Citroen Ami Review

Performance 

With a princely 8 horsepower, the Citroen Ami is outgunned by almost every car made in the last century. But that’s really not the point. There’s plenty of instant torque to move its 500 kilos around and its top speed is more than double the average commuting speed of Brits, meaning it’s categorically more than quick enough for the urban roads it’ll almost never leave. Indeed, with most of London’s inner sections now under 20mph limits – and other cities following suit – you could even begin to argue the Ami is quicker than it needs to be… And in the cut and thrust of urban commuting, it’ll definitely be brisk enough, its deft little shape actually channelling the spirit of a moped and making it something to hop though traffic in with more abandon than a big shiny SUV. 

Drive 

With its turning circle of 7.2 meters, the Ami makes even the Smart Fortwo look cumbersome, and it’ll be even more of a doddle to park. But the Frenchie can't quite compete with the Smart at feeling like a car. In here, you don’t get the expected silence of an electric car, as the Ami rumbles over rougher road surfaces without any insulation to help swallow the sound. The board-hard seats don’t help either, as you feel every bump through rudimentary suspension. 

The advantage of the tiny turning circle is limited a little by the lack of power steering, and the addition of a rear-view mirror wouldn't hurt either. This does’t reduce the fun though, especially when parking. Where you’d have to search for a parking space even with a Smart, you still somehow always find a suitable gap with the Ami.