2007 Citroen C4 Picasso Review
December 23, 2007 by Karl Peskett
The C4 Picasso’s dynamics are a mixed bag. It will hang on to the road on smooth asphalt, with no significant understeer, but is caught out on extra rough patches of the road with a skittish rear end. Potholes crash through the cabin, with stuttering suspension travel. On some undulating sections of the roads around Ku-Ring-Gai Chase in Sydney the Picasso showed up its most significant downfall – poor body control.
The Picasso bounced up and down to the point of almost inducing motion-sickness. The drive route was completed one-up and possibly more weight over the rear axle would help with the back end being too light. But the planned pneumatic rear suspension won’t take away the fact that the C4 Picasso feels underdamped.
On the road, the electric steering is light but feel-deprived, and the brakes start out spongy, but progressively bite harder when pushed. Pedal travel is worryingly long, though and the positioning is curious with the pedals feeling like they’re almost underneath you.
The footrest is also quite close, with your left leg seemingly propped up instead of being rested. Some people will appreciate the higher driving position though, and it was helpful to be able to see ahead and follow the other cars on the launch drive.
Tags: Citroen C4 Picasso, Citroen Reviews
I say…….this has got to be one of the best people movers on the market for its price, shame it does not come in a V6, but it undercuts the Toyota Tarago by nearly $10,000, same price as the Grandis, but not the Kia Carnival which is $8,000 cheaper, but id rather forlk out another $8000 for the Citroen C4 Picasso or even better go for the Disesel. Im very impressed with Citroens work. The only dissapoint would have to be the Suspension and the driving pedals for me. The vision is terrific! And the only people mover i would consider to buy then this would have to be the Honda Odyssey which costs $39,290 and thats a tricky one to choose between!
If I was in the market for a people mover (currently have an ‘07 Liberty wagon), this would be in my list of cars to drive. The Carnival feels cheap, the Odyssey has horrid rear visibility, the Tarago is just way too pricey and looks like a hire car and there aren’t many other options at that level.
As people start to pull away from 7 seat 4WDs, the C4 could definitely get a fair few sales.
This a very unfair test, most media in Europe have given the Picasso much, much better reviews. I’ve driven it by myself too and it’s surely the best minivan in its class, drives better and offers more than its competition (R Scenic, VW Touran, Opel Zafira, Mazda5 etc.).
Duck ..you wouldn’t want a v6 if you drove the 2.0 diesel believe me. Your only gain would be the nice tone of a V6.
There are better people movers but not at this price. Typical Citreon styling flair but will it be reliable.
There is a 1.6diesel in Europe but don’t bother if you want decent performance
Martin, most media in Europe don’t have to put up with the rubbish roads we have here. Unfortunately, Citroen hasn’t tuned the suspension to suit, and the car suffers for it.
That said, the rest of the car is very good. It’s just that the suspension is a very big flaw.
Don’t forget too, this is a quick test, not our usual week-long review.
^We also dont get the Zafira, Touran and Maz5. So unlike Europe, we don’t have a lot to compare the C4 too.
Unusual for a French vehicle to have a bad ride over rough surfaces. They usually excel in this regard especially Citroen. Like the profile but don’t like the centre speedo arrangement. The innovation and flair evident keeps automotive development marching forward which is good.
I’ve had this exact same car (including the colour) for about 6 months now, and whilst I agree with the few shortcomings that Karl has mentioned, I’d consider them fairly minor in the context of its role as a people mover.
Yes, it’s a bit twitchy when negotiating mid-corner bumps, but realistically, the soccer mum crowd won’t be concerned if their lap time suffers slightly as a result.
The ride is a little harsh because of the (beautiful) 17″ wheels and low profile tyres, but this is one of the things that makes it so much more stylish/attractive than other people movers.
After 6 months of ownership and day to day city driving, with a few country trips thrown in, I am very satisfied with the overall package that the “Pikachu” offers…. and I certainly believe it deserves at least 4 stars in your ratings.
