Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate

Review Of The Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate

The new Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate is affordable, roomy and pretty much comes with everything that buyers look for in family cars. Whether you need to accommodate kids or adults, it’s got all the space you’ll need.

As a bonus, the Picasso is also attractively styled, which isn’t usually something you can say about cars in this class. However, there’s no option of seven seats while its reliability record is questionable.

OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our 2018 Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate review.JTNDY2VudGVyJTNFJTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjI1NjAlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjIzMTUlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGSWpiZFJId2otT00lMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmF1dG9wbGF5JTNCJTIwZW5jcnlwdGVkLW1lZGlhJTIyJTIwYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNFJTNDJTJGY2VudGVyJTNF

On The Road

It’s not as fun to drive as, say, a Ford but its engines are smooth and ride quality is good.

In fact, the Picasso’s soft suspension setup is one of its biggest strengths. That said, it also counts against the car; as much as it improves comfort, it also increases body lean. For that reason, the Picasso is never going to be what you could call fun to drive.

However, a soft suspension setup usually encourages drivers to take it easy anyway, so we doubt there’ll be many complaints that the Picasso has no party tricks up its sleeve.[vc_single_image image=”77695″ img_size=”article-image”]

Moreover, its steering reacts positively to your inputs, although it lacks feedback.

On the whole, the way the car drives is hit and miss, but most buyers in this market will appreciate its sensible, hassle-free nature.

In terms of its engines, there are a handful of diesel’s to choose from, starting with a BlueHDi 100 that sits at the bottom of the range. This is a 1.6-litre unit that develops 98bhp and costs less to run than any other Picasso engine. Despite its affordability, most buyers will overlook it because it lacks oomph. 0-62 is taken care of in a sluggish 12.6 seconds, and you really need to work it hard to get the best out of it.

A 118bhp variant of the same engine is our top pick. It’s still economical but can offer more flexibility. 0-62 is dispensed within 11.3 seconds and its 6-speed manual ‘box suits it well. On a full load, however, it tends to get a bit breathless up hills.

For that reason, the range-topping 2.0-litre diesel is a good shout for families who need its extra power. It develops 148bhp, is fairly affordable to run, and completes the 0-62 dash in 9.8 seconds.

Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate Interior, Design & Build

[vc_single_image image=”77694″ img_size=”article-image”]The Citroen is certainly eye-catching from the outside, and equally as eye-catching inside. On the whole, it can’t rival more upmarket rivals for material quality – but it isn’t far off. The cabin is well put together, and everything feels robust and as though it will last a while.

The comfortable seats complement the car’s ride quality, and as such getting comfy shouldn’t be an issue for anyone. Meanwhile, a panoramic windscreen is standard across the range and helps to create an airy atmosphere that everyone will appreciate on longer trips.

The dashboard is tastefully designed and looks good whichever model you buy. For example, the entry-level trim’s dashboards get a lovely monochrome display for your fuel level and engine revs info.

Higher-spec models add a 12” colour display, although it seems a bit gimmicky.

Is the Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate practical? It’s a five-seater that accommodates five people well. Three individual rear seats offer lots of room to anyone seated back there, and in the higher-spec models the back seats recline for even more comfort.

A huge central storage bin is a bonus, as are underfloor bins for both front and rear seated occupants.

The boot, meanwhile, measures 536-litres, which is the biggest in this class. Fold the rear seats and you can increase it to as much as 1,851-litres. Since there is no load lip and a flat boot floor, we’d have to say this is one of the best boots around.

Equipment & Safety Of The Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate

All three trim levels are well equipped, with the entry-level Touch Edition model coming with Bluetooth, a digital radio, a touchscreen infotainment system, rear parking sensors, remote central locking, cruise control, alloys, air conditioning and climate control.

The Feel trim adds a 12” dashboard display, front parking sensors and 12” alloys, while the Flair model treats you to a reversing camera, 18” alloys, second-row air conditioning, a panoramic sunroof and half-leather seating.

In terms of how safe the car is, the Picasso was awarded all five stars when it was put through its crash test paces by Euro NCAP. Standard safety kit across the range includes a tiredness monitoring system, ISOFIX child seat mounts and lots of airbags, but automatic emergency braking is optional, as is blind spot monitoring and active cruise control.

Costs Of The Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate

Prices for the new car start out from £21,120 and rise to £29,145. For more information on our leasing deals, you can check out our page here.

In terms of its running costs, the C4 Picasso performs well. The manual versions of the 99 and 118bhp BlueHDi diesels both return 74.3mpg, emit 100g/km of CO2 and have a BiK rating of 22%. If you specify the 6-speed automatic ‘box with the 118bhp variant, economy drops by about 2mpg.

Rounding off the range is a 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150 diesel engine. It returns 65.6mpg, emits 111g/km of CO2 and has a BiK rating of 24%.

Insurance-wise, most models occupy insurance groups 16 to 23, but the BlueHDi 150 diesel sits in group 25.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

Pros and Cons Of The Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate

Pros:

Practical

Five people are accommodated well in what is a very well thought-out cabin.

