The Citroën C2 (Generation I, JM) was launched in 2003 as the spiritual successor to the 3-door Citroën Saxo. Built on the PSA PF1 platform (shared with the C3 and Peugeot 206), it was marketed as a dynamic, youthful city car. It stands out with its quirky exterior design, featuring staggered side windows and a highly practical split-folding tailgate (clamshell boot). The lineup included economical city runabouts and revived the 'hot hatch' spirit with the VTR and VTS trims. A minor facelift was introduced in 2008. Note: In China, Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën sold a completely different vehicle under the 'C2' name starting in 2006, which was essentially a restyled Peugeot 206.
The Citroën C2 is a stylish and practical city car that makes a great budget buy, provided you choose the right specification. Manual petrol versions (1.1i, 1.4i, and the sporty 1.6i VTS) are highly recommended for their simplicity and cheap maintenance. However, buyers should strictly avoid the SensoDrive automated gearbox due to its high failure rate and poor driving experience. The diesels are incredibly frugal but require careful inspection of service history to avoid expensive injector or turbo repairs. Buy on condition, check the electricals thoroughly, and you will have a characterful urban runabout.