Used Skoda Citigo e iV 2019-2022 review

While it’s fairly typical for an updated car to get a new engine, it’s not often that an entirely new propulsion system is introduced. The Skoda Citigo e iV is somewhat different, however; rather than just tinkering with the Citigo’s petrol engines when it was tweaked in 2019, they were ripped out and stuck straight in the bin.

In their place is an 82bhp electric motor that’s powered by a 36.8kWh battery pack. In English, that’s enough juice for 162 miles of range in official tests. That’s some way behind the likes of the Renault Zoe, but way more than the paltry range offered by the Smart Forfour EQ, and even the more upmarket – and considerably more expensive – Mini Electric.

Of course, there are a couple of rivals that are much closer to home; the Seat Mii Electric and the Volkswagen e-Up. If you think they all look a little similar, that’s because they’re all virtually the same car, just badged differently. By developing all three cars together, Volkswagen Group was able to save an awful lot of money to help make them cheaper to buy and more profitable. Not that this should be a surprise; they did exactly the same when they launched the original petrol versions of the Up, Mii and Citigo way back in 2012.

Let’s start with the Citigo e iV’s range. Its 36.8kWh lithium ion battery will provide enough juice for the car to cover 161 miles on a full charge, according to the WLTP test cycle. We are yet to put it through our Real Range tests, but the similar Seat Mii Electric achieved 111 miles. Official WLTP figures suggest that it is able to travel farther than a Volkswagen e-Golf (144 miles); although many other electric cars will go farther still, the Citigo e is much cheaper to buy used than its closest rivals.

So, how milk float-like is it to drive? Well, its electric motor delivers 82bhp and 156lb ft of torque, and, while that might not sound particularly mighty, you can still be pretty sure of embarrassing most cars off the line at the traffic lights. Beyond city speed limits, though, the Renault Zoe has a definite speed advantage.

The Citigo e iV will manage motorway journeys (its top speed is limited to 81mph), but its acceleration at those higher speeds isn’t as swift as it is at lower speeds; while it only takes a gentle squeeze of the right foot to nip into a different lane of traffic around town, it’s harder to extract an equivalent burst of speed when overtaking on the motorway.

There are three driving modes: Normal, Eco and Eco+. Normal provides maximum power while the others limit it in order to eke out range (Eco+ even switches the air conditioning off). The levels of regenerative braking (a system that harnesses energy that would be wasted when braking and uses it to top the battery up) can also be controlled via the gear selector. In its highest setting, the braking force delivered when you lift your foot off the accelerator is strong enough to bring the car to a near standstill, but doesn’t quite allow for ‘one-pedal driving’ like the Nissan Leaf’s system can. The brake pedal feels natural and consistent in its responsiveness, though – not something you can always say of an electric car’s.

Around town, the Citigo e iV is relaxing to drive. Its steering is light and accurate and the car’s small, boxy dimensions make it easy to thread through narrow side roads. A tight turning circle also helps. The ride quality is a particular highlight; it handles big road imperfections, such as speed bumps and potholes, with impressive composure, and feels settled at all speeds. It’s quiet, too – you’ll notice some blustery wind noise whipped up around the door mirrors at motorway speeds, but little else to disturb the peace.

Inside, the Citigo e iV feels a bit dated compared with its rivals. The Citigo itself is an old design by now, and while there is no doubting the solidity of its interior, the materials used don’t impress; there’s quite a lot of hard, scratchy plastic around, while the steering wheel feels of particularly low quality. There is, however, a bright, interestingly styled plastic panel across the dash to inject a bit of colour. By comparison, the Renault Zoe feels more polished and modern.

The Citigo also lacks a touchscreen infotainment system. Instead, there’s a phone holder mounted on top of the dash, with a narrow colour screen and physical control buttons that allow you to cycle through your phone’s functions via a smartphone integration app. The latter also enables you to lock and unlock the car through your phone, and also to set the air conditioning before you get in. It may not feel quite so cutting edge as a touchscreen infotainment system does – an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto would be less fiddly to use – but it is still a practical solution.

The driving position is fine, but the steering wheel adjusts only up and down, not in and out, and could partly block your view of the instrument panel, depending on how you set it. The seat’s backrest adjusts with a ratchet lever rather than with a variable wheel control, too, so you might find it tricky to get the precise angle you want. There’s no adjustable lumbar support, either. Meanwhile, the digital trip computer display looks a bit old-fashioned – its small size and low screen resolution is a far cry from the fully digital display of the Zoe.

Visibility out of the car is great all round. That’s particularly good news, because, while rear parking sensors come as standard on top-spec SE L trim, there’s no sign of front parking sensors or a rear-view camera, even on the options list. Nor are super-bright LED headlights available on the Citigo; these come as standard on the Zoe.

Of the electric cars currently available, the Skoda Citigo e iV is among the smallest; in fact, only the Smart ForFour EQ is smaller. Yet, even if you’re tall, sitting in the front won’t be a problem for you; its high roofline allows plenty of head room. Storage space is decent, too, with useful door pockets and a single cupholder located centrally below the dashboard. Another practical touch is the small shelf that divides an open-faced cubbyhole ahead of the gear selector.

The battery is stuffed under the rear seats, the bench being raised by 5cm compared with that of the old petrol Citigo in order to fit them beneath. However, the impact this has on space isn’t especially marked and there’s still a decent amount of head room for adults. Those who are six feet tall should find enough room to be comfortable on short journeys, although taller folk will find their hair brushing the ceiling. Knee and leg room, meanwhile, should be just about acceptable if you aren’t especially long in the leg. There are only two seats in the back, though, and you can’t lower the rear windows – they pop out instead.

An adjustable boot floor is an optional extra, and, at its lowest setting, the Citigo’s boot is impressively deep. It doesn’t go back very far, though, and there’s a tall load lip at the tailgate. One thoughtful touch is the storage well that's found just underneath the boot's entrance; it's the ideal place to keep a charging cable close to hand.

If you're interested in buying a used Skoda Citigo e iV, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site here.

The Skoda Citigo e iV is one of the cheapest electric cars you can buy new; a Renault Zoe costs considerably more. Yes, it’s still a lot pricier than comparable petrol-engined city cars, but, as electric cars go, the Citigo’s price is a real highlight. That all filters through to the used market, of course, and it's possible to buy a 2019 version for around £19,000. Spend between £20,000 and £25,000 on a 2020 or 2021 model.

To charge the battery from 0-80% from a 7kW home charger takes around four hours, while a 40kW rapid charger will do the same in one hour. A three-pin plug will juice it up in 13-16 hours, but you’ll have to pay extra for the cable – it’s a shame it doesn’t come with the car. These charging times are broadly in line with rival electric cars’.

Road tax will be zero. Insurance and servicing costs will likewise be light.

Just one trim level is available, with 16in alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, automatic wipers and heated seats all as standard. Hopefully, you won’t want to find a used car that's had much else added – there was very little on the original options list.

Our favourite Skoda Citigo e iV: Skoda Citigo e iV

The most direct competition for the Citigo comes from its stablemates.

If you want the best value, the all-electric version of the Seat Mii is essentially the same car with a different badge. And then there's the Volkswagen e-Up, which is more plentiful on the used car forecourts and doesn’t cost that much more to buy.

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