irishcar.com - Citroen Picasso 1.6

After driving two new Citroen Xsara Picassos with different sized engines, the one question that springs to mind is: is it necessary to pay an extra £1,100 for an additional 200cc?

I must admit that after looking at the car in some detail I was under no illusion but that the 1.6 version was a just marketing ploy and that the 1.8 litre would be more compatible for the large body.

I fully expected the 1.6 litre Picasso to be like the old 1.1 litre Escort, all style and no guts. However, I am glad to report that the 1.6 is a model with which I could easily live.

This starting model of a three-car line-up has ability, no doubt about it. Power-wise, 23 bhp is the divide between the 1.8 litre and the smaller 1.6 petrol unit.

Fully laden, the 1.6 may require an extra amount of wrist movement with the gear lever to maintain momentum but, even so, I would rather have the exercise and an extra £1,100 in my wallet.

Sure, the 1.8 litre unit offers brisker performance and quicker acceleration, but this is an MPV, not a hot hatchback, so 0-60 mph times are unlikely to be paramount. This is the type of vehicle where you can sit and relax in comfortable, bright, airy surroundings.

It is also the type of MPV where children can use its aircraft style foldable tables to draw on or use to play with their toys. Who wants electrifying performance from a Multi-Purpose Vehicle? The fact of the matter is that the 1.6 litre unit works and works well.

Because Renault got there first with the Scenic, I cannot say the Picasso is innovative for it’s not. It is streamlined, futuristic and even possesses an elegant presence, but it’s not a totally new design that hasn’t been seen before.

LOAD-CARRIER
In some respects, the Picasso is not inventive either. It will sit five adults in comfort and can be extended into a load-carrier by removing the rear seats. The Opel Zafira, on the other hand, which was launched before the Picasso, is also based on a family-size saloon (Astra) but it will carry seven (although the seating is smaller). More importantly, however, its seats fold into the floor.

Other than having a built-in shopping trolley and multiplex wiring, there is nothing really new about the Citroen Picasso.

It is good enough to worry Renault whose Scenic is also a five-seater and market research has shown five-seater MPVs to be more in demand. Renault sales figures prove this and Citroen clearly want a piece of the action.

Like most MPVs, the Picasso offers oodles of oddment space and cubby-holes.

The dashboard mounted gear lever allows for a flat floor area and one gets a real feeling of space from sitting inside. The boot offers anything from 550 to 2,000 litres of space.

Because of the higher than normal driving position, the location of the gear lever and the excellent visibility, the Picasso is an easy vehicle to manoeuvre.

While the seats are large and comfortable, a little more lumber support would not go amiss.

Ride quality and road-holding, Citroen trademarks, proved excellent over the wide mixture of roads driven. Capable of producing 95 bhp and quoted as performing to 106 mph, fuel consumption from both models was almost on par, 33mpg overall.

TROLLEY NOVELTY
One novelty the Citroen has over anything I have ever driven is a shopping trolley known as the Modubox. This innovative collapsible unit is mounted in the boot and is easily assembled.

While the theory behind such a piece of equipment is good, in Ireland its life span, I’m afraid, is likely to be limited. Considering we don’t have open, spacious boulevards or streetscapes like the Champs Elysee, one trip to the local supermarket for a four-stone bag of potatoes and this thing with its little wheels and telescopic handles will die a death on our rugged pavements. It does not have anything like the build quality of the vehicle that carries it.

All versions of Picasso feature ABS, four airbags including a cut-off device on the front passenger airbag), remote central locking, child locks with dashboard indication, front fog lights, CD player, velour upholstery and an on-board computer as standard.

Citroen offers a ‘Plus’ package only on the 1.8 petrol and 2.0 Hdi. For an additional £1,200 this includes air conditioning, alloy wheels and front arm rest.

Since there are vast amounts of glass, air conditioning I would consider a must. Unfortunately, the 1.6 litre model is not offered with air conditioning and, in the case of the 1.8 litre, there is a price to pay. Temperature figures were three to four degrees less when I tested the 1.6 litre and, in such circumstances, the Picasso proved most comfortable.

Nicely packaged, well-built, comfortable and versatile, the Picasso can be a very likeable vehicle. The one major complaint I have of this Citroen is the very annoying reflection of the dashboard projected onto the windscreen.

