Citroën C2 Enterprise (05-09) - Review

Buy any small family hatch - like a Focus or Astra - and fold down the seats and you have more room than what the C2 Enterprise has on offer. However, you won't get a dedicated area that's specially designed for small parcels and packages. The C2 Enterprise has been professionally converted for commercial use and as a result is classed as a commercial vehicle by the Inland Revenue. The flat load area is lined to protect against everyday knocks and scrapes plus there are four load lashing points and a metal bulkhead to prevent items from falling into the cabin. It has the same split tailgate as the C2 car it's based upon, which can be useful for business use: couriers can quickly grab or load packages and with the tailgate open, there's a loading platform that can support up to 1000kg. Inside the bottom is a hidden 5-litre compartment. The maximum payload is 331kg.

The C2 hatchback scored a reasonable four stars from official Euro NCAP crash tests and this applies to the Enterprise. All models have ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, seatbelt pre-tensioners and dual front airbags. On the security front, there's remote central locking and doors that lock once the vehicle is moving.

Second hand prices are low, but the C2 Enterprise's thrifty nature doesn't stop there. It's in the lowest insurance group around (1), is cheap and easy to repair and has long service intervals. The 1.4-litre engine is not only punchy, but gives excellent fuel economy and you can expect to get around 70mpg even with a mix of town and motorway driving. All-in-all it's hard to imagine a cheaper commercial vehicle to keep on the road.

The C2 hatchback has been, on the whole, mechanically reliable. However, there have been some issues with interior trim and electrics. But there are no major concerns over relaibility.