Citroën C3 Picasso 1.6 HDi 110 CV road test (Part II)

We now move on to the second part of the road test of the Citroën C3 Picasso, a compact MPV with a very distinctive design. To find out more about the engine and handling, you can see the first part of the test, where we analysed the 1.6 HDi 110 hp engine, an engine that suits the C3 Picasso perfectly.

But now it’s time to talk about its design, perhaps one of the most important aspects of the C3 Picasso and its interior space, another area where this compact MPV excels. Inside, not only can five adults travel comfortably , there is a good-sized boot, and if you fold down the rear seats you get a fairly generous and very practical loading area. As is typical of a good MPV, there are also plenty of storage spaces throughout the cabin.

Exterior design

Outside, it is a model that stands out, first of all for its front end with soft, rounded shapes and those headlights set high, as if it were an SUV. The headlights provide good illumination despite not having xenon, and their position also helps. The black plastic mouldings also contribute to that sense of robustness. At the height of the A-pillar, the C3 Picasso is very distinctive because it is split in two by a window on the side, which provides excellent peripheral visibility and an extremely personal design.

At the rear we find another distinctive design, with the taillights divided into two groups: upper ones and lower ones at bumper height. Again it plays with an SUV-style aesthetic in a very individual way, and it has a large tailgate that requires care in low places, such as garages (see detail).

The side profile stands out for its very large doors (which remind me of those of the Berlingo) and the side plastic mouldings. Without doubt the Citroën C3 Picasso is a car with a very original design and its own personality. At first it can take some getting used to, but over time it grows on you more and more. We must not overlook the design of the 17-inch alloy wheels, which attract a lot of attention with their two-tone combination, and which come as standard on the Exclusive trim (the one fitted to our test unit).

Interior design, space and comfort

When we sit behind the wheel of the C3 Picasso, we immediately realise that its interior is 100% MPV, with a great sense of interior space. The centre console and dashboard lines are not particularly conventional, with the air vents standing out, and at the back, presiding over the whole console, is the fully digital instrument panel, typical of Citroën models. The driving position is slightly elevated, but everything is within easy reach, with excellent side and forward visibility. Perhaps the only thing that is a little hard to find is the handbrake, which is located very low down.

Nevertheless, the driving position is very comfortable, with everything to hand, especially the controls and the gear lever, positioned high. But as I mentioned earlier, I did not like the way the centre console has been laid out, with the handbrake very low down and, above all, the centre armrest, which is badly placed and gets in the way when applying the handbrake unless you move it aside, and when using the AUX and USB sockets (standard on the Exclusive version). Finally, we must highlight the pedals, which are positioned more horizontally than usual and are very comfortable for driving, as well as the steering wheel, which is of considerable size.

Where there are no complaints is the materials used, which are of good quality. The dashboard features pleasant-to-the-touch plastic, and the various buttons and controls are well made. Although some hard plastics are present, overall the quality is good and, above all, pleasant to the touch.

The front seats, in addition to their slightly elevated position, are spacious and offer good lateral support. Above all, when you drive the C3 Picasso you get the impression of being in a larger car. In the front seats (and the rear ones too) there is a great sense of space, especially considering the car’s dimensions (4.08 metres). In the rear seats, the sense of space is complemented by the panoramic roof, which provides plenty of light inside (see detail), and there is enough legroom.

As befits an MPV, it has plenty of places to store things: there is a large central glovebox, which houses the air freshener that comes standard with the C3 Picasso (a curious solution, see detail), and then various compartments in the centre console and in the doors where you can keep your belongings. It even has a storage compartment under the floor of the rear seats.

With all this, the C3 Picasso is a very recommendable car for travelling, since you can cover long distances in comfort and with plenty of interior space, with smooth suspension and engine behaviour that prioritises interior comfort above all. However, there are several points that could be improved: the car’s aerodynamics are not very good, and on the motorway the noises caused by its design become somewhat bothersome, and the doors are not well insulated (see detail) and should have better sealing. I hope this is only a detail specific to our test unit, as it worsens the noise that enters the cabin, for example.

Practical solutions are not limited to the glove compartments and the air freshener. The C3 Picasso also features an additional courtesy mirror, which can be adjusted (see detail), very handy for keeping an eye on the children, for example, without having to use the interior rear-view mirror. Externally, it also has two large wing mirrors that provide good visibility and make up for the fact that rear visibility through the rear window is not very good.

And finally, when it comes to the interior, we come to another area where the Citroën C3 Picasso really excels: its load capacity. The boot is of a good size, with a capacity that can range between 385 and 500 litres, depending on how you position the rear bench, which is sliding and each seat can be moved individually, providing extra space (see detail). It also has a sliding boot floor, which allows you to gain even more space, and if you fold down the rear seats you have a true Berlingo: in terms of load capacity, it reaches up to 1,506 litres, and you can carry objects 2.41 metres long with the front passenger seatback folded down.

This is the section I liked most about the C3 Picasso, because it offers many possibilities for interior modularity and a large amount of space typical of a van, which makes the C3 Picasso a very practical MPV for any situation, despite its compact dimensions (4.08 metres long).

In the third part of the test we will look at the equipment of the Citroën C3 Picasso and our overall assessment of this very distinctive MPV with its outstanding interior space, as well as the prices and the versions available for the C3 Picasso.

Prices start at 12,890 euros, which is not bad at all for such a versatile model that also comes with comprehensive equipment.

Photos | David Taboada