Citroen C3 Picasso

Expert Rating:

Introduction

Citroen is good at MPVs and it's good at small cars, so a small MPV should knock the socks off the competition. This is just what the C3 Picasso aims to do in a class that is rapidly gaining sales thanks to buyers looking for a dash of style coupled to low running costs. The C3 Picasso is ideally placed to deliver on both counts.

What are its rivals?

The biggest rival to the Citroen comes from Kia in the shape of its Soul. The Kia is more unashamedly a style-led machine, yet it still offers a decent drive and interior space mixed with flexibility. Skoda is another competitor in this sector with its Roomster, which offers masses of space in a simple, no-frills package that underlines the Skoda brand as a value for money, high quality offering. There are also rivals from Nissan, in the shape of the Note, Fiat Qubo and, for those wanting a premium badge, the Mercedes A-Class.

How does it drive?

Very well is the simple answer. A well judged balance between comfort and control has been struck with the C3 Picasso. The soft suspension makes short work of smoothing out rough roads, yet it doesn't lean like a sapling in a gale when it comes to corners. Yes, there's more cornering lean than in most superminis, but the C3 Picasso copes admirably with corners for a car with tall sides. It also very ably compensates with the hushed cabin, which effectively seals out wind, road and engine noise and turns this pint-pot people carrier into a great long distance traveller.

The 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine in the C3 Picasso we tried was the 110bhp version, which is only available in the top-spec Exclusive model. It manages 0-62mph in 12.4 seconds and is mated with a five-speed manual gearbox as the only transmission option. The 'box has a light action and there's more than enough oomph spread across the rev range for the driver to leave the car in a higher gear and let the engine do its work without straining the motor or the occupants' ears. Driven in moderation, 57.6mpg combined economy is on the cards.

What's impressive?

MPVs are supposed to be about space and practicality, and the C3 Picasso doesn't disappoint. Where it earns extra merit is in finding so much space in such a compact shell. From the outside, the Citroen occupies no more road space than most superminis, yet the cabin can seat four adults in complete comfort. This is due to the tall roof line that lets passengers sit upright, which in turn creates plenty of leg space. There's also an ample 500-litre boot with all of the seats in use, or you can fold the rears to create 1,506-litres of cargo capacity. Additionally there's the option of varying the load space with the split and fold rear seats and a boot floor with added depth when the main cargo cover is removed.

What's not?

Our Exclusive test car came with six airbags and ESP stability and traction control as standard. However, lesser C3 Picasso models need ESP added as an option that costs £350 and we reckon this should be included in the price rather than as an extra. We also think the base VT model should have more than just a driver and passenger airbag fitted when the rest of the range comes with twin front, side and curtain airbags as standard.

Should I buy one?

If you're in the market for a small MPV, the C3 Picasso is one of the best you could choose. If you're in the market for a stylish small car, whether it's a supermini or hatch, the C3 Picasso should also be on your radar - it's that good. Citroen has got it just right with the C3 Picasso delivers.

Alisdair Suttie