Five-seater with a dash of panache	September 2000
After driving two new Citroen Xsara Picassos with different sized engines, the one question that springs to mind is: is it necessary to pay an extra £1,100 for an additional 200cc? I must admit that after looking at the car in some detail I was under no illusion but that the 1.6 version was a just marketing ploy and that the 1.8 litre would be more compatible for the large body. I fully expected the 1.6 litre Picasso to be like the old 1.1 litre Escort, all style and no guts. However, I am glad to report that the 1.6 is a model with which I could easily live. This starting model of a three-car line-up has ability, no doubt about it. Power-wise, 23 bhp is the divide between the 1.8 litre and the smaller 1.6 petrol unit. Fully laden, the 1.6 may require an extra amount of wrist movement with the gear lever to maintain momentum but, even so, I would rather have the exercise and an extra £1,100 in my wallet. Sure, the 1.8 litre unit offers brisker performance and quicker acceleration, but this is an MPV, not a hot hatchback, so 0-60 mph times are unlikely to be paramount. This is the type of vehicle where you can sit and relax in comfortable, bright, airy surroundings. It is also the type of MPV where children can use its aircraft style foldable tables to draw on or use to play with their toys. Who wants electrifying performance from a Multi-Purpose Vehicle? The fact of the matter is that the 1.6 litre unit works and works well. Because Renault got there first with the Scenic, I cannot say the Picasso is innovative for it’s not. It is streamlined, futuristic and even possesses an elegant presence, but it’s not a totally new design that hasn’t been seen before. LOAD-CARRIER In some respects, the Picasso is not inventive either. It will sit five adults in comfort and can be extended into a load-carrier by removing the rear seats. The Opel Zafira, on the other hand, which was launched before the Picasso, is also based on a family-size saloon (Astra) but it will carry seven (although the seating is smaller). More importantly, however, its seats fold into the floor. Other than having a built-in shopping trolley and multiplex wiring, there is nothing really new about the Citroen Picasso. It is good enough to worry Renault whose Scenic is also a five-seater and market research has shown five-seater MPVs to be more in demand. Renault sales figures prove this and Citroen clearly want a piece of the action. Like most MPVs, the Picasso offers oodles of oddment space and cubby-holes. The dashboard mounted gear lever allows for a flat floor area and one gets a real feeling of space from sitting inside. The boot offers anything from 550 to 2,000 litres of space. Because of the higher than normal driving position, the location of the gear lever and the excellent visibility, the Picasso is an easy vehicle to manoeuvre. While the seats are large and comfortable, a little more lumber support would not go amiss. Ride quality and road-holding, Citroen trademarks, proved excellent over the wide mixture of roads driven. Capable of producing 95 bhp and quoted as performing to 106 mph, fuel consumption from both models was almost on par, 33mpg overall. TROLLEY NOVELTY One novelty the Citroen has over anything I have ever driven is a shopping trolley known as the Modubox. This innovative collapsible unit is mounted in the boot and is easily assembled. While the theory behind such a piece of equipment is good, in Ireland its life span, I’m afraid, is likely to be limited. Considering we don’t have open, spacious boulevards or streetscapes like the Champs Elysee, one trip to the local supermarket for a four-stone bag of potatoes and this thing with its little wheels and telescopic handles will die a death on our rugged pavements. It does not have anything like the build quality of the vehicle that carries it. All versions of Picasso feature ABS, four airbags including a cut-off device on the front passenger airbag), remote central locking, child locks with dashboard indication, front fog lights, CD player, velour upholstery and an on-board computer as standard. Citroen offers a ‘Plus’ package only on the 1.8 petrol and 2.0 Hdi. For an additional £1,200 this includes air conditioning, alloy wheels and front arm rest. Since there are vast amounts of glass, air conditioning I would consider a must. Unfortunately, the 1.6 litre model is not offered with air conditioning and, in the case of the 1.8 litre, there is a price to pay. Temperature figures were three to four degrees less when I tested the 1.6 litre and, in such circumstances, the Picasso proved most comfortable. Nicely packaged, well-built, comfortable and versatile, the Picasso can be a very likeable vehicle. The one major complaint I have of this Citroen is the very annoying reflection of the dashboard projected onto the windscreen.
by Tony Conlon

Five-seater with a dash of panache