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Weekend roadtest: Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 HDI VTR+
publication date: Dec 11, 2009
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author/source: Robin Roberts
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No car maker worth an investor’s share can afford to ignore any opportunity to increase their sales.
Citroen created the Picasso as a brand within its own brand when it
produced an MPV version of its Xsara and now we are seeing their family
of people carriers steadily expanding.
One of the most popular types of MPV in the last 18 months has been the
smaller versions and it’s little surprise that Citroen used all its
resources to create the C3 Picasso. This brings much more practicality
to what is essentially a super-mini sized platform, notably offering
much more luggage space and headroom.
The C3 Picasso is available with a range of petrol and diesel engines
co-developed with BMW, a few trim levels and is priced from £ 11,800 to
£ 15,900. 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.
| At 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 (right).
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The familiar, well developed 1.6 litre HDI engine is a
good prospect with plenty of smoothly delivered power available, fairly
low noise levels and good economy potential. It is expected to be the
best seller in the series, mostly due to demand from private buyers.
It feeds that power to the road through a light and progressive clutch
and some carefully chosen ratios in the five-speed box which give good
acceleration for overtaking while easing it along at an economical
rate. Occasionally the noisy and busy engine made me wish an extra gear
was to hand.
The brakes are as sharp as we expect with Citroen and require only the
lightest pressure to bring about very rapid and controlled reduction in
speed while the parking brake securely held it on a steep test slope.
I would have appreciated greater feel to the steering but its lightness
did not detract from its ability to turn the car around in a tight
circle or slip into small parking spaces. At higher speed you possibly
want better feedback and on wintery roads it is particularly important.
Secondary controls come quickly to hand and the eyes can confidently
scan the instruments with their clear displays. Heating and ventilation
is good throughout and well controlled, backed up by powered windows.
For oddments room the C3 Picasso is well provided as a family model.
You have plenty of bins and trays throughout the cabin and you can see
it has been developed from the cavernous Citroen Xsara Picasso.
Behind the seats, the luggage area is easy to load and empty, the
capacity gradually being raised to 500 litres maximum as the seats
individually fold down. With the seats in place they are also simple to
access, have a good adjustment range and have a lot of room for
occupants. You can see a lot from the seats and they are reasonably
padded and shaped to locate passengers in hard cornering. There is good
room for all but the tallest users.
Ride quality has traditionally been a strength of Citroen and it’s
fairly good in the C3 Picasso but some bumps manage to be felt in the
cabin and the suspension bump-thump is surprisingly loud even if its
full impact is rarely felt.
| This is not a sports car and its road holding is good
but not exceptional.
It telegraphs its intentions very well and is
easily controlled with the modest power available at the wheels.
The real strength of the Citroen C3 Picasso is the fact
it is nimble, easy to drive, practical, roomy and economical, and these
virtues seem to be what many want judging by its sales success.
©ROBIN ROBERTS | |  |
| Fact file | | Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 HDI 90 VTR+ | | Price: £14,000 | | Insurance group: Ten | | Powertrain: 90bhp 1.6, 5sp | | C02/ tax: 159gkm/ 19pc | | Max speed: 108mph | | 0-62mph: 14.7sec | | Consumption: 55mpg | | Running cost: 38.5ppm | | Retained value: 36pc | | Warranty: 3yrs/ 60k | | | |
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