Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 2016 review

Richard Berry road tests and reviews of the 2016 Citroen grand C4 Picasso with performance, fuel consumption and verdict.

People movers are the sweatpants of the automotive world. A place where functionality and comfort completely prevail over style. Sure, there are some pretty quirky tracks, but when it comes down to it, they are what they are. Even if Ferrari built a squealing V12 to transport people, all it would say is “we like to get to church really fast.” So it's almost as if Citroen has faced this reality and embraced it by introducing a Grand C4 Picasso with features so bizarre that it's dangerously close to being cool.

This second generation Grand C4 Picasso debuted at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and arrived here in early 2014. In Australia, it's only available in one trim - Exclusive - and comes with a $44,990 diesel engine.

The updated version has recently appeared in Europe, but we are unlikely to see it here before the end of 2017.

Design

Google Translate says the French word for bizarre is "excentrique". If so, the Grand C4 Picasso is pretty damn eccentric. Look at it with a huge windshield and transparent A-pillars, an upturned nose with low-set headlights and high-mounted squinted LEDs.

Inside, things get even more eccentric. There's a turquoise-sized shifter on the steering column, a handbrake on the dash, and the rearview mirror is accompanied by a miniature double so you can see the kids in the back.

These transparent pillars look useless, but they improve visibility incredibly.

The Grand C4 Picasso seats seven and is 172mm longer than the five-seat C4 Picasso hatchback (not that big?).

You can transform from a dump truck to a cargo truck, where all but the driver's seats fold into a flat floor. The second row consists of three separately folding seats, while the third row seats disappear into the boot floor when they are stowed away.

Second-row passengers get fold-out tables, window sunshades, air conditioning controls, and air vents.

Standard features include a gigantic 12-inch display that dominates the top of the dash, and below that, a mere mortal 7-inch screen. There's also satellite navigation, a reversing camera, a 360 bird's eye view camera, and parking sensors.

The French seem to disapprove of drunk driving, i.e. drunk driving, and like other Gallic cars, the Grand C4 Picasso has virtually no cup holders. Two ahead, and somewhere else zero. You're not going to put a bottle of anything in door pockets with their letterbox-sized holes.

While the storage is actually brilliant, with a large closable bucket under the dash for wallets, keys, and USB connections, while the removable center console has a huge container, yes, removable - it all unzips and can be removed .

The driver's and front passenger's seats are the most comfortable and supportive we've ever sat in, and are great for long trips.

The Grand C4 Picasso has the highest five-star ANCAP safety rating, traction and stability control, and blind spot warning. Our test car was equipped with the Tech Pack, which was offered as standard for a limited time, so check to see if Citroen is on the deal. The Tech Pack, which costs an additional $5000, typically includes an automatic tailgate, adaptive cruise control, xenon headlights, and forward collision warning.

Unfortunately for the passenger, the curtain airbags don't extend to the third row - only the second, which is a bit of a disappointment for a car that seems to have all the little things covered.

About the city

These transparent pillars look useless, but they improve visibility incredibly. Improving nothing is how all controls are accessible through either of the two screens. Air conditioning, multimedia, your speed, the gear you are in - all this is available or displayed on one of the two central displays. Not only is it annoying to view and control from time to time, but what happens if the screen blocks it? HM…

There's no shortage of glass, and it's a rather strange feeling when you look up and see the windshield curve over your head. Luckily, the sun visors are on rails and drop down as you look into the sun.

A panoramic sunroof complements the glass dome, giving it the feel of a 1980s jet fighter video game.

I love the switch on the column, it's a cool retro touch, but the lever itself is so small that at some point it might come off in the hand of some tack-sized Aussie.

The driver's and front passenger's seats are the most comfortable and supportive we've ever sat in, and are great for long trips. The second row seats are also exceptional. Don't even think about putting an adult in the third row - there is no room for adult legs, and it is better to leave them for children.

You can throw this thing at any speed bump at any speed and it slides over it like it's not there.

The interior feels very spacious thanks to the high roof and the lack of a gear lever on the floor. The glass surround enhances this feeling.

On the way to

But this glass may have its drawbacks - at first glance. There may be such a thing as too much visibility. At 110 km/h on the freeway, it felt like I was piloting one of those bubble helicopters from M*A*S*H, you'll feel a bit insecure, but that's what I'm used to after a few hours.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine is powerful with 110kW and 370Nm, you have everything you need to transport people at your disposal.

We were very impressed with the comfortable ride. You can throw this thing at any speed bump at any speed and it slides over it like it's not there. The downside to this is that at times it feels a bit like jumping castle control, but the handling is better than most people who move around there.

The six-speed automatic also does its job well. After 400 km of highway, suburban and urban driving, our average fuel consumption was 6.3 l/100 km, just a liter above the official combined figure.

It is difficult to make a pickup truck sexy, the laws of space and practicality do not allow it. But the Grand C4 Picasso seems so thoughtful and stylish that its beauty lies in its uniqueness while remaining functional and providing a comfortable ride. Practical and eccentric.

That he has

Satellite navigation, reversing camera, surround camera, front and rear parking sensors, individual folding seats.

What is not

Third row airbags.

Want more Grand C4 Picasso? Check out a video of Richard's top XNUMX features we love here.

Click here for more pricing and specifications for the 2016 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso.