We first drove the Ami almost two years ago. We loved the innovative and quirky concept, which felt like something that could only come with a double chevron badge on the front and back. 

Well, after 12,000 expressions of interest and what sounds like lots of “toing and froing” with the French head office – the Ami is finally available here officially, priced from £7,695 and we got a day of driving it around London, to see how it works here.  

Obviously, the Ami is small – it’s just 2.41m long and 1.39m wide. It also looks like nothing else on the road, which we think is a good thing. It is a clever design too, as the greyish-blue front and rear panels (the only colour available) are identical, and the doors are the same – although the driver’s door is rear hinged. The only differences are the angle of the large glass area. Oh, and it rides on modest 14in steel wheels with snazzy wheel trims on some models. 

Inside, there are two seats mounted closer to the rear of the Ami and it’s left-hand drive only. The seats themselves are made from what seems like the same plastic as the interior door cards and dashboard. They look uncomfortable, but the driver’s is adjustable, and they are comfortable for short trips – although taller drivers might wish for longer, lower squabs. The driving position works for even the tallest and the interior feels spacious in a similarly clever way to the original Classic Mini, with the extra legroom in front of the passenger seat, useful for 64-litres of luggage. Build quality feels simple and solid enough – although the visible metal body structure, over which the body panels are laid, looks a bit workmanlike.  

The rest of the Ami’s interior is basic and seemingly made from the same plastic. Apart from the small electronic display, there’s a set of buttons in the centre of the dashboard. Most important are the hazards and heater. Although that large, fixed sunroof soon warms up the Ami’s interior and then you’ll be grateful then for the 2CV-like fold-up windows for extra welcome ventilation. Elsewhere, there’s a single stalk behind the wheel, to operate the non-cancelling indicators and windscreen wiper. While there’s no airbag in the large steering wheel, you do get a circular red button for the horn.   

Move up to the £8,495 Pop and you get a roof spoiler, a black strip struck on the front and some red decals for the doors. The Tonic is priced at £8,695, and has roof rails rather than the spoiler, the same front black strip and green door decals. 

Classed as a quadricycle rather than a car – this means a 16 year old with a full AM Moped licence can drive it on UK roads. However, the £19.99 monthly PCP with a £2,369 deposit is affordable and we think will attract business buyers for specific uses. 

The Ami has no airbags, ABS, or crumple zones. Then again, with just 8hp coming from the 5.5kWh electric motor and the 28mph top speed, you’re unlikely to be going fast enough to warrant them. The Ami’s performance felt more than adequate around London, and we rarely saw the top speed. 

Other Ami highlights include the excellent turning circle – despite the heavy steering. This small size also gives you the confidence to make the most of narrow gaps on urban streets. The handling is also tidy enough – but this could be the result of the stiff suspension, which sadly has a negative effect on the comfort. Despite, the small wheels, this Citroën crashes over urban potholes. 

Like the 28mph top speed, the 46.6-mile range doesn’t sound enough, yet around town this is totally adequate. And when it needs some electricity, it can be plugged in to a 7kWh wallbox and will be fully charged in around three hours.   

The Ami is only going to appeal to select customers, but after a day spent driving it in town, it makes sense and is a charming alternative to an electric moped or bike.

Citroën Ami Tonic 

P11D: TBC

Residual value: TBC

Depreciation: TBC

Fuel: TBC

Service, maintenance and repair: TBC

Cost per mile: TBC

Range: 46.6 miles

CO2 (BIK %): 0g/km (2%) 

BIK 20/40% a month: TBC

Luggage capacity: 64 litres

Battery size/power: 5.5kWh/8hp