South African interest in MPVs peaked before the prodigious rise of the SUV approximately a decade or so ago. Although several manufacturers still offer MPVs (Toyota Verso, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Chevrolet Orlando and Volkswagen Touran), the buying public seems to favour off-road vehicles and crossovers for the purposes of family transportation these days. Citroën, however, is unperturbed by that trend.
In 1999, the French manufacturer commenced production of the Xsara Picasso. It was perhaps not the prettiest of cars, but it certainly offered an airy and spacious experience for its driver and passengers. The latest incarnation of the Picasso is, to a certain extent, a breath of fresh air. Citroën admits that its recent models have been products that appealed to the mainstream, but now the PSA-owned company has realised it needs to offer something different, something that draws on the brand’s heritage of quirkily-designed alternative vehicles.
How does it look?
Judging by appearances, Citroën has certainly achieved that objective with the C4 Picasso. For starters, the car actually seems to be rather compact when viewed from afar. It is only when you are a few metres from the vehicle that you realise how big it is. The front aspect might seem awkward for some as the headlamps take up such a small area. Moving from the front to rear there are five pillars and that means once you get inside the cabin, you’ll find the space illuminated by sunlight from all directions – including from the top, via the sunroof.
Moving inside
The interior is minimalistic and devoid of unnecessary buttons. However, there are two screens that summarise the multitude of functions and options that the vehicle offers.
It needs to be noted that the cars in the launch fleet seemed to be equipped with every available option. These include the city pack (R11 980), the driver assist pack (R29 970) as well as the luxury pack (R27 480). Each of these packages is made up of a list of options that Citroën has tailored for potential buyers. Citroën assured us that buyers would be able to pick options outside of those packages as well.
The result is an interior fitted with a 12-inch infotainment screen, which appears to be from the same supplier as that in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. This screen not only displays the rev counter and speedometer – you can even upload your favourite pictures to the display. The smaller screen displays further details and functions.
Luxury items and a slickly-designed (except the steering wheel which still has 16 buttons) interior aside, from the behind the wheel the Citroën seemed to have a comfortable ride quality.
Behind the wheel
Equipped with 17-inch wheels, the ride was well damped and soft during our launch drive. At highway speeds and through corners the car handled as you would expect from a five-seater family MPV. The cabin was also relatively quiet at highway speeds, meaning you would be able to have a pleasant conversion with your teenager in the rear. All of this also partly owing to the use of Citroën’s new EMP2 (efficient modular platform II) platform, the first car to be launched in South Africa with PSA’s latest platform.
The 1,6-litre turbodisel engine delivers only 85 kW, but a more useful 270 N.m of torque. Tuned for efficiency rather than performance, the Picasso shouldn’t need to visit the fuel station too often.
Summary
In a world where cars are becoming all-too-generic, the C4 Picasso offers a refreshing option to a family. Aimed perfectly for four or five occupants, it ticks most – if not all – the boxes desired by such occupants. Just have a careful look at the options sheet and the available packages, as these can quickly add up.
