Which Citroen C2 version to buy
If the brief is “the fastest C2 in this list,” the answer is 1.6 MT at 125 hp (90 kW): 0–100 km/h in 8.3 s and 202 km/h, kerb 1045 kg, mixed 6.9 L/100 km. If the brief is “the lightest and cheapest-to-run petrol,” it is 1.1 MT at 61 hp: 935 kg kerb, mixed 5.9 L/100 km, 16.1 s to 100 km/h.
If the brief is “the fastest C2 in this list,” the answer is 1.6 MT at 125 hp (90 kW): 0–100 km/h in 8.3 s and 202 km/h, kerb 1045 kg, mixed 6.9 L/100 km. If the brief is “the lightest and cheapest-to-run petrol,” it is 1.1 MT at 61 hp: 935 kg kerb, mixed 5.9 L/100 km, 16.1 s to 100 km/h. If the brief is fuel, both diesel 1.4 MT and 1.4 ESG at 70 hp undercut every petrol on mixed consumption (4.1 and 4.2 L/100 km). There is no second generation to “wait for”; production stops in October 2009 on all ten versions.
Citroen C2 generations: what actually changed
1 generation (2003-09-01 to 2009-10-31) is the whole model: Mini 3-doors, 10 versions, front-wheel drive, 5-speed only (Manual or Robotic), 41 L tank, 120 mm ground clearance. Choice is engine, gearbox, and a few chassis details (rear spring type, rear brakes, tyre listing), not a later body.
Citroen C2 engine and horsepower: ten versions side by side
| Version | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cc | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Valves/cyl | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 MT (75 hp) | 75 (54 @ 5400) | 118 @ 3300 | 1361 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | 2 | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1.4 ESG (75 hp) | 75 (54 @ 5400) | 118 @ 3300 | 1361 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | 2 | No | Robotic 5 | FWD |
| 1.6 ESG (110 hp) | 110 (80 @ 5750) | 147 @ 4000 | 1587 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | 4 | No | Robotic 5 | FWD |
| 1.1 MT (61 hp) | 61 (44 @ 5500) | 94 @ 3300 | 1124 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | 2 | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1.4 MT (88 hp) | 88 (65 @ 5250) | 133 @ 3250 | 1361 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | 4 | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1.4 ESG (88 hp) | 88 (65 @ 5250) | 133 @ 3250 | 1361 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | 4 | No | Robotic 5 | FWD |
| 1.6 MT (110 hp) | 110 (81 @ 5750) | 147 @ 4000 | 1587 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | 4 | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1.4 ESG (70 hp) | 70 (51 @ 4000) | 150 @ 1750 | 1398 | Diesel | 4 Inline | 2 | Turbo | Robotic 5 | FWD |
| 1.4 MT (70 hp) | 70 (51 @ 4000) | 150 @ 1750 | 1398 | Diesel | 4 Inline | 2 | Turbo | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1.6 MT (125 hp) | 125 (90 @ 6500) | 143 @ 3750 | 1587 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | 4 | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
Engine location is Front, transverse on 1.4 MT 75 hp, 1.4 ESG 75 hp, 1.6 ESG 110 hp, 1.1 MT, and 1.6 MT 125 hp; it is not measured on 1.4 MT 88 hp, 1.4 ESG 88 hp, 1.6 MT 110 hp, and both 70 hp diesels. Fuel feed is Distributed injection (multi-point) on all petrols; not measured on both diesels.
Specific output (hp per litre of the listed displacement): 1.6 MT 125 hp leads at 78.8 hp/L; both 110 hp 1.6s sit at 69.3 hp/L; 1.4 MT/1.4 ESG 88 hp at 64.7 hp/L; 1.4 MT/1.4 ESG 75 hp at 55.1 hp/L; 1.1 MT at 54.3 hp/L; the turbo diesels at 50.1 hp/L. Torque tells a different story: diesel 150 Nm at 1750 rpm is the highest peak and the lowest rpm; 1.6 ESG and 1.6 MT 110 hp make 147 Nm; 1.6 MT 125 hp makes 143 Nm (4 Nm less than the 110 hp 1.6, at 3750 vs 4000 rpm). Compression: diesels 17.9; 1.6 MT 125 hp 11.0; both 75/88 hp 1.4 petrols 10.2; 1.1 MT 9.7; both 110 hp 1.6s 9.6.
