigo e

Skoda Citigo-e iV: 2020

It wasn’t on sale for long, but the Citigo-e iV beat the Enyaq iV to market to become Skoda’s first production electric car, albeit one based on an existing platform. With a price of around £20,000, it was perfect for wannabe electric car owners who required enough range for city driving and didn’t want to splash out on a more expensive EV. This was the final version of the Citigo before the city car was axed in 2020. 

Skoda Citigo - front static

Skoda Citigo Mk1: 2012-2019

When the Citigo was introduced, it shook up the city car segment, along with its SEAT and VW cousins. Smartly designed, great value and good to drive, it’s a typical Skoda through and through, all backed up by one of the best dealer networks in the business. While the earliest models are now approaching a decade on the road, the Citigo had relatively little development. Don’t assume this is a disadvantage over newer rivals, though; some of them are still playing catch-up. Read our full Mk1 Skoda Citigo buyer’s guide here...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Citigo

Best learner driver cars 2024
Best learner driver cars - header image

Best learner driver cars 2024

Easy to drive, affordable, and inexpensive to run, these are our top 10 used cars to learn in
Best cars & vans
27 Sep 2024
Best used small cars 2024
Best used small cars - header image

Best used small cars 2024

Our guide to the best used small cars, covering the top second hand city cars and superminis
Best cars & vans
16 Jan 2024
Best used car finance deals 2023
Best used car deals - header image

Best used car finance deals 2023

If you’re after a used car, we’ve picked out 10 top examples – ranging from superminis to SUVs - on our sister site Buyacar
Best cars & vans
1 Dec 2022
Used Skoda Citigo (Mk1, 2012-2019) review
Skoda Citigo - front

Used Skoda Citigo (Mk1, 2012-2019) review

The Skoda Citigo is an impressive all-rounder and a front-runner in the city car class
Used car tests
24 Jan 2022
The best cars for £100 per month
£100 per month cars header

The best cars for £100 per month

If your finance budget maxes out at £100 per month, check out these affordable used car PCP deals
Best cars & vans
27 Nov 2020
Skoda Citigo-e iV vs Volkswagen e-up!

Skoda Citigo-e iV vs Volkswagen e-up!

Skoda is returning to the city car class with the new all-electric Citigo-e. Is it a better buy than the similar Volkswagen e-up!?
Car group tests
25 Mar 2020
New Skoda Citigo-e iV 2020 review
Skoda Citigo-e iV - front

New Skoda Citigo-e iV 2020 review

We try out the top-of-the-range all-electric Skoda Citigo-e iV city car on British roads
Road tests
2 Jan 2020
All-electric Skoda Citigo e iV revealed

All-electric Skoda Citigo e iV revealed

Skoda's all-electric Citigo e iV will go on sale in December, from £16,955 including the government’s plug-in car grant
News
19 Nov 2019
Skoda Citigo vs Kia Picanto vs Renault Twingo
Skoda Citigo vs Picanto vs Twingo

Skoda Citigo vs Kia Picanto vs Renault Twingo

The Skoda Citigo has long been one of our top city cars, but can the revised model beat the Kia Picanto and Renault Twingo?
Car group tests
21 Oct 2017
New Skoda Citigo 2017 facelift review
Skoda Citigo - front

New Skoda Citigo 2017 facelift review

Updates keep the Skoda Citigo city car fresh, while Monte Carlo trim adds sporty appeal
Road tests
15 Sep 2017
Skoda Citigo facelift priced from £8,635
Skoda Citigo facelift 2017 - green front overhead

Skoda Citigo facelift priced from £8,635

Light exterior design and cabin tweaks en route for Skoda's Citigo city car
News
29 Jun 2017
Skip advert
Advertisement
Ford Ka+ vs Vauxhall Viva vs Skoda Citigo
Ford Ka+ vs Vauxhall Viva vs Skoda Citigo

Ford Ka+ vs Vauxhall Viva vs Skoda Citigo

Can Ford’s new Ka+ go straight in at number one in the small car class? We find out as it faces two tough rivals
Car group tests
22 Nov 2016
Volkswagen up! vs Skoda Citigo
Volkswagen up! vs Skoda Citigo - header

Volkswagen up! vs Skoda Citigo

Has a facelift given the Volkswagen up! the edge over our favourite city car, the closely related Skoda Citigo?
Car group tests
22 Oct 2016
City Car of the Year 2016: Skoda Citigo
New Car Awards 2016: City Car of the Year - Skoda Citigo

City Car of the Year 2016: Skoda Citigo

The Skoda Citigo is the 2016 Auto Express City Car of the Year, with the Hyundai i10 and Vauxhall Viva commended
Awards
6 Jul 2016
Skoda Citigo Black Edition review
Skoda Citigo Black Edition front

Skoda Citigo Black Edition review

New Skoda Citigo in Black Edition trim improves on excellent city car recipe
Road tests
6 Nov 2015
Suzuki Celerio vs Toyota Aygo & Skoda Citigo

Suzuki Celerio vs Toyota Aygo & Skoda Citigo

New Suzuki Celerio offers mix of space, kit and value. Can it beat the Toyota Aygo and Skoda Citigo?
Car group tests
21 Apr 2015
Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo review

Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo review

The Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo special edition makes a great city car a little bit better with a sharper value proposition
Road tests
16 Mar 2015
Fun affordable cars: group test
Fun affordable cars pic

Fun affordable cars: group test

You can now own something fun for less than £100 a month - and we've tested three affordable cars to see how
Car group tests
18 Aug 2014
Toyota Aygo vs Skoda Citigo
Toyota Aygo vs Skoda Citigo

Toyota Aygo vs Skoda Citigo

With its bold looks, the new Toyota Aygo is set to make a splash in the city car class. But can it beat the Skoda Citigo?
Car group tests
10 Jul 2014
Skoda Citigo
Skoda Citigo

Skoda Citigo

£69 per month with a £2,543 deposit (0 per cent APR)
Best cars & vans
27 Jan 2014
Skoda Citigo Sport

Skoda Citigo Sport

The Skoda Citigo Sport is a welcome addition to the maker's city car line-up, with more kit and style
Road tests
9 May 2013
Skoda Citigo: Second report
Skoda Citigo front static header

Skoda Citigo: Second report

We put our new Skoda Citigo to the test on a marathon cross-Europe drive
Long-term tests
6 Feb 2013
Skoda Citigo: First report
Skoda Citigo front static header

Skoda Citigo: First report

We travelled to the factory in Slovakia to see our new Skoda Citigo roll off the production line
Long-term tests
16 Jan 2013