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By Jonathan Crouch

If you thought the ordinary Citroen Ami was weird, check out this Buggy version. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 41

There's nothing quite like Citroen's My Ami Buggy. Essentially, it's just a lifestyle-orientated version of the city-based Ami quadricycle, but it feels so much more unique than that. Both Ami models have pavement presence, but this one makes you smile too.

Backgroundword count: 157

Who says EVs have to be boring? This one isn't: Citroen's My Ami Buggy. As the name suggests, it's a lifestyle version of the weird Ami EV city vehicle, this Buggy version previewed by a concept design revealed in 2021. Inspiration apparently comes from a model from Citroen's Riviera back catalogue, the Mehari: but you might think the My Ami Buggy closer in concept something like a Mini Moke. So, great for the surf shack beach crowd: rather less suitable for a wet ring road commute in Blighty. Nevertheless, Citroen is importing 40 of these My Ami Buggy models here to test the water, announcing them at around the same time as Stellantis Group cousin Fiat unveiled a very similar contender, also Ami-based, the Topolino. All these models aren't really proper cars: they're instead classified as 'quadricycles', which entails plenty of limitations. Still, a life without limits would already include conventional transport: this Citroen is deliberately unconventional.

Driving Experienceword count: 304

As with the ordinary Ami, it's as well to remember that this is a 'quadricycle' rather than a car. Which means it's limited to 28mph and not subject to the usual safety stipulations governing cars. Presumably if it was, there'd be doors... Road tyres and no ride height increase mean the Baja rally-style looks aren't matched by any real off-road prowess. If things go wrong on the sand, there is at least a full-sized spare wheel: it's on the roof... You sit high and commandingly, all-round visibility is brilliant and if it were legal, you could park it nose-on to the kerb. Park normally and you'll find this Ami takes up half the space of an ordinary car. On the move, other drivers smile and wave you through, while pavement folk wave and make comments ranging across the complete spectrum from admiration to derision, all of which you'll hear clearly through the open door ways. This might be an EV but it certainly isn't quiet, the little motor whirring like a vacuum cleaner as the stiff ride clunks you over the pot holes and speed humps of the urban landscape, suspension travel being rather limited. The hair dryer-like din of the roaring ventilation fan adds to the commotion, on a rainy winter's day its single-speed struggling to clear the vast glass area ahead. We'll state the obvious: you can't drive this Ami on a motorway - and we'd think twice about major highways too if you don't want a queue of angry drivers behind you. Accept all of these caveats though and you'll find so much to like about urban life with this little Citroen. The Ami's a supremely table little thing and can dart through the traffic like a Deliveroo scooter. Best of all perhaps, the turning circle is outstanding - just 7.2m.

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