The PSA 2.0 diesel is a marvel, and the Aisin 6 speed box should provide years of trouble free service. As with any manufacturer, the claimed fuel consumption is a little worse than the figures they suggest.
What sets this car apart to me is the flexibility of the seating and storage, and the available space in a package that is externally similar in size to most mid size cars…. this thing is a Tardis!
The individually adjustable 2nd row of seats is brilliant. The (actually useable) 3rd row that folds flat into the floor is something that other car manufacturers seem to be baffled by.
The little things like
- the built-in window blinds
- large boot area where the rear windshield isn’t raked so steeply that it cuts your load capacity in half
- the quad-zone aircon with individual controls
- the huge moonroof coupled with the massive windscreen that makes nighttime driving an absolute pleasure
- the uber-comfortable driver & passenger seats
- the conveniently placed child seat anchor points (Honda, please take note)
- the style, and many admiring looks and compliments that you get
- the ability to have 7 seats with the attached stigma of being one of the “SUV crowd”
- the service intervals of 20,000km
- Having a speed limiter AND cruise control. The speed limiter is so useful on our camera infested roads
…and the list goes on
For what it’s worth, I also love the paddle shifts and use them quite regularly, not for every gear change, but for when I want to override the software’s decision of when to change up or down.
As far as reliability is concerned, the first 6 months has been trouble free, and the vehicle feels as solid and well put together as it was when new. These vehicles are built in Vigo, Spain and waiting lists in the UK are still almost 6 months.
I look forward to your full review, and I hope you have a few kids on hands to assist you with reviewing how this car performs in real life situations.
Hi Foggy, how much exactly does your 6 month old Picasso use on diesel/petrol?
i do like its unmatched features against the common people mover out there (Tarago, Odyssey, Grandis…etc etc)
The turn offs would definitley be the suspension as the reviews would always mention.
Would there be any after market suspensions available to solve this problem?
Tnx
Hi McLovin, I’m getting about 9L/100km with city driving on Sydney’s congested streets, which is the majority of driving that I do. On country trips, I get about 7 L/100km. Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re going to save a lot of money on fuel though, the 20 cent premium that diesel seems to attract is nigh on scandalous.
There is an answer to the suspension “issues” …. the factory option for pneumatic rear suspension. I would have got it for sure…. except for the 6 month wait to get a “custom order” at the time, because none of the stock that Citroen Australia brought into the country had it.
I also know another owner who asked the dealer to order an additional set of the 16″ wheels (the standard wheels for the petrol model) and have them fitted to soften the ride. He still has the unused 17″ wheels in his garage for when he decides to sell the car.
Yep that diesel premium cost is a rip off although its only about 12-13 cents here. Apparently its something about the energy per in a litre of diesel is greater than a litre of petrol and the goverment reflect this in the taxation. We’re being ripped off again.
Welcome to rip off Britain the land of empty wallets.
Why dont we get the Zafira and Mazda 5 in Oz!!!!!!!!!11
prob cause holden tryed the zafira and it failed miserably!!
Foggy,
20,000 service intervals? gee id hate to see the oil when you pull the plug out of the sump
So the Zafira is good for Europeans!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK why dont we get the Mazda 5 in Australia?
Mazda 5 – Because it don’t have a V6/8 which means it won’t go down well with you lot and it only does 0-100 in 10.5s.
The Aussie car market is so small the economics of bringing it over to sell small numbers don’t add up.
In response to Andrew W’s question about 4 comments above, being a little “old school” myself, I too was very sceptical about this.
I’ve spoken to a few mechanics and engineers about the longer service intervals, and there’s definitely a variation of opinion on the subject…. However, I’m inclined to believe one of the guys who said that the production tolerances and material selections in engine construction, coupled with the appropriate synthetic oils will ensure that these PSA engines are easily capable of achieving the claimed 20,000km between services (including oil changes).
The trick is to do your best to make sure that the servicing dealer uses exactly the same oil specified by the manufacturer, as many of them do skimp in this area.
the new zafira in UK is well worth a look at. it looks like an astra wagin but with better proportions and height the idiot falcodore range though couldnt put up with a 4cyldinder engine and not being able to go off and speed and drag whenever they want
hello foggy and everyone else, writing from Cyprus thinking of buying the picasso woried a bit for reliability never had a Citroen.
Hi Foggy, I am also from Cyprus like Alex and was thinking of buying the C4 Picasso but was worried about the reliabilty of the car.
Although, at first glance the car impressed me and seemed a good quality product generally. I am mainly worried about other issues which might have been carried over from the c4 hatch, and if the engine will last.
Here’s an 18 month (25,000 km) ownership update, especially for Alex and Andreas in Cyprus, if you haven’t yet bought one and are still concerned about reliability:
Things I love about my “Pikachu”
* The style. I still enjoy looking at it and admiring its beauty, especially in comparison to the other people movers. We get plenty of positive comments from people about our little spaceship.
* The seating flexibility. With dog crate, prams, luggage, baby seats, bikes, scooters etc. you can always find a way to make them all fit.
* The uber-cool retracting visors and the massive arc of visibility that they provide.
* The reliability. No breakdowns or any bits falling off yet (touch wood)
* The Leather seat option pack. Although it’s a huge additional cost, the seats are so supportive and comfortable and the memory for seat & mirrors is a massive plus when we regularly alternate vehicles.
* The folding electric mirrors that are part of the leather option pack are very useful when you have a narrow driveway or garage as we have.
* The optional panoramic roof is worth every cent. With the size of the glass on the roof and the massive windscreen, it almost feels like you’re driving a convertible.
* The massive boot space.
* That little rechargeable torch has come in handy a few times. The plethora of cabin lights also come in handy when travelling with children at night, as do the tray tables with night lights.
* The dual (front & back) aircon is great, especially when you have a child asleep in the back seat.
* The integrated retractable sun blinds are so much nicer than having to use one of those window socks (which tend to become a permanent obstruction for a few years).
* The relatively small external shell means it’s easier to park than many mid/large size sedans.
* The baby seat anchor points are in the most convenient location of any car I’ve seen.
* You can fit three child safety seats abreast in the centre row without it being squishy.
* In the Citroën tradition, it’s a great highway cruiser, with every occupant looked after and not feeling closed in.
Things I’m not so thrilled about
* The sun reflecting off the chrome trim on the dashboard glovebox and the double chevron on the steering wheel hub. This chrome is part of the Leather Option pack.
* The fuel economy is still not as good as expected. About 9.5L/100km around town, and about 6.8 L/100km on the highway (with a full load). Not as good as advertised.
* The long front overhang, especially as we have a steep approach angle on our driveway. Suffice to say that the front air dam has a lot of scratches.
* The tyre wear. The Michelins are a very soft compound, and will probably need replacing at about 35,000km of mainly city driving.
* The complexity and features mounted on the steering hub is still a bit too complex compared to other implementations that use additional stalks for things such as cruise control.
* The acceleration off the line could be improved if first gear was a bit taller. The engine certainly has enough torque for it.
* The electronic parking brake is annoying when you just want to push the car forward a fraction in the garage, you need to start the engine to release the park brake.
In summary, I still love my Picasso, I’m still adamant that this is definitely one of the most practical family cars.
Hi Foggy
I assume that you got the diesel model… is it correct? How do you rate the panoramic roof on hot days (i.e. 30-40 degree days). Does the air con cope well? Did you have any squeaks / rattles? And what do you think its overall built quality compared to Honda / Toyota? Re. Michelin tyres, do you think they will they perform better (have more millage) if slightly over inflated? How do you rate the service costs… at same/average level or higher compared to other brands?
Many thanks
3 anos?????
Love Citreon, wouldnt get me driving anything else! – especialy this model!!
Love Citreon wouldnt drive anything else, love this model and my next new car will be the same!