Citroen C3 Picasso Springtime, and the Picassos are blossoming, with Citroen launching another to join its growing list of MPVs. This is a sector in which the French company is steadily taking control, for 1 in 4 MPVs in Europe is now a Citroen, and in an era when MPVs are proving highly popular it certainly makes good sense to release a small one that will simultaneously satisfy desires to motor economically. In MPV terms ‘small’ means something that has less than the 6-8 seats possessed by the big ones, and the C3 does indeed offer seats for just five. However, all five of them will appreciate the room they have to stretch legs and sit upright without feeling the need for a dent in the roof to take the upper part of their head. Add to that the fact that the rear seats slide individually, and its evident that Citroen have made interior practicality a must-do. You can see that again when you fold down the rear seats to enlarge the boot volume; it’s a one- handed job that moves the cushion downwards as the back rest folds, so you’ve a flat floor once it’s done, and all the hinges and catches involved feel like they’re built to last. Size of the boot itself is either 385 or 500 litres depending on where you put the adjustable boot floor, and that larger figure puts the C3 at a distinct advantage against opposition such as Ford’s Fusion and the Vauxhall Meriva. With rear seats folded you’ve no less than 1506 litres of space, or 53 cubic feet if you prefer old talk, and some models feature a fold down front seat which will provide a total length of 2.4 metres for any long stuff you might think of carrying. On the road this new Picasso is something of a Citroen surprise. We’ve come to expect soft seats with soft suspension in cars from this part of the world, so it raises an eyebrow or two when one sits in a seat that is actually fairly firm, even Germanic, in its feel. Suspension too is medium rather than soft, giving a combined effect that’s more sporting than the car’s outline would suggest. Nothing to complain about, and of course it keeps what is a comparatively tall car on an even keel, with a lack of roll around the twisty bits. Power is from one of four engines – two petrols that are part of the BMW/PSA co-design agreement, and two HDi diesels, which are still front-runners in the refinement stakes. The small 1.4 petrol feels like it has more than the 95PS mentioned on the spec sheet, but the fairly low gearing does mean you’re forever groping around for the non-existent sixth gear. Surprisingly, there’s no sixth to be found on any of the gearboxes, which certainly for the diesels these days is unusual. Driving position is good, since you’ve not only got the high seating position beloved of MPV and off-roader owners, but steering reach adjustment, which is by no means universal at this level of the market. But much more unusual than this is the intensely airy feeling in the cabin, thanks to what is effectively a twin A-pillar design; a very thin pillar between the windscreen and front side window gives fantastic front quarter vision. The design really should be a blueprint for other manufacturers to copy. Model range is VT, VTR+, and Exclusive. But just as a sixth gear fails to make an appearance on any of them, so there is also an absence of sat nav and ESP, both of which you’re going to have to pay more for if you want them. And if auto transmission is your preference, this Picasso isn’t yet for you. What you do get on all models however includes front airbags, remote locking, MP3- compatible CD player with steering wheel mounted controls, electrically adjustable door mirrors, front electric windows, trip computer, and yes, a scented air freshener. There are a few surprises with this Citroen, but what you do get is remarkable practicality and interior space in a vehicle which is little more than four metres long. All engines are pretty economical, with the lower powered diesel of course being the best of them. It’s another excellent entrant in a world of very good MPVs, and I’ve no doubt that you’ll be seeing quite a lot of C3 Picassos on our roads very soon. Size:                           4.08 x 1.73m Engines:                     Petrol:       1.4 litre – 95PS                                                     1.6 litre – 120PS                                    Diesel:       1.6 litre – 90PS                                                      1.6 litre – 110PS Gearbox:                    5-speed front drive Best consumption:     90PS diesel – 58.9mpg Price at April ’09:        £11,495 – £15,595   Full details of the C3 Picasso available on the manufacturer’s website: www.citroen.co.uk Peter Cracknell  -  April 2009 l l l l Home New Models Industry Green News Odds n’Ends