Efficient

Surprisingly, its engines aren’t as efficient as the bigger Grand C4 Picasso’s but all variants return way over 60mpg on a regular basis.

Stylish

It catches the eye in the showroom for all the right reasons.

Cons:

Entry Level Diesel Is Slow

0-62 dash in 12.6 seconds is as sluggish as it sounds.

Not Much Fun

You might wish it was sharper.

Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate vs Volkswagen Touran Diesel Estate vs Ford C-MAX Diesel Estate

Let’s see how the car fares against its rivals in the comparison section of our 2018 Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate review.

Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate vs Volkswagen Touran Diesel Estate

The new Volkswagen Touran Diesel Estate is roomy, comes with seven seats and will suit buyers who aren’t looking for anything flashy.

On the road, the Touran is smoother than it looks. It’s a tad noisy out on the motorway, and it’s not what you could call exciting, but it offers a composed, stress-free driving experience.

It’s also lighter than last time, which has improved its handling abilities.[vc_single_image image=”77693″ img_size=”article-image”]

In terms of its diesel engines, there are three to choose from. A 1.6-litre sits at the bottom of the range. It develops 113bhp, completes the 0-62 dash in 11.4 seconds and should be enough to satisfy most buyers.

However, if you want more power and pace from your Touran, the bigger 2.0-litre diesel is available in two power guises. The smaller of the two develops 148bhp, while the bigger engine produces almost 190bhp. Both are well suited to a fully loaded Touran and they make for excellent towers.

All three diesels can be specified with a DSG twin-clutch automatic transmission. We like this gearbox; it has a smooth and swift shift action, and improves efficiency.

Running costs? None too shabby. All models cost £140 a year to tax, but the 1.6-litre diesel is the most frugal overall. It returns 65.6mpg and emits 113g/km of CO2.

Inside, the VW Touran boasts a pretty outstanding, upmarket interior. It’s been updated and looks more modern than last time, and now comes with smartphone connectivity and a very intuitive infotainment system.

The seats are comfortable and high quality, with some models even coming with a massage function.

The dashboard, meanwhile, now benefits from some lighter-coloured highlights that brighten up the otherwise gloomy atmosphere, while build quality is – as ever – excellent.

Is the Volkswagen Touran Diesel Estate practical? Absolutely. There might be seven seats in here but everyone gets plenty of room and space is not an issue. A high roofline certainly helps to this end, while legroom is fantastic.

True, the third row of seats is really for the kids only, but the second row of seats slide back and forth with ease.

The boot, meanwhile, measures 136-litres with all seats in place. It comes with a flat lip and a usable, curvy shape. Fold the second and third row of seats and you can extend it to 1,856-litres.

Price:

Citroen – £21,120 – £29,145
Volkswagen – £23,395 – £32,910

Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate vs Ford C-MAX Diesel Estate

The new Ford C-MAX Diesel Estate is a Focus-based five-seater MPV that’s practical, affordable to run and good to drive.

Because it’s based on the Ford Focus, the C-MAX drives a lot like its smaller sibling. Its suspension setup is a tad on the firm side but body lean is well controlled in bends, and the responsive steering is nice and accurate.

A torque vectoring system is standard on all models, and this helps to boost grip.[vc_single_image image=”77692″ img_size=”article-image”]

All the diesel engines are quiet, smooth and economical. Our favourite is a 1.5-litre engine that develops 118bhp, and which can get you from a standstill to 62mph in 11.3 seconds. It’s a workhorse engine that’s ideal for this type of car.

Th 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel is the fastest and biggest in the range. It can motor its way from rest to 62mph in 9.5 seconds and has plenty of pulling power. If you’ll be spending a lot of time on the motorway, it might be the one to go for.

Both engines are paired up with a manual gearbox as standard, but a PowerShift automatic can be specified for £1,300.

Running costs? The smaller of the two diesels returns 69mpg, while the meatier variant is good for 62.4mpg.

Inside, the C-MAX is well-equipped, with all models getting the likes of a digital radio and air conditioning as standard. However, the dashboard is surprisingly cluttered, although it’s also quite stylish and all models get a display screen. That said, the Zetec’s 4.2” display might be too small for many buyers.

The supportive and firm seats provide comfort, while a high driving position ensures good visibility.

Is the Ford C-MAX Diesel Estate practical? Its rear seats are super versatile, but two adults will be a lot more comfortable than three back there. Leg and headroom are good, with a high roofline helping out even the tallest of adults.

Storage spaces include a few door bins, a reasonably sized glovebox and an overhead console, while the boot measures 432-litres. Fold the rear seats and you can increase it to 1,684-litres.

Price:

Ford – £21,940 – £28,130

Verdict Of Our 2018 Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate Review

The C4 delivers what we all want from our family cars: Space, usability, comfort and affordable running costs.

It tosses a few extra perks into the mix too, including some luxurious kit and sharp looks.

Is it a 10/10, an A+++? There isn’t a lot of fault with the new Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate – especially if you opt for a higher spec trim – so we’d have to say that it is.[vc_row content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1464089844166{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1494257310211{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]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

Fancy the Citroen C4 Picasso Diesel Estate? Request a call back from one of our Vehicle Experts

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