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CITROËN C3 PICASSO MPV REVIEW

For The C3 Picasso has a spacious interior and a big boot. Ride comfort and refinement are impressive, while forward vision is excellent .

Against It's expensive to buy, Citroen's customer satisfaction ratings need to improve and the base model is stingily equipped – it has just two airbags.

What Car? says

4 out of 5 stars

The C3 Picasso might be pricey, but we reckon it's worth every penny. It combines practicality with catwalk style, and a cosseting ride with secure handling. Running costs are affordable, too.

Reader review rating

4

The Citroën C3 Picasso MPV full review Read in full

Performance
4 out of 5 stars
A fine range of engines
Ride & Handling
4 out of 5 stars
Slick ride and secure in bends
Refinement
4 out of 5 stars
Some wind noise, but mostly fine
Buying & Owning
3 out of 5 stars
Pricey - so haggle hard
Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Looks classy, with nice details
Safety & Security
3 out of 5 stars
Base model short on safety kit
Behind The Wheel
4 out of 5 stars
Good driving position; excellent view
Space & Practicality
5 out of 5 stars
As spacious as it is versatile
Equipment
3 out of 5 stars
Mid-spec model is the one to choose

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There are 9 Citroën C3 Picasso versions available

Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.4 VTi VT 5dr	£12,445	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.4 VTi VTR+ 5dr	£13,545	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.6 HDi 90 VT 5dr	£13,545	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.6 VTi VTR+ 5dr	£14,295	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.4 VTi Exclusive 5dr	£14,645	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.6 HDi 90 VTR+ 5dr	£14,645	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.6 VTi Exclusive 5dr	£15,395	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.6 HDi 90 Exclusive 5dr	£15,745	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.6 HDi 110 Exclusive 5dr	£16,545	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5

Citroën C3 Picasso MPV 1.6 VTi VTR+ 5dr

This is the best C3 Picasso you can buy, thanks to the punchy engine, reasonable running costs and impressive safety kit. Expensive, but worth every penny.

What Car? says:4 stars out of 5

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Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

You have three trims to choose from if you have your heart set on a C3 Picasso. We'd avoid the entry VT trim. It comes with electric front windows and a CD player, but crucially, only two airbags. Our favourite VTR+ models adds side and curtain 'bags, along with air-conditioning, alloys and cruise control. Exclusive models are stuffed with goodies like automatic lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and powered rear windows, but these versions are a bit pricey.

On the engine front, we'd recommend the 118bhp 1.6 petrol. It's strong, flexible and it stays smooth and quiet at all times. There's a 94bhp 1.4 available for less money, but it struggles a bit when you take it out of town, so we'd pay the extra for the 1.6. Two 1.6-litre turbodiesels give either 91bhp or 108bhp. Both are strong and smooth, and give good fuel economy. However, they're expensive and you'll have to do a lot of miles to justify spending the extra.