Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 THP Review: Spaced Out

By kradolow, 06 August 2015

 

 

What is it?
A petrol-powered variant of the Grand C4 Picasso, a futuristic-looking MPV that has been on sale in Singapore with a 1.6L turbo-diesel. The 'Grand' indicates seating for seven, it's built on a new platform that's up to 140kg lighter and it looks stunning.

What's different?
The engine, and then the gearbox. Both fuel options feature turbos and 6-gears. That's where the similarities end: The diesel gets the 'ETG6' automated clutch gearbox while the petrol option gets the 'EAT6', the third generation of PSA's six-speed gearbox.

Will the Family Designated Driver like it?
The petrol engine feels punchy and delivers good torque from the low end of the RPM range. The fully automatic transmission shifts smoothly and quickly and makes most use of the Grand C4's Picasso's torque, bringing this 1.3-tonne car up to speed reasonably quickly.

Ride comfort is good with a soft suspension setting, but cornering is best kept below exciting levels. It's has a good sense of eagerness off the line, but show it a few corners and you'll get to know that body control and steering feel are not part of this car's big features.

On the plus side, It's a nicely weighted steering and that doesn't change with speed and if you keep things down to a more sensible pace, it's relatively more engaging to drive than many MPVs in the market today.

It will cruise comfortably, with a bit of tyre roar at higher speeds. Overall, it's very quiet.

What about the important MPV stuff?
Ah, yes, the whole point of this car. There is a lot of room for the first five people with plushy adjustable seats, but the last two in the rear get a little pinched. The middle row seats are easily moved for last row entry, feature a good range of rear tilt and can be folded flat. The last row of seats cleverly fold flat into the boot floor with one tug.

Up front, are two big displays: a 12-inch display with driver-selectable screens and a seven-inch touchscreen which integrates climate control as well as the entertainment system. A little bit too fiddly for our liking since most of the controls have been relegated to the touch-screen interface but it gets less annoying as you get used to it.

More family-friendly features include rear blowers, two tray tables on the rear of the front row-seats , lots of storage space in the dash, doors and under the floor. Also, a removable centre console so that you can move from the front row to the middle row without having to exit the vehicle.

And the French fight back further: The interior has an air of quality you can feel, with everything you can see or tug on feeling tightly-put together and properly bolted down. Unique to the Grand C4 Picasso is its 'Zenith' windscreen which extends to the roof letting in more light that makes driving a less dreary experience.

Still need more light? Slide back the blinds of the panoramic glass roof with electricity to wow every rear passenger.

Will the Family Chief Financial Officer like it?
As tested, this variant is priced from S$153,988, you might need to convince the officer a bit more to approve the S$10k extra over the diesel option. Another way is to compare the Grand C4 Picasso with direct competitors . From Japan, N/A options are more thirsty for fuel. The German option is showing its age (and some have less space), while the Korean has a cabin that is no where near as pleasing.

Want to feel a French Connection? Visit the www.citroen.com.sg

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 THP 165 EAT6 - Intensive
Engine: 1598cc inline 4
Power/rpm: 165bhp/6000rpm
Torque/rpm: 240Nm/1400rpm
Transmission: 6spd Auto with paddle shift
0-100km/h: 10secs
Top speed: 189km/h
Fuel consumption: 5.6l/100 km
CO2: 130g/km
Kerbweight: 1320 kg
Price: from S$153,988 w/COE
Availability: Now

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