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The Grand C4 Picasso has been subject to recalls. First was a recall for the front seatbelt buckles to be replaced. Next, the panoramic glass roof could become partially debonded from the car. The electric parking brake was the cause of the next two recalls – one of the cables was found to be faulty, and could cause the handbrake to fail. Incorrectly routed wiring to the starter was then found to cause electrical problems or even start a fire, so was recalled to have extra insulation fitted.
A dodgy engine relay unit could cause various systems to stop working, then the seatbelts again caused a recall of 134 vehicles, because the locking system was found to be faulty. Next was a recall for a chafing fuel return pipe. Then in 2012, the Grand C4 Picasso was once more recalled for a fault in the seatbelts. This time, the fixing bolts of the return rail had to be replaced.
More than 200 examples were recalled for a software fix to resolve an overheating problem, and then 9483 vehicles had to be recalled for a repair to the integrated heater in the fuel filter. Incorrectly specified suspension bolts caused another recall, and finally, 5290 cars were recalled for an update to the emissions software. In addition, be aware that the air suspension fitted to some models has been known to fail – some owners have replaced it with a conventional set-up. Just make sure that everything is as it needs to be.
All MPVS can lead hard lives, so make sure all is working as it should – knock something off the price if not. It’s well worth getting someone with knowledge to check the car over.
The seven comfortable seats, and Citroën’s ingenious folding system, where tugging on a couple of levers allows the five rear seats to fold flat
Verdict
When you’re looking for a bargain-priced car that will tow with authority and take all the people or stuff you can throw at it, the Grand C4 Picasso is a good option.
It still looks smart, and the way the seat-folding system works remains clever, even after all these years. Better still, the car earned a five-star Euro NCAP crash rating, so will keep you and yours safe.
A 1.6-litre diesel will be strong enough to cope with everything you need and can do an official average of 55.4mpg.
| SUMMER SPECIAL 2020