The 2014 Citroen C4 Picasso was launched to the South African motoring media in George, and Cars.co.za was amongst the first to try out this futuristic-looking and practical family vehicle.

Despite looking like a large MPV, the Citroen C4 Picasso is actually quite a featherweight thanks to a new platform and extensive use of lightweight materials such as aluminium. The vehicle is in fact 140 kg lighter than the previous generation model and is visually one of the most interesting-looking vehicles on the market.

Engine and economy

I was a little disappointed by the engine size of the Citroen C4 Picasso as I initially felt that a 1.6-litre turbodiesel wouldn’t have enough power and a 2.0-litre would be more appropriate. I was quite happy to be proven wrong as the 85 kW and 270 Nm 1.6-litre e-HDi offered more than adequate power and boasted great economy to boot.

Citroen claims a 0-100 km/h time of 11.8 seconds with a top speed of 190 km/h. Economy is claimed at 4l/100km, but in reality you can expect about 5.5l/100km if you’re careful. Power is driven to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

Specification

The car is available in two versions. Both versions come with the 1.6-litre e-HDi motor and the differences are in terms of specification and wheel size. The Seduction has 16-inch alloy wheels, whereas the Intensive features bigger 17-inch units.

The Citroen C4 Picasso comes well-specced, with numerous options for further gadgetry and technology. Standard gear includes cruise control, electric handbrake, hill-start assistance and auto headlights. For further information about the Citroen C4 Picasso’s specification and features, click here.

The Citroen C4 Picasso drive

It’s a pleasantly smooth drive too, with the engine having enough grunt to get around and showing some levels of refinement inside. Outside, there’s a typical diesel chugging sound. Handling wise, there’s a considerable amount of body roll so don’t throw it into the corners! All in all, I was impressed with how luxurious the car felt while driving.

The cabin is functional, stylish and spacious. Thanks to the giant windscreen and panoramic roof, the interior feels airy. In fact, I’d go as far as to suggest the cabin feels similar to that of an aircraft.I was impressed with the array of technology and features fitted to the Citroen C4 Picasso, and I look forward to a week-long evaluation period where I can fully try out all the incredible gadgets.

Warranty

Fears of French motoring quality can be allayed by a comprehensive three-year or 100 000 km warranty, five-year or 100 000 km service plan and three year’s worth of 24-hour roadside assistance. Buyers can also opt for Citroen Freedrive – a five-year or 100 00 km warranty and a five-year or 100 000 km maintenance plan.

Citroen C4 Picasso Price in South Africa

The range starts at R325 900 for the Seduction, while the Intensive goes for R345 900.