Citroen C4 Picasso
We drive entry-level Touch Edition of facelifted five-seat MPV
A RECENT facelift for the Citroen C4 Picasso only reinforced the fact that the French MPV is one of the best family cars on sale. We’ve driven a series of well specced C4s, but now we’ve been given the keys to an entry-level Touch Edition to see if it’s worth its weight as a more modest model.
Under the bonnet is Citroen’s familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. And while it might seem like a large car to use such a small unit, the dinky turbo has plenty of poke, even with a family on board. It’s a little boosty in its nature, though, which means you have to wait for a surge of acceleration – as maximum torque doesn’t kick in until mid-way through the rev range.
That’s good and bad, because while it makes the car feel lively and quick both around town and on the motorway, it does mean driving smoothly is a bit more difficult, as you need to pay careful attention to the engine speed. That’s not so easy with the manual gearbox, which is notchy and has oddly-spaced ratios, meaning you often feel like you’re in the wrong gear. As you arrive at a junction, first gives you too many revs and second doesn’t offer enough.
Those are the only problems with the engine, because it sounds great and has plenty of power, even though the gearbox isn’t perfect. The perky engine is a bit at odds with the handling character of the C4 Picasso, with its light steering and relaxed feel. We’d still prefer the 1.6-litre diesel version – which is only a few hundred pounds more, yet beats the petrol’s CO2 emissions and fuel consumption hands down. That car claims 74.3mpg, compared with this petrol model’s 56.5mpg.
Comfort
Everything in the Picasso is geared towards comfort for the passengers inside, which is why it’s a great family car, making every journey stress-free. The light steering might take away from the driving enjoyment, but it means the car is very easy to drive. The supple suspension ensures it’s comfy, and the huge windscreen gives lots of visibility.
It also lets lots of light into a cabin that, even on this basic Touch Edition model, feels very upmarket. The materials inside are of a high quality, feel good and look great. The design of the dash is simple and clean, with the instrument cluster in the middle for a neat, symmetrical look. There’s a high-resolution display screen for the radio and media, but this model misses out on the larger second screen that features on more expensive C4 Picassos.
One problem the touchscreen presents is that it houses the heater and air-con controls, meaning it’s fiddly and annoying to change settings if you want to do it quickly. We’d much prefer more intuitive buttons that don’t force you to look away from the road to use them.
Inside, the Touch Edition is every bit as pleasant to be in as the higher-spec models, making them look pretty expensive in comparison. The kit list is great, and while those who want the latest toys will need to upgrade to a higher-spec car, the Touch Edition will be more than enough for many. You get climate control, cruise control, front and rear electric windows, a touchscreen display, Bluetooth, USB and even 16-inch alloy wheels as standard.
Sat-nav is notable by its absence, but if you normally use your phone instead of a built-in navigation unit, this value version could be perfect for you. You still get all of the Picasso’s practical touches, too, such as the sliding rear seats that fold in several ways as well as reclining.
With a 537-litre boot, or 1,851 litres with the seats down, there’s a huge amount of space for a buggy. In fact, there’s room for several bikes with the rear row folded down. There’s no lip on the opening, so loading is easy. If you still crave even more practicality, the Touch Edition is available on the even bigger, seven-seater Grand C4 Picasso, too.
“Materials inside are of a high quality, and look and feel great. Design of the dash is simple”