Summary
The Citroën Ami is a pint-sized, electric-powered, inner-city runaround marketed as an alternative to mopeds and e-bikes. It’s currently the cheapest new vehicle in our Expert Rating index.
Importantly, the Ami is actually a quadricycle, not a car. That has many implications, the most important of which is in terms of safety as it doesn’t have to meet the same safety standards as a conventional car.
The Ami has picked up a very mixed bag of review scores from the British motoring media, with scores ranging from poor to exceptional. “Compared to a car, it’s slow, lacking in safety equipment and rather uncomfortable”, says Tom Webster for Parkers, highlighting the Ami’s key disadvantages on the road.
“It has serious shortcomings compared to a ‘proper’ full-size car”, says Richard Ingram of Driving Electric, “but makes for an intriguing urban transport solution nonetheless.” Reviewers largely agree that the Ami is a good match for the urban transport – it’s affordable, exempt from inner-city congestion and emissions charges, and is agile in tight streets and heavy traffic.
That said, a few reviewers comment that the Ami doesn’t come with much battery range – up to 46 miles between charges – and, even though it is safer than a moped, the car’s lack of safety equipment is still a concern for several outlets.
Because the Citroën Ami doesn’t comply with the same regulations as a conventional car – particularly when it comes to safety legislation – it doesn’t have a full Expert Rating score.
Please note that the Citroën Ami isn’t a car by legal standards – it’s a quadricycle (the same designation given to a quad bike), and therefore it conforms to far fewer safety regulations than most other four-wheeled vehicles. The Ami does not come with airbags, is illegal to drive on the motorway and has a maximum speed of 28mph, so driving this vehicle on roads where the speed limit is above 30mph is strongly advised against.
Ami highlights
- Cheap to buy and run
- Very agile in tight streets and heavy traffic
- Spacious for two
- Quirky exterior styling
Ami lowlights
- Safety concerns
- Only suited to inner-city travel
- Small battery range
- Larger city cars are more comfortable
Key specifications
Body style: Two-door quadricycle
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £7,695 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2022
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“”The Citroën Ami stands out for both its cute design and for being the cheapest way to go electric on four wheels, though technically it’s a ‘quadricycle’ and not a car.” (Dan Trent)
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“Cleverly conceived but hard to recommend given its capability.” (Matt Prior)
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Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Maybe we’ll go back to the simple pleasures of the bicycle and look forward to novel forms of e-power. But those who demand comfort – a roof, a proper seat, a heater, music – this is where the Ami should appeal. It’s not the urban answer. But it should be part of the answer.” (Tom Webster)
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.6 / 10
“The Citroen Ami is an intriguing ultra-compact electric vehicle designed to be incredibly cheap to buy and run.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“The Citroen Ami is a funky little city car that’s great fun for cheap, but very few will find it fits their lifestyle.”
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Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“I can see this model working in UK cities. The Ami is tough enough to stand abuse, it has no soft furnishings inside so it can be easily cleaned or even hosed out.” (Colin Goodwin)
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Discover EV
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“A real breakthrough from Citroën, Ami is a great response to the challenges faced in today’s urban environments. It is exempt from Congestion and Ultra-low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) charges, and with other cities looking to introduce similar measures, AMI is a future-proof solution.”
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Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Citroen Ami is slow, unrefined and expensive for a glorified golf buggy… but we can’t help but quite like it.”
Author: Tom Jervis
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“This tiny Citroen is fantastically unconventional could potentially cost less per month than a mobile phone. It’s just painfully slow on anything but urban roads.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Citroen Ami isn’t a car. It’s a quirky and affordable way of getting from A to B in marginally more comfort than on a moped.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Ever wished you could drive a dodgem on the road? Say hello to the Citroen Ami…”
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Move Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“For those it does appeal to, and fit into their needs, then it is absolutely ideal, and we would back a decision to part with your money with a wry smile and a nod of respect for you daring to stick two fingers up at societal norms and dare to be different.” (Jim Holder)
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“Deciding whether the Citroen Ami will suit your lifestyle depends entirely on where you’re starting from. Compared to a car, it’s slow, lacking in safety equipment and rather uncomfortable.” (Tom Webster)
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Cheap to buy or rent and basic in the extreme, this cheeky French mobility solution could be ideal for the young – and the young at heart.” (Andrew English)
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Yes, it’s a rubbish ‘car’… because it isn’t one. But it is fun to use and an entirely loveable object.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“The Ami has to be one of the most polarising cars we’ve tested, and its price and intended use must be factored into whether it works for your lifestyle. If you have a short urban commute of mostly 20mph roads, we can understand why you might consider one.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of July 2024, the Citroën Ami has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP.
The Ami is a quadricycle, not a car, and therefore it does not have to meet the increasingly rigorous safety standards that new cars have to pass.
Designed for inner-city commuting only, this vehicle does not come with airbags or any safety assistance tech. The manufacturer markets the car as a safer mode of transport when compared to e-bikes and e-scooters, rather than comparing it to larger city cars.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of July 2024, the Citroën Ami has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of July 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Citroën Ami to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Ami, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 47 miles | D | 47 – 47 miles | D – D |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 7.4 m/KWh | A | 7.4 – 8.5 m/KWh | A – A |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £85 | A |
| Year 2 | £204 | A |
| Year 3 | £345 | A |
| Year 4 | £481 | A |
| Year 5 | £693 | A |
| Overall | £1,808 | A |
The Citroën Ami is a very cheap vehicle to operate, according to whole-life cost data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Its electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is outstanding, so it gets a reasonable urban driving range from its tiny battery. And while an official driving range of 47 miles is very poor compared to any full-size electric car, that’s not really the market the Ami is targeting.
Servicing and maintenance costs are also exceptionally cheap. The only caveat on running costs is that we don’t currently have insurance group data, so we can’t provide a score for car insurance.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Citroën Ami has received.
2022
- Move Electric Award – Innovation Award
2021
- Auto Express Awards – Technology Award
- GQ Awards – Best Microcar
Similar cars
If you’re looking at a new or used Citroën Ami, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
BMW i3 | Fiat 500 Electric | Fiat Topolino | Honda e | SEAT Mii Electric | Silence S04 | Smart EQ Fortwo | Volkswagen e-Up
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Citroën Ami at The Car Expert
Buy a Citroën Ami
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Citroën Ami, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
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Lease a Citroën Ami
If you’re looking to lease a new Citroën Ami, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from LeaseLoco. Find out more
Subscribe to a Citroën Ami
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Mycardirect.
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