Citroen C3 Picasso paints a picture of personal mobility
publication date: Apr 4, 2009
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author/source: Robin Roberts
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Citroen is setting itself up to be considered as an MPV manufacturer which also builds cars, as the launch of the new C3 Picasso takes place. It is the eighth MPV in their range and is pitched into the sector size which also includes the Vauxhall Meriva and Nissan Note but Citroen aims to take the lead with a blend of exceptional room, high equipment and competitive prices. The entry level trim, VT, meets all the needs of a family friendly Citroën MPV. At the heart of the range, the VTR+ trim level, offers some added extras such as air conditioning and alloy wheels. And the top end of the range, Exclusive trim level, is brimming with luxury touches and unique practical features such as a completely flat folding front passenger seat, and a removable boot torch. It's also suitable for ipod connectivity and a USB port is available, as well as a highly sophisticated satnav and multi-media centre. The C3 Picasso will be available with a choice of two petrol units, co-developed with BMW - the VTi 95 and VTi 120 - and two HDi diesels - the HDi 90 and HDi 110 DPFS - renowned for their efficiency, exceptional refinement and low CO2 emissions. Five-speed manual boxes are standard and there are no plans to introduce automatic transmission. The 1.6HDi 110hp DPFS also carries the Airdream signature, given to only the most environmentally conscious vehicles in Citroën's range. Further improving its green credentials, certain models will be available with Michelin Energy Saver tyres, which help to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and lower fuel consumption. Conjuring a cavernous interior space out of a compact exterior - just a few inches longer than a supermini - the C3 Picasso offers occupants class-leading amounts of cabin room and ample storage in the 500-litre boot - one of the biggest in the segment. It boasts the best ratio of internal space to external size of any vehicle in its class. Rear passengers can enjoy plentiful knee room even when the rear split folding seats are slid forward thanks to the front seats' slim design. Elbow room in both the front and rear is also the best in the segment. Benefiting from an intuitive internal design, the C3 Picasso's internal space is swiftly and simply adapted for a range of different uses. Whether it's transporting the whole family, or tumbling the seats down to use the 1506-litre flat rear load space, users are guaranteed effortless simplicity with easy one-handed control of the seat-folding mechanisms. With the versatile flat folding front passenger seat the MPV is equipped to carry loads up to 2.4 metres and to increase either boot volume or rear legroom the 60:40 split-folding rear seats can be slid back and forth independently. The C3 Picasso is on sale from the 9 April from £11,495 for the entry-level 1.4 VTi 95hp VT model to £15,595 for the range-topping 1.6 HDi 110hp Exclusive version. Industry pricing expert, CAP Monitor, has predicted class-leading residual values, for what could become the most popular model in the range - the C3 Picasso 1.6HDi VTR+ is expected to retain 37.72pc of its value - around 10pc more than rival models. Launched in the 90th year of the company, the Citroen C3 Picasso arrives during the company's most exciting period of change, says UK communications director Marc Raven. "We will be launching a new model every six months for the next three years and we will see the return of the DS badge on a premium range of cars," he said. Citroen has built a reputation for creating family friendly MPVs and the C3 Picasso will be in good company and appeal to those who are looking for greater versatility, who want to aspire to the brand and others who are downsizing, he added. In the UK, half of Citroen sales are MPVs and in Europe it is a quarter of the company's total registrations so the brand appeals to real-world users who value practicality, visibility and safety. For Britain, Citroen C3 Picasso sales are expected to be dominated by the mid-range VTR+ specification and 60pc will be to private buyers who will opt for the 90bhp engine. They also anticipate a high take up of PCPs in the pipeline as users find it difficult to obtain traditional HP. | |
| FIRST IMPRESSIONS | |
The rounded boxy shape of the Citroen C3 Picasso wraps up a very roomy interior within the dimensions of a super-hatch and I was very surprised to find that the rear-seat legroom was excellent even with the front seat set for a six-footer to drive. Head and shoulder room is also excellent, load space access is very good and the total capacity for luggage can be quickly tripled by gradually folding flat the back offset split seats. There is under floor and side compartment storage space as well. |  |
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seats in front have a good range of height and rake adjustment and combined
with the reach and rake of the steering column there is a virtually endless
range of driving positions available. I liked the very slim roof pillars and clear sight lines to front, sides and rear, but the really impressive feature is the optional panoramic roof, one of the biggest on the market. Many will love the multi-media connectivity (right). In some brief test drives of the four engines, there is a marked difference between the smoothness of the 1.4 and 1.6 petrols and the gutsy pull of the 1.6 diesels. |  |
The more powerful engines seemed to have better feel to the brakes and steering as well as making the C3 Picasso an easier and more responsive drive. With the 1.4 petrol I recorded just under 31mpg, the 1.6 showed 36.4mpg, while the 90bhp diesel was good for almost 35mpg and the 110bhp was an impressive 44mpg, showing the larger units did not have to work so hard to achieve progress. Irrespective of which engine was driven, I felt there was a real need for a six speed transmission as I found they sounded busy and seemed held back in fifth. Seats and ride are firm but not hard, the C3 Picasso does roll around corners but actually hangs on quite well through twisting turns. ©ROBIN ROBERTS | |
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