2 weeks ago, we were given the opportunity to take the all-new CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso out for a spin and we had a rather comfortable and spacious drive. In this blog post, we will be sharing about our driving experience with the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso and what we think about it.
Exterior Appearance
The new CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso is styled to fully stand apart from the five-seater model. The side view of the new CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso has a distinctive visual appeal through its roof arches, which emerge from the base of the windscreen.
This “signature” highlights the spacious interior and the large window area, underscoring the generous and welcoming cabin. Blending style and practicality, the central part of the aluminium arches serves as a support function. The sculptural flanks emphasis the car’s more athletic design approach.
The front end, composed of fully flowing lines, showcases CITROËN’s new styling identity with an assertive, horizontal engine bay and chevrons that extend outwards to curve into the LED daytime running lights. Just above sit the sleek headlamps, which contribute to the high-tech look at the front, as do the fog lamps with their original light signature.
The rear LED lights feature a 3D effect with an innovative, deep-set design offering a refined take on futuristic styling cues. The rear styling is enhanced by a wraparound tailgate conveying all the robustness and capaciousness of the boot and opening to reveal broad and easy access to the loading area.
Interior Appearance
The pure and uncluttered interior of the new CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso was designed in a “loft” spirit. The impression is underlined by the standard-fit panoramic windscreen and large glass roof that bathe the cabin in natural light. The loft inspiration is also to be found in the quality of the cabin materials and the painstaking attention to detail.
The asymmetrically designed dashboard blends different colours and materials. Black, with its high-tech connotations, dominates on the driver’s side, echoing the lighter slate or champagne tones on the passenger side with their “sparkle” effect.
Each passenger in the new CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso benefits from special attention to make them feel fully at home; row two is home to three independent seats with adjustable bases and tilting backs; and row three passengers get their own air blowers.
What We Think Of the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso?
Having done multiple reviews on sedan and hatchback cars, the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso is the first MPV to be featured on our blog and we must say, it is so spacious that it allowed us to have an opportunity to bring our entire family out for a good dinner with just one car [usually, we have to drive two cars out]. With that being said, the 3rd row of seats might be a little crammed and claustrophobic for adult passengers and it would be more suited to accommodate children.
Although the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso has the highest torque in the Category A COE, we felt that the acceleration was a little sluggish and underpowered. This could probably be due to the fact that the car has a big body. However, going uphill with a full load of passengers is a “walk in the park” for the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso.
The gear transition was smooth and with its fully digitised instrument panel, we felt as if we were driving a futuristic high-tech car. The purely designed dashboard is structured around two displays in the centre, a 7-inch touchpad and a 12-inch panoramic HD screen.
The standard 7-inch touchpad, with its touch-sensitive buttons, controls all the in-car functions such as dual-zone air conditioning, navigation, audio, telephone, driving aids, and etc.
The spectacular 12-inch panoramic HD screen displays essential driving information and can be configured by the driver at any time to show data for either the navigation system or driving aids. The following picture shows the 360 Vision system, an exclusive feature that uses the four cameras placed around the car, to provide a complete view of the car’s immediate environment and an extended field of vision that makes for easier manoeuvres.
No matter how heavy-footed we were during the drive, the fuel consumption was minimal and because the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso runs on a diesel engine that is mated with the world’s first Stop&Start technology, it makes economic sense for a family to own this pocket-friendly MPV. It is also good to know that the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso is eligible for the SGD$15,000 Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme [CEVS] rebate.
Engine Compartment of the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso
The CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso is also equipped with Park Assist, a function that helps drivers look for a parking space and provides automatic assistance when manoeuvring into a space, whether parking in reverse or at an angle. Unfortunately, after trying this feature a couple of times, we reckoned that manual parking is still the way to go.
There are ample storage spaces onboard the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso to store big and small items and with that, going on a road trip to Malaysia or even for a simple picnic by the beach is definitely going to be a very comfortable and pleasant experience.
Although the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso is quite a big car, it is very simple to handle and manoeuvre. Having won many international awards and having so many great features that provide a spacious, safe, and comfortable driving experience, it is no wonder why the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso remains a clear favourite among MPV buyers.
If you are interested in the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso, do head down to the CITROËN Car Showroom at 239 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159930 and test-drive this family-friendly MPV! For more information and promotion updates about CITROËN’s range of turbo diesel cars, do like CITROËN Singapore Facebook Page!
