2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
The Citroen C3 is a recommendation for young families. Its price is attractive and its variability leaves little to be desired. As a result, the compact Frenchman quickly became a popular figure.
By Frank Mertens It's
a little like love at second sight. If you see the Citroen C3 Picasso, you don't really know what to think of this compact van from the French. Do you feel more attracted or repelled by his box-like nature?
Feel-good atmosphere
If you ask yourself this question, you will get an answer at the latest when you have taken a seat in the interior of the long Citroen Picasso. There is a feel-good atmosphere here, also because of its square, practical shape. But that's not the only reason: the huge glass surfaces do the rest to underpin this positive impression.
Small triangular windows have even been integrated in the A-pillar - they further improve the already good all-round view. Anyone who then opted for the optional panoramic roof (surcharge 600 euros) quickly forgets the fear of contact when they first encounter the French van.
And gradually the sympathy with the Citroen C3 Picasso increases. The occupants of the French car, which is just 4.08 meters long, 1.76 wide and 1.63 high, have plenty of space for the driver and front passenger as well as for the rear passengers.
Even tall people can comfortably find space on the rear bench - there is plenty of head and knee room. Since the Picasso sees itself as a compact family van, it has to be measured by its luggage volume. But even here he does not reveal any real weaknesses.
Well, 385 liters isn't breathtaking, but it's not really bad either. But the C3 Picasso offers a load capacity of 1506 liters thanks to its rear seats that can be folded down completely without any height difference. A lot can be transported with it - for example a bike if you are only traveling with two people.
Desire for more horsepower
But what about the driving characteristics of the French? You're okay, no more, no less. We drove the C3 Picasso VTi 95 in the top equipment variant Exclusive. On the move, the 1.4 liter four-cylinder engine has an output of 95 hp. Of course, that's enough to get from A to B in comfort.
But especially when overtaking on the autobahn, you want a few more horsepower. It feels like ages go by if you want to quickly pull past another car. So if you feel a little more power and also as a family man now and then on the slope for a touch of sportiness, the 120 hp variant is recommended.
Not an athlete
For all others who can take it easy, the 95 hp is definitely enough. In concrete terms, leisurely means: A speed of 100 is reached in 13.4 seconds - and the Picasso reaches a top speed of 178 km / h when running. The maximum torque of 136 Newton meters is at 4000 revolutions per minute. The Picasso is on the road with a solidly working five-speed gearbox - but as is so often the case (and not only with Citroen) you want a sixth gear on the highway.
In the fifth, the four-cylinder is very present on the autobahn, if you like to put it positively. The steering takes some getting used to, as it could use more feedback. During the test drives, it made a rather vague impression. And since we're grumbling: The gear knob in our Picasso was made of aluminum. It doesn't look bad, but it got damn hot with outside temperatures of almost 40 degrees and direct sunlight, which you can feel painfully when you unsuspectingly put your hand on the gear knob.
7.7 liters average consumption
The consumption of the C3 Picasso was also not really convincing. The manufacturer specifies a combined consumption of 6.3 liters per 100 kilometers. However, this could not be achieved in our test drives. In town the Picasso approved around nine liters and on average it was 7.7 liters, with admittedly normal driving style.
Despite the initial reservations, the C3 Picasso is a car that can be recommended to young families with a good heart - mainly because of its high practicality. Incidentally, the entry-level price starts at 15,150 euros in the Advance equipment variant, our test car is in the price list at 18,950 euros. If you want the 120 hp, you have to leave 1000 euros more at the dealer for this request.
