Citroen C4 Picasso test drive since 2007 Minivan

Reasonable sufficiency

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso. Price: from 806 400 rub. On sale: since 2006
Ford Galaxy. Price: from 770 700 rubles. On sale: since 2006
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso completely suits the owner and his family. It is convenient, spacious and functional, but maybe you had to take something more? How about Ford Galaxy?
 
Boris Koltov, 34 years old, an entrepreneur, travels to Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, driving experience 17 years
I will not hide, outwardly the new Galaxy is very good. Of course, he is not as beautiful as my Grand Picasso, and yet. There is something to see and what to cling to. However, it seems to me that there is too much pathos in the guise of this mini-wen. He is too strict, in connection with which he is more representative. I somehow see it more in a car procession with officials than on the lawn among playing children. The design of C4 Grand Picasso is more democratic in this regard. It can easily be used as an office and a family car.
We continue the inspection. As I understand it, Galaxy is longer than my car. Well, it is likely that this is a plus. As they say, the larger the car, the more spacious the salon. That's just how much he more spacious? Let's start with the trunk. Yes, the pantry in a five -seater version is undoubtedly more for Galaxy. How much, you say, here are liters? One thousand one hundred and thirty, if you load under the ceiling. Well, an impressive figure. However, it is not small for my Grand Picasso either. As much as five hundred seventy -six, with the seats of the second row completely back. And this is only in terms of back level. And if both back rows are folded, then it turns out about 1951 liters. However, as I understand it, Galaxy has even more this figure. Booking. And how does the glass open at the trunk door? How does it not open?! Yes, this is a clear miscalculation. Through such an opening, it is very convenient to load the car when the trunk is half full of is not enough.
As I understand it, in my car, that in this third row of seats can be considered full only for inferior. Of course, you can throw someone on them nearby, but only a child of about ten years can sit there for three or four hours there. I generally think that the third row was really full in my previous Mazda MPV car. So, according to this indicator, both Galaxy and Grand Picasso can be considered quite similar. Unless the kinematics of folding and laying out this very third row in my car is a little easier. But in the second row, it seems spacious in my car. Apparently, in Galaxy, they still decided to take most of the salon volume under luggage. As, however, most of the ceiling. Seeing such a number of ceiling boxes is somewhat unusual for me. The feeling is that it got not into the car interior, but in the cabin of the airbus. It just seems to me that they will not stand the big load, and the crickets the extra when loading will appear. Nevertheless, it is not to admit that there are much more boxes here for the little things than in my Citroen means to listen. But the fact that you can control the climate in the Grand Picasso salon much more effective than in Galaxy is a fact. Unlike Ford, where climate control is dual-zone, in Citroen it is four-zone. And the location of the authorities of his management in my opinion is much more practical. As well as the location of the remaining bodies of control. In Galaxy, everything is in its place, but the location of everything and everything here is traditional. Citroen was not afraid to get away from traditions, in connection with which the interior, and in particular the front panel, looks much more interesting in it. What is only one instrument panel. Beautiful, functional and informationally filled. And as for the fact that it stands in the center is a matter of habit. In order to slightly change the worldview, it took no more than three days, and now I perceive it for granted.
A few words about the review. Of course, compared to Grand Picasso, Galaxy loses somewhat in this indicator. Firstly, his front racks are slightly thicker, and secondly, he does not have such a huge, going on the roof, windshield. The latter greatly facilitates the ride in the city, especially when you stop right under the traffic light. There is no need to peek out from under the visor. Seventy degrees of the vertical viewing angle, compared with the standard thirty-five degrees, and they mean something. Did I like Galaxy on the go? I guess, yes. He accelerates quite confidently. (The dynamics, by the way, feels, in spite of a more powerful engine, similar to Grand Picasso.) It is good, due to a larger wheelbase, holds the trajectory, is less susceptible to swing and, which is sinful, thanks to the larger mass, softer. However, his brakes seemed insufficient to me. Some of them, compared to Grand Picasso, are sluggish. You crush, crush it, and slowdown is not as effective as we would like. And I was also struck by the fact that in Galaxy an automatic electric parking brake is only as an option. In Grand Picasso, it is already in the database, and, you need to admit, it is very convenient to use it. Of course, with an automatic gearbox, like Galaxy, it is not so relevant, however, as far as I know, there are versions with a pen, and there it would most likely come in handy. After all, how convenient it is when, when starting in a hill, the car does not roll back.
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso.
Driving
I practically do not feel that I go on a mini-wen. With its habits and dynamics, C4 is practically no different from a passenger car.
   
Salon
Spacious and very convenient. I especially name a huge number of glove boxes on the front panel. Everything that is needed is placed there easily.
   
Comfort
The level of comfort is very high. I especially like the presence of a four-zone climate control. I am satisfied with sound insulation.
Safety
It seems to me that she is optimal.
   
price
Arranges.

Ford Galaxy
Driving
A solid car and behaves solidly on the road. However, you can compress with such an engine on it. Unless, in comparison with C4, the brakes are not very grip.
   
Salon
It is quite spacious and convenient, but most of all I liked the trunk. However, it seems to me that there is even too much of him here.
   
Comfort
Everything is at the level, everything is convenient, except that the seats, in my opinion, could be softer.
    
Safety
I think that everything is in order with her too.
   
Price
Does not scare.
   
My verdict
Undoubtedly, Ford Galaxy is very convenient, spacious, well equipped, and most importantly a modern car. However, for my needs it is too great. And his design is somewhat alien to me: there is too much pathos. But C4 Grand Picasso is exactly what I need. In any case, the dimensions, equipment, and the level of comfort and my family are completely satisfied with the level of comfort. And I choose a car today, I would put all one eye on C4 Grand Picasso. Unless he took the car with the rear pneumatic suspension. The spring is still harsh.
Expert opinion
Oleg Kalaushin, journalist 5 wheels:
In principle, we did not expect any other result of this meeting. C4 Grand Picasso is really a more home car than Galaxy. But the latter, due to strict design, is more suitable as an office car. As for the preferences, both looked at us.
Database
Dimensions, weight
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso - Ford Galaxy
Equipped mass, kg 1560 -1734
Full mass, kg 2240 - 2465
Length, mm 4590 - 4820
Width, mm 1830 - 1884
Height, mm 1680 - 1764
Base, mm 2730 - 2850
Trunk volume, l 672 - 760
Dynamics
Maximum speed, km/h 195 - 191
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, from 11.5 - 11.6
Control consumption of fuel
city cycle, l/ 100km 11.1 - 13.8
Control consumption of fuel
highway, l/ 100km 6.2 - 7.5
Technique
The type of engine is gasoline, 4-cylinder
Working volume, cm3 1997 - 2261
Power, L.S. Under MIN -1 143/6000 - 161/6500
Torque at MIN -1 200/4000 - 208/400
The transmission is 6-speed, mechanical-6-speed, automatic, robotic
The drive is front
Front wheels suspension - independent
The rear wheels suspension is semi -dependent - independent
Front brakes - disk, ventilated
Rear brakes - disk
Steering - gear -rake
The size of the front tires 215/55R16 - 225/50R17
The size of the rear tires 215/55R16 - 225/50R17
Fuel tank volume, l 60 - 70
Author: Oleg Kalaushin
Photo: Igor Kuznetsov
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [July 2008]