Bore × stroke is not the same on the two 110 hp 1.6s: 1.6 ESG is 78.5 × 82, 1.6 MT 110 hp is 82 × 82. 1.6 MT 125 hp shares 78.5 × 82 with 1.6 ESG. The 88 hp and 75 hp 1.4 petrols share 75 × 77; 1.1 MT is 72 × 69; diesels 73.7 × 82.
Citroen C2 specs: 0–100, top speed, mpg (L/100 km)
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City / highway / mixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 MT (75 hp) | 12.2 s | 169 km/h | 7.9 / 4.9 / 6.0 |
| 1.4 ESG (75 hp) | 14.1 s | 169 km/h | 7.5 / 4.8 / 5.8 |
| 1.6 ESG (110 hp) | 11.7 s | 195 km/h | 8.3 / 5.2 / 6.3 |
| 1.1 MT (61 hp) | 16.1 s | 158 km/h | 7.5 / 4.8 / 5.9 |
| 1.4 MT (88 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured / not measured / not measured |
| 1.4 ESG (88 hp) | not measured | 178 km/h | not measured / not measured / not measured |
| 1.6 MT (110 hp) | 10.9 s | 195 km/h | 8.3 / 5.2 / 6.3 |
| 1.4 ESG (70 hp) | 15.1 s | 167 km/h | 4.9 / 3.8 / 4.2 |
| 1.4 MT (70 hp) | 13.5 s | 166 km/h | 5.1 / 3.6 / 4.1 |
| 1.6 MT (125 hp) | 8.3 s | 202 km/h | 9.3 / 5.4 / 6.9 |
Robotic vs Manual on the same engine: 1.4 ESG 75 hp is 1.9 s slower to 100 km/h than 1.4 MT 75 hp (14.1 vs 12.2) at the same 169 km/h, and uses 0.2 L/100 km less mixed (5.8 vs 6.0). Diesel 1.4 ESG 70 hp is 1.6 s slower than diesel 1.4 MT 70 hp (15.1 vs 13.5) and 1 km/h faster on top speed (167 vs 166); mixed is 0.1 L/100 km higher on the Robotic (4.2 vs 4.1). 1.6 ESG 110 hp vs 1.6 MT 110 hp: same 195 km/h and same 8.3 / 5.2 / 6.3, but the Manual is 0.8 s quicker (10.9 vs 11.7). 1.6 MT 125 hp is 2.6 s quicker than 1.6 MT 110 hp and 7.8 s quicker than 1.1 MT; top speed is 7 km/h above the 110 hp 1.6s and 44 km/h above 1.1 MT. Mixed fuel on 1.6 MT 125 hp is 0.6 L/100 km above the 110 hp 1.6s and 2.8 L/100 km above diesel 1.4 MT 70 hp.
1.4 MT 88 hp: 0–100, top speed, and all three consumption figures are not measured. 1.4 ESG 88 hp: 0–100 and consumption not measured; top speed 178 km/h — 9 km/h above the 75 hp 1.4s, 17 km/h below the 110 hp 1.6s, 24 km/h below 1.6 MT 125 hp.
Citroen C2 weight, dimensions, wheels, tank
Overall length/width/height are not measured on any version in this set. Ground clearance is 120 mm on all ten. Tank is 41 L on all ten. Wheel listings exist only on 1.4 MT 75 hp and 1.4 ESG 75 hp: 175/65 R14 and 185/55 R15; wheels are not measured on the other eight.
| Version | Kerb kg | Gross kg | kg per hp (kerb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 MT (61 hp) | 935 | 1340 | 15.3 |
| 1.4 MT (75 hp) | 990 | 1362 | 13.2 |
| 1.4 ESG (75 hp) | 992 | 1380 | 13.2 |
| 1.4 MT (70 hp diesel) | 995 | 1390 | 14.2 |
| 1.4 ESG (88 hp) | 1035 | 1410 | 11.8 |
| 1.6 MT (125 hp) | 1045 | 1415 | 8.4 |
| 1.6 ESG (110 hp) | 1055 | 1430 | 9.6 |
| 1.6 MT (110 hp) | 1055 | 1430 | 9.6 |
| 1.4 MT (88 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.4 ESG (70 hp diesel) | not measured | 1390 | not measured |
Lightest car: 1.1 MT at 935 kg — 55 kg under 1.4 MT 75 hp, 120 kg under both 110 hp 1.6s, 110 kg under 1.6 MT 125 hp. Best measured mass-to-power: 1.6 MT 125 hp at 8.4 kg/hp. Payload (gross minus kerb) where both exist: 1.1 MT 405 kg; 1.4 MT 75 hp 372 kg; 1.4 ESG 75 hp 388 kg; diesel 1.4 MT 70 hp 395 kg; 1.4 ESG 88 hp 375 kg; 1.6 MT 125 hp 370 kg; both 110 hp 1.6s 375 kg.
