Mobilize Duo vs Fiat Topolino vs Citroën Ami

The microcar market, that of quadricycles that can be driven from the age of 14 and which is becoming increasingly popular in large cities, has been dominated in recent months by its electric 'cousins', the Citroën Ami and the Fiat Topolino, but the Renault Group's response, Mobilize Duo, comes from France.

Building on the experience gained with the Renault Twizy in 2012, the French manufacturer is once again taking on the world of zero-emission local urban micro-mobility, which is no longer just of interest to young people, but to anyone who wants to get around the chaos of urban traffic with agility and at a lower cost.

Let's take a look at the similarities and differences between these three microcars, some of which have already taken the place of city cars. Let's start with this little buyer's guide.

The importance of being small and agile

One of the great advantages of microcars (or quadricycles) is that they can be parked in very small spaces, either on the street or in garages or parking spaces, and in this respect our three subjects do not disappoint expectations.

The big difference is that the Fiat Topolino and Citroën Ami focus on the shape of a miniature car with two seats side by side, while the Mobilize Duo takes up the theme of tandem seating, i.e. one behind the other and looking a little more like a four-wheeled scooter. The Topolino is currently the only one available in an open version, the Dolcevita, which has straps instead of doors and a canvas roof that opens as an option.

Mobilize Duo

Fiat Topolino

Citroen Ami

However, the dimensions are very similar, with the Topolino being the longest at 2.53 metres, followed by the Duo at 2.43 metres and the Ami at 2.41 metres. Even in terms of width, the Fiat is the largest (1.40 metres), very close to the Citroën (1.39 metres), while the Mobilize has a reduced width of just 1.29 metres for maximum urban agility.

Even in terms of height, the Fiat Topolino (1.53 m) beats the Citroën Ami (1.52 m) and the ultra-compact Mobilize Duo (1.45 m). The turning circle between kerbs is also important: the Duo wins out at 6.80 metres, while the Ami and Topolino are not far behind at 7.20 metres.

Simple, practical interior

What these three electric quadricycles have in common, apart from the fact that they are all built in Morocco, is the simplicity and practicality of the interior, both in terms of materials and equipment.

Just look at the dashboard of the Topolino and the Ami, which feature a small instrument panel and gear selection buttons, flanked by a smartphone holder that acts as an infotainment system.

Mobilize Duo, details of the dashboard

Fiat Topolino, the dashboard

Citroën Ami, interior

The Mobilize Duo, despite its more motorcycle-like exterior, responds with an almost automotive-style dashboard, albeit a simplified one. The audio system is the boombox of the 80s. The seats in the tandem configuration are made of TEP and can be sponge-washed.

The Mobilize Duo is also the only one of the three to be fitted with a driver's airbag as standard, a heated windscreen and a heated driver's seat as an option.

Read also:

Cute Citroen Ami runabout will arrive in the UK next year

Fiat Topolino to be resurrected as rebranded Citroen Ami - report

They can be driven from the age of 14 or 16.

Depending on their maximum speed and weight, the three microcars compared here can be driven from the age of 16 in the UK and 14 in other European markets such as Italy. Like all quadricycles, however, they cannot be driven on ring roads and motorways.

14-year-olds with an AM licence can drive category L6 light quadricycles, i.e. those with a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) or less. This category includes the Fiat Topolino, the Citroën Ami and the Mobilize Duo 45 Neo, all of which have an electric motor of around 8 PS and a maximum speed of 45 km/h.

To drive the Mobilize Duo 80 Evo, which is an L7 heavy quadricycle and reaches 80 km/h (50 mph), you need at least a B1 licence, which can be obtained from the age of sixteen, as well as a B licence.

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Citroën and Fiat are front-wheel drive, while Mobilize, like its ancestor Twizy, is rear-wheel drive. In terms of range, the Mobilize Duo is the clear winner (on paper) with its WMTC approval of 100 miles, compared with 47 miles for the Topolino and the Ami. The credit goes to the battery capacity of 10.3 kWh compared with 5.4 kWh for the other two.

Mobilize Duo, side view

A side view of the Fiat Topolino

The side of the Citroën Ami

At what price?

In reality, the prices are slightly different, with the Citroën Ami starting at £7,695 (in its particularly basic Ami version) and the Fiat Topolino, which is confirmed to arrive in the UK this year, has not announced pricing yet. However, in France it starts at €9,890 (approx. £8,200). It's the same situation with the Mobilize Duo, with a base price of €9,990 (£8,300) for the 45 Neo and €11,600 (£9,700) for the 80 Evo.

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