Citroen Ami Review | The quirky quadricycle is a break from the norm

The Citroen Ami is a luxury and fun car with very few used cases in the UK. With a short range and low top speed, it will be restricted to use in dense urban environments. Ami may appeal to businesses looking to use its crowd-drawing appearance to promote their brands, or for use in last-mile delivery services, but it costs more than other mobility solutions.

Summary

The Citroen Ami is completely different from anything you may have seen before. While the concept of an affordable electric city car isn’t new – there’s been the Riva G-Wizz and the Renault Twizy, to name just a couple – the Ami’s boxy styling gives it a unique look.

Within minutes of running Ami you will realize that everyone is listening. It is definitely a car that turns heads.

To save money, the front and back panels are the same part. It’s the same story with doors, that’s why one opens ‘suicide’ style with a hinge set back and another opens conventional style.

It’s officially a ‘light bike’, designed to meet the needs of urban mobility and last-mile delivery. The light and simple design means it is suitable for car sharing and fleet use.

Prices start at £7,695, for a two seater, and £7,995 for a single Ami Cargo seat.

There are a variety of pack options, which include mainly colored plastic pieces, but also some useful storage solutions.

Comfort and practicality

Ami has a surprisingly spacious interior, thanks to the boxy design. Although it is only 2.4m long, there is plenty of room for two passengers inside.

Without the boot, the luggage space is even smaller. The Ami’s carrying capacity is limited to whatever you can fit in it. There is a large flat dashboard, which functions as a shelf, with many storage pockets. There is also a hook that can be used to hang a bag or jacket.

If you choose Ami Cargo then the passenger seat will be replaced by a large storage area offering 260 liters of space and a load of 140Kg.

There is no sound insulation inside the Ami, or even carpets, so the insulation levels are low. When driving it produces a constant whine, which can be a little annoying. The side window is split and hinged, allowing the bottom to be open for airflow.

There is no air conditioning on board, either, so the cabin will be very hot in the summer. The base heater is installed, however, to remove the windows.

If you find the prospect of Ami a little claustrophobic, then Citroen also offers the MyAmi Buggy, which has no doors at all and a sunroof.

Ami seats are made of plastic and have small areas of padding to provide comfort. The seats are very hard and unsupportive. Only the driver’s seat can be adjusted, for forward or backward motion.

Security and technology

As the Ami is classified as a quadricycle, it does not have to meet the same regulations as other vehicles. No airbags, ABS or traction control. The car does not have a Euro NCAP safety rating. It is probably safer than walking or being on a two-wheeler.

There is also not much in the way of technology. Ami is unlocked and started using a standard metal key, without a remote fob or central locking. In terms of infotainment, it’s the same as the smartphone you choose to attach to the dashboard-mounted holder.

For audio, Citroen will sell you a Bluetooth speaker which is located in the car’s cup holder.

A small digital readout above the steering wheel provides speed and various information to the driver.

Ability to drive and range

Ami is powered by an 8PS electric motor. Yes, eight horses! It uses a 5.5kWh battery, giving a WLTP range of 46 miles.

Compensating for the lack of safety measures on board is a top speed of just 28mph and don’t expect to reach that speed – the official 0-28mph acceleration time is 10 seconds.

If you run Ami at Vmax, her range will decrease at an alarming rate. As we drove around, it was estimating about 28 miles from a charge.

With a standard suspension setup, the Ami rides aggressively over bumps and potholes. Citroen missed a trick here by not using its Advanced Comfort suspension technology for the Ami.

Citroen MyAmi Buggy

The steering is quite vague and underpowered, but the 14-inch wheels aren’t too hard to turn.

In urban environments the low seating position can leave occupants feeling a little intimidated by other vehicles on the road. Although it attracts a lot of attention to itself, so there is a possibility that it will not be noticed.

The Ami is very easy to drive, basically a step up from a golf cart. UK regulations mean it can only be driven on a public highway and cannot use cycle paths, pavements or other pedestrian areas. In congested areas it means that the Ami has no advantage over other vehicles, as it is not narrow enough to weave through traffic like a motorcycle can opener.

Company car rent and running costs

The Citroen Ami is technically the cheapest new car on sale in the UK, by a regular manufacturer. But, it is still quite expensive due to its limited capacity on UK roads.

It’s unlikely that many consumer selectors will choose the Ami as their company car, but if they do it will attract a 2% capital gains tax rate and cost around £2.50 a month for a 20% taxpayer.

Running costs for a four-year cycle are 23p per mile.