Test Drive Citroen C3 Picasso since 2008 Hatchback

Citroen C3 Picasso VTI 120

While the world grieves about the mercy of well-being, the French beat the crisis of weapons of massive passion. Meet the compact antidepressant from Citroen - New C3 Picasso
The best way to distract from despondency is to change the situation. For example, today to fly to Paris or Bali. Too drastically? Then straight from the office go to the theater, cinema, circus, but anywhere, if only away from the usual order of things. After all, according to research of European psychologists, the commonness most often leads urban residents to depression. And from depression to gastritis, you know, to file with your hand. Therefore, psychologists strongly advise him to get up to ears more often, if possible, diluting the everyday life of the holiday improvisation. You look, so to the era of the Renaissance.
Citroen, keep her consumer demand, one of the few automakers, which is generously divided by positive even in the conditions of global financial misfortune. The price of barrel oil fell to the cost of lunch to McDonalds, and Citroen presents a new fragrance of perfumes for the C4 hatchback salon. Capitalization falls, inflation is growing, banks suffer disaster, and Citroen introduces a new shade of salad paint into production. So I want to say: Bravo, guys, die, so with the song!
But to move into the world of others, it seems, not included in the plans of ambitious French. Rather, on the contrary: while most automakers frighten their eyebrows, the cheerful Citroen marketing agitates us with optimism to look into the future. And it looks easier and believed, then the case appears new antidepressants - such as C3 Picasso.
This is another car. Full from everything that is in the Class B Class B segment. It is like Bali, Circus and the theater amid already familiar machines. Four-wheeled holiday, carnival with headlights and fireworks with exhaust pipe. Citroen names this car C3 Picasso, but it seems to me that the name C3 Positive or C3 Smile would come to him more. Although, in essence, the name does not change anything, because the mood is improving from one type of C3 Picasso.
The design is so original as the laws of the genre allow. Sometimes it seems that if technically one could make a car in the form of the Eiffel Tower and he passed certification, Citroen would not have made himself wait. But the case did not come to three-storey machines, the company is practiced within the framework of the usual classification. Although there was no time remarkable here: C3 Picasso is a little larger classmates, but more compact, say, C4 Picasso. In addition, it is distinguished by the concept of the body: a cube with a high roof and a pronounced hood. Competitors, including Ford Fusion, Opel Meriva and Nissan Note, look or more monobably, or less minivan.
Designer aquarium
Inside the sense of a specific concept is only enhanced. Despite the high ceiling and aquarium glazing area, the driver's seat can be lowered as low as in the usual golf class hatchback. And although the steering column has a bus geometry, landing is quite light. At first glance, the compactment in C3 Picasso gives out only extraordinarily large windshield, ending in almost the head, and additional windows in the front racks. Although not. If you distract from the passenger landing, then C3 Picasso will quickly recreate the atmosphere of a family hearth. Here is a smooth floor, and large doors, and drawers who are located in all possible places. Halves of rear sofas have separate adjustments in vertical and horizontal planes. Practically! However, it was not possible to figure out what was primary - design or practicality. After all, even the elegant of the journalist is familiar with the design of the journalist pleases the variety of forms and textures. For example, the upper part of the front panel, in which ventilation nozzles are located, made of soft vinyl with a bizarre drawing. The speedometer display is made transparent. The central console is interesting, which is crowned with a mechanical box lever with an aluminum handle. And the steering wheel as if from the class premium complained: a chubby rim with inserts in the area of \u200b\u200bgrip and an aluminum insert at the base, a powerful hub. What is the skin! And the eye is rejoicing, and it's nice to the touch. However, with such a meticulousness in the design, the French took care of practicality. The salon is impressive by spacious and convenience. All at hand, everything in its places, and only numerous boxes can cause a slight confusion: where did I put a notebook?!
Special attention deserves the quality of finishing. Almost all surfaces to which the driver or passengers adopt, create an impression of an expensive and a good car. And the outdoor handles of doors under natural grip cause associations with the German sedans of the business class.
Surprise is worthy
But the real Surprise C3 Pi-Casso was presented on the road. Looking at a compact one-rone with a relatively high center of gravity, you might think that the wind and turns are contraindicated. But in fact C3 Picasso turned out to be unexpectedly prompt and stable. Moreover, on the winding roads of the suburbs of Barcelona, \u200b\u200bit was possible to feel even a hint of azarity! Minimal rolls, sharp and responsive steering wheel, harmoniously balanced chassis - I can not even believe that you are driving a family compactment! The effect of components from Peugeot 207 in the chassis is also precisely focus: when the driver's drive in the chassis settings managed to preserve a fairly high level of comfort and lightness: on the narrow urban streets C3 Picasso feels in the native element.
However, the motors could be womb. Moreover, of the two gasoline, which will be available on the Russian market, liked the one more compromising - the volume of 1.4 liters. Although the power in it is 95 hp, and the moment 135 nm, it pulls on low revolutions. Without enthusiasm, though, but pulls. But the most powerful of the proposed engines was not so much gambling as noisy. Despite the larger volume, on the bottoms, it pulls the worship of the basic motor, and beyond the limits of medium revolutions, announcing vibration. Perhaps the fact is that the engine with a volume of 1.6 liters complies with EURO 5 standards, and the 1.4-liter unit - EURO standard 4. Hence the pressure of the 120-strong motor in the entire revolutions range. And most of all I liked the 1.6-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 110 hp Here he is, the perfect motor for the family compacttva: the magnificent elasticity, an acceptable noise level, low fuel consumption as it is a pity that C3 Picasso will not be supplied to Russia with such an engine. Bye.
A little disappeared the gearbox. Contrary to expectations, it turned out to be not 6-, but a 5-speed with a long main pair, but a short v transmission: already at 100 km / h engine enters noisy 3000 rpm. Yes, and the moves of the mechanics lever could be shorter. Although, as official representatives of Citroen promised, soon the C3 Picasso will also receive an automatic.
In Russia, C3 Picasso is offered with 1.4 and 1.6 liter gasoline engines. The starting price of the car with a 95-strong (1.4) motor and 5-speed mechanics - 499,000 rubles.
 

Specifications Citroen C3 Picasso VTI 120
Dimensions, mm.
4078x1730x2050.
Base, mm.
2540
The volume of the trunk, l
385-500
Curb weight, kg
1259
engine's type
gasoline L4.
Working volume, cube. cm
1598
Max. Power, hp / rpm
120/5660
Max. Moment, nm / rpm
160/4250
Transmission
mechanical 5-speed
Drive unit
front
Max. Speed, km / h
188
Overclocking time 0-100 km, with
10,9
Fuel consumption (medium), l / 100 km
6,9
Volume of tank, l
50
Stanislav Goncharenko
Photo of the manufacturer
 

 

A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"