Test Drive Citroen C3 Picasso since 2008 Hatchback

Flower "Cactus"

We seem to meet somewhere? Whether on the car dealership, or ah, sorry! I remembered! In front of me another representative, with a very bright of the class of machines, which is customized to call Fun-Car. And this time this joy in Cuba.
In general, the Citroen family of Picasso appeared 10 years ago, the first-mention in this ruler became Citroen Xsara Picasso. And it was not without a scandal. As it turned out, the right to call the car with the name of the famous artist using his signature sold Citroen's extramarital son Pablo Picasso Claude. And the other noble family was far from the transaction. And even threatened by the court. However, everything happened, and today the next Picasso comes to Russia.

The concept of the future C3, then named C-Cactus, was shown two years ago in Frankfurt. His Creator became Carlos Bonzanigo, who worked on a project for almost three years. But the Citroenovets needed only a year to put the model on the conveyor serial C3 Picasso, they were demonstrated in 2008 at the Salon in Paris. However, the models needed almost a year to get to Russia, the official sales of the cube on wheels in our country began only on June 18, although more than 20 thousand of these chambers were already the time in Europe itself.
Question Why cube or cubism on wheels? Yes, because, first, Pablo Picasso himself is considered the author of the same direction in painting, and, secondly, in the section Picasso's body, there are almost a few centimeters with almost squares with sides in 173 (width) and 162 (height) centimeter. Actually, the best cross-section for passenger and shipping. The first to understand the Japanese, for them the convenience of such a layout appreciated the Americans. And only then Europeans. In the same room, read the KIA SOUL test is if not a twin brother, then at least a close relative C3 Picasso. Although counterparts first compare both new items with Nissan Note. Apparently, because in our country it was the firstborn of such a layout of the body, so to speak, the standard, starting point. And then the models that appeared are like bias.

Night Randenev
For acquaintance with the new model, the Citroenovtsy chose the night of half-empty streets, lights advertising and bright chaxers. The beginning of the dough is about midnight. Completion How to roll, somewhere in 3-4 in the morning.
But first visual acquaintance.
Citroen C3 Picasso car small, four meters eight centimeters, but they are used to the maximum. Short front and rear saves guarantee excellent maneuverability in close urban conditions, especially when parking. The hood is untenal, but low. If Kia Soul has a pronounced beak (sorry, but comparisons will continue to go constantly after all, both cars go to the market almost simultaneously), then Picasso is cut along the top edge of the headlight. Through what the head lighting is shutting down on the front wings. Fog lights on the bumper line an interesting solution, usually they are much lower. And in their place stylish air intakes.

The sidewalls seem swelling perhaps due to slightly bloated wheeled arches and discovering molding. Or maybe because of the stunning area of \u200b\u200bglazing: almost the entire top of the car is transparent! The convex windshield is rushing to the right and left due to double front racks convergent at the roof. The inner racks are almost and not visible at least outside. And inside they provide the driver an additional review. Rear no less transparency and light. But most of all it is on top: C3 Picasso glass panoramic roof of more than 4.5 square meters. The meter is the largest in class.

And taste and color
Salon two-color, french style. This means primarily the dashboard made up. Honestly, I am not a fan of such a layout, but I have no special complaints about it. And yet: I personally more like the analog instrument scales: the figures are small on the LCD display a little annoy. However, as they say, taste and color
But the lower part of the central console is above all praise. Everything is compact, solid, understandable, convenient. And in the lower bullbar, a short gear lever is conveniently located.
Chubby Barca Bagel is comfortable and pleasant to the touch. As, however, the salon as a whole. Seats are comfortable (I like such molding), backs with good lateral support, although it is not a sports car. I choose a bus landing so that the legs stood on the pedals. Beautiful look forward, by the way!
Rear spacious. Even very spacious. Not to push the knees, even a tall man can accommodate on the back sofa. You can tilt the back although only 5 degrees. And the seats are moving on the shears in the range of 150 mm, and apart! This will increase the volume not the smallest 385 liters! Trunk up to 500 liters. Not bad. But with this position of the rear sofa, it will be comfortable for children.
By the way: as options you can enjoy underground boxes, countertops in the backs of the front seats, the rear armrest with the hatch for the carriage of long and a lot more.
The floor of the trunk adjustable in the lower position is provided with the maximum volume, and in the upper handover. In this case, the floor is at the bumper level, and with a folded rear seats, an almost perfect loading surface of 1506 liters is obtained.
Easily!

Well, now behind the wheel?
Citroen C3 Picasso is built on the PEUGEOT 207 platform. This is not the first example of how more seriously car is built on the class car platform. But this is a pleasant exception: Potezhell per 100 kilo, C3 Picasso did not lose the bums of the 207th, and at the same time the comfort of his suspension.
And the night promises to be cool! It is not easy to move, but from point A to point B, from paragraph B to point in, and so on. Moreover, the coordinates of the next item have to search in the literal sense of the word. They are encrypted! And you can decipher them, stopping and waiting for the side of the other car's side mirrors in the side mirrors in them and the hint will arise. How do you like? Of course, at key points, a special Citroen was on duty so that we would not lose time.
Will-unillires rhythm ride increases: in the salon of the colorwoman of urban lights, refracted and missed through the roof and lateral glazing. Gradually appears the illusion that you are not protected from the outside world, and only excellent sound insulation allows you to destroy this illusion. By the way: one of the stages of the night race became a ferry crossing from stronger into a silver boron. That's when the abundance of transparency of the cabin was useful! Driving a car had a narrow similarity, and even back

Actively passing turns, surprised again and again: overload throws you on the side support roller, and the car in the meantime passes by both the rails, even the squeak of tires is not heard. Thighters in the asphalt, lying police officers C3 Picasso passes with great comfort than the same Soul. But the casual rolls are slightly noticeable.
The final is almost at the sunrise of the MMDC Moscow-City, and the early breakfast in the subwayed cafe one of the towers is a spectacle, I will tell you! Moscow is surrounded by thunderstorm clouds, then there, they sparkle lightning flashes! And the sun rises

Something about heart
Citroen C3 Picasso is produced in Slovakia at the new PSA plant in Trnava. However, let the Slovak assembly do not frighten you: the commercial director of Citroen Russia Zherrazov promised that the most close attention was paid to quality issues.
As for the motors, there are four of them in general. But so far, C3 Picasso is offered for Russia with two engines designed in the Commonwealth with BMW 1.4 L (95 liters.) And 1.6 liters (115 liters.). By the way, test cars were equipped first. Boxes are still manual, robots will appear, perhaps in the fall. But Diesels, in any case, at first, will not be supplied.
Well, about competitors and they are just very little! It's not just that new versions of Nissan Note and Ford Fusion will appear in the fall. And in the fact that in the basic configuration C3 Picasso costs only 499 thousand rubles! It is 63 thousand cheaper than Note and on 200 than Kia Soul!
Here he is a decisive argument in crisis!

Dmitry Semenov
Photo citroen

   

Source: Magazine Automotive News [July 2009]