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By
ALISTAIR KENNEDY
20 August 2007
Citroen C4 Picasso, is a good-looking seven-seat people mover that puts
the famed French marque into a new segment in this country. The
original, even more stylish, Picasso was considered for our market and
many overseas tourists had been asking the local importer about it for
ages. Their wish has finally been granted, though the loss of the
amazing rear end on the first Picasso will be lamented. The new back end
is very square and practical. Though there has been a valiant attempt to
bring back some of the excitement of the original, the practical nature
of the new C4 Picasso's interior has foiled the designers.
Picasso’s seven seats are all individual buckets, in a
two-three-two formation. Access to the third row seats is made
easier by a clever double-folding system on the outside centre
seats. The third-row pair of seats may be a little claustrophobic
for young occupants as they sit quite low in the car.
Citroen Picasso is fitted with one of these potentially
dangerous extra mirrors that are becoming all the rage in people
movers. These are wide-angled units designed to let the driver (or
front passenger) keep an eye on the back seats without turning
around. All very nice in theory, but we can guarantee some drivers
will check the kids when they should be looking at the road.
The rearmost seats fold down into the floor when not in use.
And the centre-row seats flip back to butt up against the front
seats to make a completely flat luggage area. The resulting space
is large and easy to use. With all seats in use there's not a lot
of space for luggage and even mid-sized suitcases may not fit.
Picasso is not on its own amongst the current generation of people
movers in this regard.
A five-seat Picasso variant was released in Europe early this
year but Citroen Australia has no immediate plans to bring it
here. It’s substantially different to the seven-seater, not
simply the same body with fewer seats.
The big talking point with Citroen Picasso is the huge
windscreen that’s almost as tall as it is wide. The view out is
spectacular and we loved it. Glare can be reduced by using the
twin sliding sun visors that virtually extend from the roof
forward. It was still winter during our test period so we’re
unable to comment on how the giant windscreen feels in the heat of
an Aussie summer.
Visibility for the driver is also excellent in the important
front-side region because the A-pillar is split into two narrow
pillars with glass between them. Picasso can show many a modern
car a thing or two in this important aspect of safety.
Citroen C4 Picasso comes two Australia with a 2.0-litre petrol
engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, or a
2.0-litre turbo-diesel with a six-speed automatic. The petrol
Picasso sells for $39,990 and HDi diesel for $44,990. Citroen
expects four out of five buyers to choose the diesel. So that’s
how our test car was powered.
The diesel engine is reasonably refined, although there's the
usual diesel rattle, especially when the engine is cold. On the
move and from the inside, it all becomes much smoother and
quieter. There’s good torque and the lag while the turbo gets
spooled up to speed isn’t too bad.
Consumption is low and a good driver should have no trouble
keeping it below seven litres per hundred kilometres on motorways
or level-road country running. Around town the consumption is
unlikely to go over 10 litres per hundred, indeed, eight to nine
is there for the asking if you drive correctly.
Steering is a little vague in the straight-ahead position, but
fine once you start to turn. Handling is fine for a car in this
class and the big Citroen is likely to outlast the average driver
when it comes to road grip.
Ride comfort is pretty good, though rough roads did catch the
Picasso out at times. We found more body flex than we like on the
really rough stuff – not dirt roads, but badly beaten up
bitumen. Try it for yourself if you will be driving on roads like
that.
We aren't keen on the central instrument cluster as it takes
longer than we like to focus on the digital speedometer then back
to the road, and vice versa.
Among many fascinating features in the C4 Picasso are the
clever fixed-hub steering wheel that made its debut in the C4
hatch, an automatic parking brake, fold-down tables in the rear of
the front seats and numerous storage areas. The latter are amongst
the best in the business, with no fewer than four voluminous
gloveboxes. Don’t believe us, take a trip to your local Citroen
dealer and see for yourself!
Want a people mover that makes a styling statement and is full
of fascinating features? Then the Citroen Picasso should certainly
be on your to-look-at list.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
C4 Picasso 2.0-litre petrol five-door people mover - $39,990
(abs/ac/at/cc/cd1/sc/srs7/tc)
C4 Picasso HDi 2.0-litre turbo diesel five-door people mover -
$44,990 (abs/ac/at/cc/cd1/sc/srs7/tc)
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in both models
Air Conditioning: Standard in both models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in both models
CD Player: Standard in both models
Central Locking: Standard in both models
Cruise Control: Standard in both models
Driver Airbag: Standard in both models
Passenger Airbag: Standard in both models
Side Airbags: Standard in both models
SPECIFICATIONS (Citroen C4 Picasso HDi 2.0-litre turbo diesel
five-door people mover)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.997 litres
Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 17.6:1
Bore/Stroke: 85.0 x 88.0 mm
Maximum Power: 100 kW @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 270 Nm @ 2000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4590 mm
Wheelbase: 2728 mm
Width: 1830 mm
Height: 1680 mm
Turning Circle: 11.3 metres
Kerb Mass: 1600kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres
Towing Ability: 750 kg (1400 kg with braked trailer
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Flexible transverse beam
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 12.5 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 18.5 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 7.4 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000km
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Marque Publishing Company
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