Citroen C4 PICASSO 5 SEAT Range

Citroëns C4 Picasso brings a new sophistication to the mini-MPV market. Its available in Grand guise as a seven-seater for big families and as a smaller bodied five-seater for those with more modest reproductive aspirations. Andy Enright tries the five seat model

These days, its not good enough just to launch one mini-MPV: you have to launch two. Hence cars like Renaults Scenic and Grand Scenic and the model were looking at here, the Citroen C4 Picasso, the five-seater stablemate to the French makers Grand C4 Picasso.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

Citroën certainly offers plenty of MPV choice to an apparently hungry market. Theres the van-based Berlingo Multispace for budget buyers, or the old Xsara Picasso for those of them who cant cope with being mistaken for a delivery driver. Above the C4 Picasso models, theres also the larger C6. But do you really need something that big? The answer for most mini-MPV buyers is probably not and for them, this 5-seat C4 Picasso, priced from £14,595, may prove to be a perfect package.

Citroëns original Xsara Picasso was a testament to the French companys boldness and clever dealer support. In the year preceding its launch, an intriguing case study played out in the mini-MPV market. The Vauxhall Zafira was launched, going down the rather unexciting route paved by the Renault Scenic. Also launched that year was the Fiat Multipla, a hugely superior car that was bold and refreshing.

And, it transpired, a commercial flop, in this country at least. It seemed that the mini-MPV market rewarded conservative design. Citroën disagreed and their radical egg-shaped Xsara Picasso soon went on to become the best-selling vehicle of its type, helped by aggressive price promotion and a focus on the things that really mattered to UK buyers space, rugged build and utility. This latest C4 Picasso aims to show that bold design and keen pricing can once again be a winning tactic. With a choice of a 127bhp 1.8-litre or 143bhp 2.

0-litre petrol engines or 110bhp 1.6 or 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel units, C4 Picasso drivers wont be wanting for decent powerplants. The driving experience is, as was its predecessor, geared towards comfort and safety rather than outright handling prowess.

Although the C4 Picassos athletic stance is the first thing to catch your eye, the second is the wide-angle panoramic windscreen that rises up and over the front seat occupants, doubling vertical visibility in the front to seventy degrees compared to 35 degrees in a standard MPV. Vauxhall may have already offered a similar thing as an option on the latest Astra but this is the first time its been fitted as standard to an MPV and the effect is just stunning, the sheer acreage of glass in front of the driver being at first a little unnerving.

"Citroën needed to box rather clever with this C4 Picasso and it looks as if theyve pitched it almost perfectly"

Its almost like the cockpit of a jet fighter. By slimming down the windscreen pillars, the effect of airiness and front visibility is increased still further. Its not just a styling affect either, the added field of view making it easier to spot motorbikes, cycles and pedestrians coming while preventing the usual craned neck when negotiating small roundabouts. Im not sure if someone at Citroën has been getting a backhander from a glass manufacturer because the C4 Picasso also features the biggest sunroof in its class, the extensive side windows too help edge it towards having the largest glazed area of any mini MPV. All of this glass means that the vehicle needs a seriously punchy air-conditioning system to prevent it become a mobile propagator. The C4 Picasso utilises its available space very well. That wheel at each corner stance doesnt just look good, it also maximises space for the all important passenger cell.

The boot has a 500-litre capacity which is about par for the course for a five-seater vehicle. Fold the rear seats down and theres a massive 1.734 litres of available space. The C4 Picasso goes head to head with cars like the Volkswagen Golf Plus, the Ford C-Max, and the Renault Scenic in other words, the quality offerings in the mini-MPV sector.

As such itll need more than just a pretty face to succeed. Automatic and sequential manual gearboxes are offered to free up floorspace and at prices around £500 cheaper than the Grand C4 Picasso, it looks solid if not spectacular value. Citroën needed to box rather clever with this C4 Picasso and it looks as if theyve pitched it almost perfectly. No other mini-MPV looks as good and none will be able to rival the technology that the French company can borrow from the C4 hatch and lever into the Picasso. That includes functions like an electronic automated manual gearbox, lane departure warning systems and the clever fixed hub steering wheel. Options like video screens in the headrests will be very popular with family buyers as will the Picassos five-star EuroNCAP safety rating.

Although it departs from the Xsara Picassos spectacularly successful cheap and cheerful philosophy, the added utility of this model isnt hard to appreciate. My guess is that most Citroën customers will be happy to pay the premium.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Citroen C4 Picasso range
PRICES: £14,595-£21,295 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-9
CO2 EMISSIONS: 150-190g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0HDi 138] 12.5s 0-60mph / 121mph top speed
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0HDi 138] 35.8 (urban), 55.4 (extra urban) 46.3mpg (combined)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with EBD, ESP, 7 airbags, 3-point seat belts.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/Width/Height 4470/1830/1680mm