The New Citroen C4 Picasso
Published: 8th December 2006
Citroen C4 Picasso
Light, both natural and artificial, plays a key role in the relationship between the occupants and the vehicle. There are up to 32 different light sources onboard, ranging from the innovative use of subtle strip lighting in the doors, headlining and dash to the door bins that are automatically illuminated when a hand is placed inside them, plus a boot light that doubles as a hand-held torch. There are even welcome lights in the door mirrors that bathe the ground with light when approaching the vehicle in the dark.
The abundance of natural light accentuates the sheer space available in the cabin. The three rows of individual seats can comfortably accommodate up to seven passengers, providing class-leading elbowroom for all. And passengers in the third row benefit from extra legroom thanks to the design of the recessed floor.
But it is the remarkable ease with which the rear two rows of seats can be reconfigured that impresses most. Thanks to their unique design, all five seats can be folded down to create a flat load surface in a matter of seconds by simply pulling on the release straps.
Placing the C4 Picasso a further step ahead of its competitors, this simple system is also the secret to the effortless third row access. The outer second row seats operate like cinema seats - on lifting a lever, the cushion flips up against the backrest and then the whole seat slides forwards, giving plenty of room to step into the rear.
Reinforcing its versatile nature, the C4 Picasso offers the largest boot space in the class when in the most common five seat configuration, with an available 576 litres beneath the luggage cover. This can be extended to a massive 1,951 litres with the second row seats folded away.
To stow away everyday paraphernalia there are a number of useful cubby holes dotted around the interior, which can include a 5.4 litre 'coolbox' in the centre of the dashboard, underfloor storage space in the boot and two illuminated dash-top compartments.
Comfort is by no means neglected for practicality, and the availability of dual-zone automatic air conditioning, with individual air-flow controls in row two, guarantees that occupants will be able to relax in the perfect travelling conditions. Particularly useful for short stops on hot days, a 'rest' function allows the air conditioning to continue to operate for eight minutes after the engine is switched off.
For added occupant well-being, the C4 Picasso can be equipped with an air quality sensor that monitors the levels of outdoor pollution and will automatically switch the airflow to 'recycle' if high levels of pollutants are detected. As with its C4 stablemate, a built-in air freshener with a choice of scents, including a new tobacco-neutralising fragrance, is also available.
Citroen's new Compact MPV is positively brimming with neat touches. Depending on specification, there are aircraft-style trays on the back of the front seats, which can conceal integrated reading lights or video screens for the DVD player. All models feature a clever sun visor system on the panoramic windscreen, which incorporates a sliding blind and flip-down visor to protect the front seat occupants from glare on sunny days, as well as an automatic fuel flap.
Citroen C4 Picasso
Our Citroen C4 Picasso Guide lists the full specification of the current UK C4 Picasso range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £14,695 - £22,195
Body Style:
Fuel:
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Models in the range: 28
We have road tested the Citroen C4 Picasso, to read our in-depth car review:
Citroen C4 Picasso Review - May 2007
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 6th July 2008
