Jonathan Crouch
present
If you need a family car with five seats, but you don't have to, if the budget forces you to choose a car from the 2016-2018 period, you can directly look at this car, the improved, more efficient and advanced second generation Citroen C4 Picasso. It's luxuriously designed and packed with some truly innovative features. The basics of space, safety and cost-effectiveness are taken care of, but where this model really shines is something else: style, technology and a very emotional feeling. By People Carrying standards, it's a bit special.
history
The Picasso name launched a generation of art as well as several generations of Citroen minibuses. The family of the great Spaniard quarreled over the decision to allow the French carmaker to use the famous name Senor Pablo, but it paid off for Citroën. Since the launch of the original Xsara Picasso in 1999, the brand has sold more than 3 million Picasso MPVs by 2016. In 2007, the People Car was replaced by a more modern successor, the C4 Picasso, which was relaunched in 2013 with a more futuristic look for the second generation. This is the revised version of this MK2 model that we will consider here as a potential used purchase. It's easy to dismiss the passenger MPV as one of the most boring pieces of automotive design, with boxes on wheels that offer little humor or dynamism. until they were executed. In this case, however, things are quite different. Yes, we have a box here with wheels on each corner, but as any child at Christmas will tell you, not all boxes are created equal. It may have been designed to compete with five-seat MPVs such as the Ford C-MAX and Renault Scenic, but in some ways, this MK2 C4 Picasso feels completely different. Buoyed by the success of its exclusive DS line of cars, Citroën has decided to bring a level of style and appeal to many of its other products, and this design definitely represents its strength, looking like something that has just stepped off a motor show. The seven-seat Grand C4 Picasso looks the same, but here we'll focus on the five-seat body style. The variant's main rivals - the Scenic and C-MAX models - underwent significant upgrades during that time, so in mid-2016 Citroen significantly updated the car to remain competitive. There are minor styling changes, more interior personalization options, next-gen connectivity options and, perhaps most importantly, two new petrol engines that try to balance the previous sales preference for diesel power. The car remained on sale until spring 2018, when it was relaunched as the "C4 Space Tourer".
what do you get
If you want to make your MPV look more interesting, there are basically two options. One is to design it lower and more aggressive - but that affects usability. Another way is to make your People Carrier look technologically advanced, stylish and futuristic - and that's the approach Citroen has taken here. Most of the car's original development budget was spent on interior and exterior design. We loved this Picasso when it first appeared in 2013, and we still think it's great. For 2016, Citroen did the same, since the French manufacturer did not make too many aesthetic changes with this facelift. There's a smaller lower grille around the license plate, and buyers get additional chrome trim around the high-mounted daytime running lights. What about inside? The first thing you notice is the panoramic windshield. Slide the front visor and your usual 28-degree upward viewing angle increases to 108 degrees. The dashboard is dominated by dual screens. Most new cars have some sort of central infotainment screen, like this Citroen's 7-inch "touch-controlled interface" tablet-style lower screen, but even more unusual is the eye-catching futuristic 12-inch panoramic HD panel on top of this C4 Picasso, which is a normal set of gauges for regular selection. This lower screen has a "mirror screen" function, so you can duplicate your smartphone's screen on the screen via the Android system "Apple CarPlay" or "MirrorLink". In addition, you can activate compatible applications such as "Parkopedia", "Fuel", "Weather Crave" and "RockScout". Most models also come with a navigation system, a 3D 'Citroen Connect Nav' setting, a smart screen that recognizes different touch points so you can tap with your fingers and toes like on a smartphone - or use voice recognition (if that's easier). We also really like the rear-facing "conversation mirror" (available as an option), as it gives you an unobstructed view of which kid dropped a sticky candy into your 12V socket. Installed upside down and ready to connect your gaming gear to one of the three 12V sockets spread around the car? Well, when you open the rear doors at a 65-degree angle for easy access, it looks very spacious, and when you get in, you feel very comfortable thanks to the good seating arrangement. Unlike many passenger cars, the unlucky passenger in the middle of the back seat is not straddling the central transmission tunnel or sitting on a hard, narrow raised foam cutout. In its place is a completely flat floor and a rear seating area made up of three equally sized individual seats that can recline, fold or move forward and backward independently of each other. When the hood is open, you can see the largest luggage space in its class. Even with the seats pushed all the way back, the parcel shelf is 537 liters high - and you can increase that to a whopping 630 liters with the three seats pushed forward.
