At the end of the day, the Picasso will have its own buyer – someone who values its differences, its frugal thirst, its effortless highway cruising, and, yes, its quirks. You can’t assess the Picasso on a quick blast. You have to spend some time with it. Do that, and the further you drive, the more you’ll like it – guaranteed.
At the risk of gales of derision from some of you out there, it is one of the more surprising cars we have driven this year. It’s one of the few that, when we handed it back, it was impossible to avoid the thought, “Heck, I could live with one of these for domestic duties… be useful, and good to drive.”
The Insider’s Big Statement
“Driving the Picasso, you know you are driving the future. Part wagon, part family bus, part urban commuter, this car makes a lot more sense than those stupid SUVs that clutter the roads outside schools and kindergartens. Fuel prices will ensure that the ‘penny will drop’ – sooner rather than later - for young Mums and family drivers. They could do a lot worse than the clever, capable, individual, Citroen Picasso. Provided Citroen does something about that price.”
- The performance of the HDi diesel
- The sound the diesel makes (and the absence of intrusive clatter)
- Its magic-carpet highway ride and near-silent cabin
- Its ability to effortlessly soak up kilometres
- The amazing panoramic view from the driver’s seat
- Brilliant seven-seater packaging
- The fiddly style to the dash
- Funny little gear stalk (at the top of the wheel hub)
- Suspension ‘thunking’ at low speed on bridge breaks and road joins
- The counter-intuitive ergonomics and controls
- It’s not Citroen’s most stylish offering
Gallery
GALLERY » c4-picasso
Specs
| Engine: | 2.0 litre (1997cc) diesel HDI |
| Type: | Turbo diesel |
| Valve system: | DOHC 4 valves per cylinder |
| Fuel system: | Common rail direct diesel injection |
| Output: | 100kW and 320Nm - HDI (103kW and 200Nm -16V petrol) |
| Performance: | Ample quick enough (untimed) |
| Bore and Stroke: | 85.00 mm × 88.00 mm |
| Compression: | 17.60:1 |
| Transmission: | AM6 six-speed auto - HDI (AL4 four-speed auto - 16V petrol) |
| Consumption: | 9.5 l/100km (claimed combined average) |
| Brakes: | 4-wheel discs Front: 302mm ventilated discs Rear: 268mm discs (ESP, ABS, EBD, EBA) |
| Suspension: | Front: MacPherson strut, lower wishbones Rear: flexible transverse beam and anti-roll bar |
| Wheels and tyres: | 17inch Roskilde alloys, tyres 215/50 R17 (16inch steel, tyres 215/55 R16) |
| Price: | HDI: $44,990 RRP (2.0 litre 16V: $39,990 RRP) |
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another well written review TMR. MY concern with the french brands is how long they will last out here and what they cost ot service. Ive heard horror stories.
That aside, they design some brilliant cars when they put their minds to it.
It’s a lot safer buying Australian made if you are worried about durability and service costs harro. Buy French if you want that bit of flair and a car that is comparatively unique.
Great write up, very entertaining. Who is ‘The Insider’ and why don’t we know his real name. Is The Insider like the dentists who cant show us their faces? What gives here?
I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours?
RM
The Insider won’t give his name, because when he does, the PR guys won’t give him anymore cars for TMR.
Yars ‘R’… enticing proposition this ’showing’ of stuff; would I… could I… should I?
Alas, I must decline.
And the Insider? “He’s just a man, honey, just an ordinary man, but one who puts himself on the line for you, and me, everyday…” “Ooh, thank you Insider!”
I think that’s how it goes.
You see ‘R’, because there is such a lot of ill-informed crap masquerading as advice appearing on the web these days (have you seen some of the other car sites…? Give me strength…) you have to be terribly careful who you associate with.
This lot, TMR, they’re rabbits, they know that, but they’re sorta loveable in a ‘rabbit-stew’ kind of way. I might fess up one day, tell them who I am… maybe… one day. (Perhaps soon; I’m getting sick of walking backwards into meetings because I can’t show them my face…)
The Insider
I AM getting a bit sick of you sitting in the darkest corner of every meeting room…
Great review Insider, and I really appreciate your understanding and history of the appeal of the French marquees. The car you tested is an identical twin to the one that I’ve had for nearly 18 months, except mine also has the massive moonroof which makes it feel like you’re driving a convertible!
Whilst the majority of your review is accurate, there’s a few points that I’d like to clarify:
1. The model you drove was not the “Exclusive” top of the range, so it didn’t have the hydropneumatic suspension on the rear axle that you alluded to.
2. The bumps that you kept feeling at low speeds are mainly because of the low profile tyres and 17″ alloys. If you had driven the petrol version with 16″ alloys, and higher profile tyres, the ride would have been a lot more Citroën-like.
3. Your negative commentary on the styling is counter to the majority of comments that I receive. Most people love both the interior and exterior look.
4. The torque figure that you quoted (270Nm)is for the 1.6L HDi. The 2.0 HDi that you tested actual has a torque of 320Nm (actually 340Nm with overboost).
5. You managed to break an Australian journalistic record for a review of a French car in using the “Q” word more than 4 times!
Damn I hate being wrong… no… that’s not quite right… damn I hate being discovered I’m wrong.
But yes, the torque figure is wrong (Madame Le Lash is on her way to administer the thrashing); it has now been fixed and it won’t happen again… although that might depend on how much I enjoy the thrashing.
I can only count “quirk”, “quirky”, and “quirks” three times, but I am sure there are more.
But I’m with you Pikachu on the “discrete charms of the French automobile”. (I’ve owned more than a few in my day.)
The Insider