First impressions are positive, with a light and airy interior emphasised by the large glass area and panoramic windscreen. This latest Citroen C4 Picasso is of a spacious and comfortable car, with the added bonus of a super smooth ride. The Citroen C4 Picasso's bold, modern design is genuinely eye-catching, making it an MPV that really does stand out from the crowd.
It's lower and shorter than the previous generation of C4 Picasso, but actually has an extra 2” between the front and rear wheels, which creates more space inside the car. In fact, it even has the largest boot in the compact-MPV class, plus a range of engines that are very efficient and a high-quality interior that is surprisingly stylish.
The latest C4 Picasso has a more comfortable ride and comfier seats than the previous model, generally proving to be improved in all areas of comfort – it even drives over the roughest roads without any major bumps or shudder. It does though feel soft and leans a bit when driven at higher speeds but is still a very quiet drive with hardly any audible wind noise. Passengers also have plenty of space in both the front and the back and with the car on test the passenger also gets an electrically extendable leg rest. Storage spaces abound, including the central console, large doorbins and under the seats and rear floor, as well as three 12V sockets to power the battery of electronic devices essential to family travel. The facia is dominated by two digital displays in the centre. The 12” upper one presents information such as speed and fuel, together with driver-customisable data. A 7” touchscreen controls functions such as air-conditioning, navigation and radio. I found it a bit daunting for starters but eventually found out it is quite easy to use once you’re accustomed to it. It certainly beats being presented with many scattered dials.
The car on offer sported an automatic gearbox with the added surprise of switching to a semi-automatic system on the fly. Gear change is carried out via two paddle levers one on each side of the steering wheel without the need to depress any clutch pedal – in effect there isn’t one. Very novel yet after trying it out one would probably switch back to full auto as I did. Although it does offer you the chance to shift up or down when you desire actual gear, without a manual clutch the actual changeover is still much slower than on a full manual.
Cars in this sector that looks especially cool make you wonder what sacrifices might have been made inside in terms of space, flexibility and usability. Luckily, the C4 Picasso excels in this category. You get a big boot that offers 537 litres of space, more space than its major rivals. Even better, the three rear seats can be slid forward individually to expand the boot to 630 litres or to increase legroom depending on your needs at any given time. Or, of course, you can fold them flat to expand the total capacity to an impressive 1,851 litres. All three rear seats are the exact same size, which makes it easy to sit three adults comfortably at once, and also to easily fit three child seats, likely to be a key factor for many growing families.
Definitely a car for a growing family the Picasso, unlike some rivals, does not try to disguise the fact that it first and foremost an MPV. It rolls in corners, over steers slightly and in no way does it pretend to be a sporty drive, but hits top marks in all areas meant to make it a comfortable and spacious vehicle along with frugal fuel consumption.
Words & photos: John Peel