Does a Citroen C1 have a Toyota engine?
The Citroën C1 does indeed use a Toyota-developed engine, reflecting the long-running joint venture between PSA and Toyota that produced the car and its siblings. In practice, the C1 shares powertrains with the Toyota Aygo and, in the same product family, the Peugeot 107.
Since the mid-2000s, the TPCA (Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automotive) collaboration has built the C1 at a dedicated plant in Kolín, Czech Republic, using a common engine and drivetrain platform designed to keep costs down across the trio. While you’ll see Citroën branding on the outside, the heart of the car—its petrol engine and many mechanical components—originates from Toyota design and engineering.
Origins of the collaboration
The C1, along with its close relatives the Toyota Aygo and the Peugeot 107, came from TPCA, a joint venture created by Toyota and PSA Peugeot Citroën. The program aimed to produce a trio of microcars at a single plant, sharing costs, platforms, and powertrains while wearing different badges for each automaker.
Shared powertrains and components
In this family of city cars, core elements are shared across models to maximize efficiency. The most significant example is the engine: a Toyota-developed 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine used across the C1, Aygo, and 107. The cars also share the same basic platform and many drivetrain components, allowing for common production lines and simpler parts sourcing.
- Toyota-developed 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine (used across the C1, Aygo, and 107)
- Shared TPCA platform and chassis architecture
- Similar transmission options, including a five-speed manual and, on some trims, an automated manual (SensoDrive)
- Unified electronics, safety features, and interior packaging across models
Before listing the key shared elements, note that these commonalities underpin much of the C1’s design and performance.
These shared elements explain why the C1’s engine is widely described as Toyota-influenced, even though the car carries a Citroën badge.
Engine options across generations
The C1’s propulsion has consistently revolved around Toyota’s small-displacement petrol technology, with no diesel option in the C1 lineup and a focus on economical urban performance. The following points summarize the typical engine setup and options across generations.
- 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine developed in collaboration with Toyota (the core powertrain for the C1, Aygo, and 107)
- No diesel option was offered for the C1 in most markets
- Transmission choices typically included a five-speed manual; a robotized automated manual (SensoDrive) was available on certain trims
- Engine tuning and emissions were adapted over time to meet evolving standards, while preserving the shared drivetrain philosophy
Before the list, here are the main engine characteristics that defined the C1 family across generations.
In short, the Citroën C1’s propulsion has always been tied to Toyota’s small-engine family, reinforcing the enduring collaboration that produced the car and its peers.
Bottom line: branding vs. engineering
Although bearing Citroën badging, the C1’s engine is a product of the Toyota-PSA TPCA collaboration. It is not a Toyota-branded engine in the dealer sense, but it is a Toyota-developed design shared across the C1, Aygo, and 107. This setup allows the trio to offer a consistent driving experience and economies of scale while appealing to different brand loyalties.
Summary
Yes — the Citroën C1 uses a Toyota-developed powertrain and shares that engine with the Toyota Aygo (and the Peugeot 107 under the same TPCA umbrella). The collaboration between Toyota and PSA produced a common 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a shared platform and available manual or automated manual transmissions. The result is a Citroën badge on a car whose heart is Toyota-engineered, reflecting a long-standing alliance rather than a purely PSA design.
