Used Skoda Citigo 2012-2020 reliability

First and foremost, check the portable sat-nav unit is there if it should be. Being removable, it’s one of those items that might well have been misplaced.

You’ll also need to look for the kind of dents and scratches that are often inflicted on cars that spend their time in mainly urban environments. Also, ensure the clutch hasn’t suffered from too much stop-and-start driving. Feel for a clear bite point and try accelerating from a low speed in a high gear to make sure it doesn’t slip.

The Skoda Citigo has been recalled five times, but only for cars built within very small timeframes. Check with your local dealer that all the remedial work has been carried out.

Models produced between January and March 2013 were recalled to address a possible fault with the airbag warning sensor. Cars built in March 2016 and fitted with a panoramic sunroof were checked for poor bonding of a panel that can result in rattling. Five-door Citigos built from November 2015 to April 2016 were requested back into Skoda dealers to stop a fault that could cause the rear child locks from disengaging without warning.

On cars from 2017, the welding of the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit may not be to specification. As a result the weld on the eye may fail during use causing loss of propulsion and the towrope with the attached eye can potentially cause property damage and personal injury.

If you’re looking for a tiny car with an automatic gearbox, the Citigo isn’t the best option. That’s because the AGR gearbox it uses is a crude automated manual that results in glacially slow gearchanges and jerky progress. A Hyundai i10 automatic, with its torque converter gearbox, is a much better option.

On manual cars, quite a few Citigo and Volkswagen Up owners have also reported excessive clutch and gearbox wear, so make sure the car you’re looking at slots cleanly into first and reverse gears, and listen out for a clicking sound from the clutch.

According to the last What Car? reliability survey, the Citigo is a pretty safe bet. The 2023 survey saw it finish in 10th place out of 28 cars in the small and city car class.

As a brand, Skoda came 16th out of 32 manufacturers featured in our most recent 2023 reliability survey, with a good score of 94.1%. That placed them above Ford, Nissan and Renault, but below Hyundai, Kia and Mazda.

In our latest 2024 survey, the Citigo didn't feature, but Skoda as a brand came in 15th place out of 32 manufactures with a good overall score of 91.8%.

Check out the full list of brands here.

Used Skoda Citigo reliability: the owners' view

As part of our 2024 Reliability Survey, What Car? readers expressed generally positive opinions about the reliability and dealer service of the Skoda Citigo.

Owners liked the Citigo for its all-round performance, with only minor electronic malfunctions being reported. These issues, while infrequent, typically involved the car's infotainment system and were quickly rectified by dealers.

Dealer service for the Skoda Citigo has been praised for its efficiency and professionalism. Many owners reported satisfaction with the responsiveness and expertise of the dealership staff. However, there were a few instances where customers felt repairs took longer than expected.

Overall, the Citigo is viewed as a reliable vehicle backed up by a strong service network, and this contributed to a largely positive ownership experience.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Used Car Reliability Survey pages for more information.