Front suspension is Independent, spring on all ten. Rear: Semi-independent, spring on 1.4 MT 75 hp, 1.4 ESG 75 hp, 1.6 ESG 110 hp, 1.1 MT, 1.6 MT 125 hp; Independent, spring on 1.4 MT 88 hp, 1.4 ESG 88 hp, 1.6 MT 110 hp, and both 70 hp diesels. Front brakes Disc on all ten. Rear Drum on the 61/70/75/88 hp cars; rear Disc on 1.6 ESG 110 hp, 1.6 MT 110 hp, and 1.6 MT 125 hp.
Which version to choose
Need the strongest C2 in this catalogue. Buy 1.6 MT 125 hp. It is the only version over 110 hp, the only one past 200 km/h (202), the only 0–100 under 9 s (8.3), and the lowest kg/hp (8.4). Cost of that step versus 1.6 MT 110 hp: +15 hp, −2.6 s, +7 km/h, +0.6 L/100 km mixed, −10 kg kerb. Versus 1.1 MT: +64 hp, −7.8 s, +44 km/h, +1.0 L/100 km mixed, +110 kg.
Need a 1.6 without the 125 hp tune. 1.6 MT 110 hp and 1.6 ESG 110 hp share 147 Nm, 195 km/h, and 8.3 / 5.2 / 6.3. The Manual is 0.8 s faster to 100 km/h (10.9 vs 11.7). Listed kW differs by 1 (81 vs 80). Rear brakes are Disc on both. Rear spring: Independent, spring on the Manual, Semi-independent, spring on the Robotic. Bore is 82 mm on 1.6 MT 110 hp and 78.5 mm on 1.6 ESG.
Need a 1.4 petrol and measured economy. Between the two 75 hp cars, 1.4 MT is the quicker (12.2 vs 14.1 s); 1.4 ESG uses 0.2 L/100 km less mixed and 4 kg more kerb. The 88 hp pair adds 13 hp and 15 Nm over the 75 hp 1.4s, and four valves per cylinder instead of two, but 1.4 MT 88 hp has 0–100, top speed, consumption, and both weights not measured, so it cannot be ranked on pace or mpg. 1.4 ESG 88 hp at least posts 178 km/h and 1035 kg — 43 kg heavier than 1.4 MT 75 hp, 11.8 kg/hp.
Need lowest fuel use. Diesel 1.4 MT 70 hp: mixed 4.1 L/100 km, highway 3.6, 13.5 s, 166 km/h, 995 kg. Diesel 1.4 ESG 70 hp: mixed 4.2, 15.1 s, 167 km/h, kerb not measured, gross 1390 kg same as the Manual diesel. Versus 1.1 MT, the Manual diesel saves 1.8 L/100 km mixed and is 2.6 s quicker, at +60 kg. Peak torque 150 Nm is 56 Nm above 1.1 MT and 7 Nm above 1.6 MT 125 hp, arriving 2000 rpm earlier than the 125 hp petrol.
Need the lightest C2. 1.1 MT: 61 hp, 1124 cc, 16.1 s, 158 km/h, 5.9 mixed, 935 / 1340 kg. It is the slowest and the only petrol under 70 hp. Highway consumption matches 1.4 ESG 75 hp at 4.8 L/100 km.
Gearbox rule from the numbers. Where a Manual and a Robotic share an engine, the Manual is quicker to 100 km/h by 0.8–1.9 s. Mixed fuel is equal (1.6 110 hp) or within 0.2 L/100 km (75 hp 1.4 and 70 hp diesel). If shift speed matters, Manual; if the 0.2 L city saving on 1.4 ESG 75 hp (7.5 vs 7.9) matters more than 1.9 s, Robotic.
What this set does not decide. Trim names people search (VTS, VTR, C2V) are not version names here. CO2 and eco class are not measured on all ten. 1.4 MT 88 hp is the least complete card: do not pick it if you need a measured 0–100, top speed, mpg, or weight.