Citroen Xsara Picasso - without overpaying

Manufacturers are inspired by various items. Gentlemen from Citroen decided that it was time to interfere with the plans of the Renault Scenic family, and created a car that looked like a chicken egg. What is a Citroen Xsara Picasso?

This French concern is rather late with its family CD. In a few years of competition, Scenic has established itself in the market no less than weeds in the garden. But as they say, better late than never. Citroen took the well-known and beloved Xsara under a magnifying glass, puffed it up a bit and glued Pablo Picasso's signature onto the fenders. Effect? Pretty good family car that doesn't cost a fortune these days.

The car was introduced in 1999 and existed on the market until 2010. In 2004, most of the models would have already left the scene, and the Citroen family was just gaining momentum - it received a facelift that refreshed it a bit. Such a long production period is a real retirement age for a car, but why change a good one? For Xsara Picasso, drivers willingly reached out not only in Europe. The model even got into African and Asian salons. But does it remain an interesting tidbit in the secondary market?

FRENCH BAD?

Stereotypes advise avoiding cars with the letter “F”, but, contrary to what it seems, the Citroen Xsara Picasso is not the king of workshops. The design is simple, many parts and cheap maintenance. Gasoline engines are old and solid school (sometimes they only have problems with oil leakage and wear), and HDi diesels are considered one of the best on the market. In the case of the latter, it is worth remembering that armored diesel engines left with the Mercedes W124 and now it is worth saving a large amount in each car, just in case. Problems can be caused by the injection system, supercharging, dual mass wheel and DPF filter. So that's the standard. Additional faults are only failures of the high pressure pump.

However, in many other examples, you can complain about a worn clutch, shifter and suspension lockup. Minor problems, such as stabilizer connectors, are standard. However, rear axle regeneration can damage more. More than 100 km walks on our roads, then you will have to repair the rear beam with bearings. Some units also have minor problems with corrosion and electronics. Especially when it comes to indications on glass, central locking or wipers. Despite this, it is safe to say that the cost of maintaining this car is family friendly and not too high. And how does a French minivan work in everyday life?

THOUGHT

The plastic used in the interior was definitely a margarine wrapper at one time. They are heavy and uninteresting. In addition, they have an average landing and they can creak. Even so, in terms of transport and space, it's hard to fault the Xsara Picasso. Everyone has independent places at their disposal. Up to this point, there is plenty in all directions, both front and rear. Second row passengers also have a small bonus. Their seats fold down and are adjustable. The space is not limited by the central tunnel, because it is not there. In addition, you can dine on folding tables. Almost like a milk bar.

The driver's seat is also comfortable, the visibility is excellent. The pillars are thin, and the glass area is huge. A little annoying is only the electronic instrument cluster in the center of the dashboard. Not only are the numbers very small, but there is also no tachometer. To compensate for this, there are plenty of roomy storage compartments, space even for 1.5-liter bottles and a trunk of 550 liters. You can even live in this car.

WHAT'S UNDER THE MASK?

You don't want problems? Bet on gasoline options - their work is more predictable. The main thing is to choose the right one. Base 1.6 91-105 km not fast and not flexible. Theoretically, a small amount of fuel will suit you, but in practice it may be different. You have to look for power at high speed, so it often burns as much as the larger 1.8 115 km. This is the optimal choice. The 2-liter unit is also an interesting proposal, but the manufacturer put it only in tandem with a 4-speed automatic, which is futile. What about diesels?

Diesel engines perform much better under the hood of this car, although you should be aware that maintenance costs can be significantly higher after many years. True, they transmit distinct vibrations to the cabin, but most of them readily respond to the driver's commands. In terms of durability, the 2.0 HDi 90HP is an excellent choice. If performance is still important, you should look into the newer 1.6 HDi 90-109KM. Especially this stronger variant makes the Xsara Picasso quite maneuverable.

Xsara Picasso looks unattractive, but has a lot of features. Everyone will find a piece of space for themselves, and the cost of purchase and maintenance will not burden the family budget. And although the appearance is a matter of taste, we can safely say that a well-groomed French car will be more durable than a worn German one.

This article was created thanks to the courtesy of TopCar, who provided a car from the current offer for a test and photo session.

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