what to look for
Most of the customers we surveyed for this updated second generation C4 Picasso were very happy, but inevitably there were some issues with the car. One owner ran into problems with a stuck electronic handbrake. Others complained of misfires, squealing power windows, and an engine management light in the glove box that stayed on. One owner had a problem with the drive belt coming off the guide. Keep all of these things in mind when looking at used inventory. We had problems with the electric windows vibrating and the engine management light on the digital instrument cluster coming on. Otherwise, check the back seat for child damage, check the alloy wheels for nicks and scratches, and insist on a full repair history.
replacement parts
(estimated price, based on a 2016 C4 Picasso 1.2 PureTech 130) An air filter costs around £5-£14. An oil filter costs between 5 and 6 euros. A fuel filter costs around £7-9. £27 for a £60 set. Rear seat cushions are in the £20 range, but you can pay around £71 for more expensive brands. Front disc brakes cost around £45-£82, but you can pay around £105-£130 for more expensive brands. Rear disc brakes cost between £60-90. Front lights around €210, rear lights around €100, drive belt around €17 and timing belt set around €40.
on the way
On the road in the C4 Picasso, the driving experience is a little different than in other competing family MPVs. There's not much reason to enjoy the driving dynamics, but to compensate, you'll float over bumps in the road, marveling at the extremely quiet level of refinement and benefiting from a commanding driving position that's great for roundabouts or a lot to help with manoeuvring. park and this panoramic display makes it seem like you're suddenly seeing the world in high definition. This MK2 model C4 Picasso has seen a lot of changes under the hood since its initial launch, with Citroën replacing all the regular engines between 2013-2016. We recommend the small 1.2-liter three-cylinder PureTech turbo engine now available to gasoline users, available in a choice of power outputs: 110 or 130 horsepower. Alternatively, there is the efficient BlueHDi diesel technology, primarily based on a 1.6-liter engine with 100 or 120 hp. Both diesels return 74.3mpg on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions of around 100g/km. If you want more torque, a 2.0-liter BlueHDi 150 variant is available in the top model.
In general
Not every family needs seven seats in an MPV, and for those who don't, the C4 Picasso has always been a stylish, technologically equipped and very practical choice. While it's not very comfortable to push hard, that's because it's aimed exactly where it should be - aimed at mums and dads, not car enthusiasts, with impressive long-distance comfort to take you through the school day. Day after day it needs you You'll also appreciate that this second-generation version improves on that claim and then refines it even further with a thoughtful revision package introduced in 2016 - it's these updated MK2 models that we're reviewing here. In its raw form, the futuristic look of this MK2 model always felt a bit out of place with the old petrol engine and fairly basic level of media connectivity. When everything is in place, the launch of this C4 Picasso is perfect proof that a passenger car can do more than just provide comfortable and efficient transportation. It probably is. Well, that's what Citroen used to be: smart, futuristic, expressive design. A car you will be truly proud of. We think you feel that way if you need a model like this and it's right in your driveway. Admittedly, it's a shame you have to upgrade everything to get the best out of this car, but if you can do that and tick all the right boxes, you'll end up with an MPV that actually looks like it's had a bit of TLC. From the panoramic windshield to the wide screen with high-definition instruments to the fact that you can sit on the touchscreen and make friends on Facebook, you will think that this car was designed a little differently. In short, these are wonderful hints of the Citroen we once knew. Manufacturers who dared to take risks, pushed the boundaries of technology, worked miracles and brought us cars like no other. If that sounds appealing and you're looking for a model like this, we think you'll find a lot to like here.