Citroen is a fairly rare car brand in Russia. Most motorists are afraid to take these cars because of their complex design and costly repairs. However, French cars have always been unusual both in terms of design and power section. And many are attracted by this unusualness. Among the popular cars from Citroen, it is worth noting the Grand C4 Picasso. This car is produced since 2006. This car is still being produced, though in the second generation. What is a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso? Owner reviews, a review and technical specifications are further in our article.
The Grand C4 Picasso is a French compact van, which is an elongated version of the usual Citroen Pisasso. The machine is produced in both five- and seven-seater versions.
Design
Although the car is built on the basis of the usual C4, it looks radically different. The silhouette is recognizable only in front. And then the French changed the shape of the head optics and grille. The hood itself has become shorter and taller. The bumper has also undergone changes. But global change has touched the roof. It has the shape of a semicircle. The windshield partially enters the roof and gives a certain panorama effect. But many owners are not happy with such a design decision. In the case of a crack, a windshield replacement can cost at least 15-20 thousand rubles. It is very difficult to find such a glass, and taking a Chinese analogue is scary.
The side of the car also looks very unusual. Racks are all painted black. The window line is broken and slightly follows the contours of the roof. Wheels - cast, on a low profile. There are a lot of windows in Citroen. Yes, this creates excellent visibility. But in case of deformation of one of them, it is difficult to find the original under replacement. Significant problems arise when tinting. In this regard, the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso is a very complex car.
Owners note the good quality of painting. Models that are more than ten years old do not rust and a minimum of chips on the paintwork.
Appearance "Picasso" of the second generation
The new generation of Citroën was born in 2013 and immediately captivated the public. Nobody has ever practiced such bold forms and lines. What the new Citroen Grand C4 Picasso looks like, the reader can see in the photo below.
The French changed not only the front end, but also the layout of the roof. So, it became more square, which added volume to the car. But still in the Citroen uses a huge windshield. However, now it does not end on the roof, but smoothly passes into the panorama. It looks very nice and futuristic, but in case of a crack the owner will have a hard time.
The front end deserves special attention. Designers redesigned the grille. Now it has become narrower and longer. Stripes of running lights are integrated into it. Headlights of head optics are a little lower. On some versions, they may be darkened. At the bottom of the bumper is a wide air intake, the edges of which are edged with chrome stripes. There are also round fog lights. Wheel arches seem quite wide.
The rear of the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso looks no less original. The French completely redesigned the trunk lid design. The taillights have become transparent and two-level. Below there are reflectors. In the upper part, the manufacturer used a small spoiler that visually lengthens the roof and makes it more angular. The spoiler perfectly complements the picture and makes the look more complete.
Citroen Grand C4 Picasso: dimensions, clearance
The Grand version is an elongated modification of the regular Picasso compact van. So, the body length is 4.6 meters, width - 1.83, height - 1.64 meters. What is the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso's ground clearance? Reviews note that the car has a very low ground clearance of 14 and a half centimeters. Among the main shortcomings of a compact van, owners distinguish poor geometric cross-country ability. The car is ideally suited for the track, but not for country roads. The car is easy to "plant" on a wet primer, it also does not cope well with snowy areas.
Salon
The French have always been distinguished by extraordinary interior solutions. And the car Citroen Grand C4 Picasso was no exception. As we said earlier, the car has a large glazing area. Therefore, the first impression when landing is a phenomenal review. Citroen Grand C4 Picasso resembles a spaceship with air side racks and a windshield endlessly stretching into the distance.
By the way, there are several salon mirrors, and they are configured for different viewing angles. What immediately catches your eye is the lack of a familiar dashboard. Instead, there is a glove box. On the passenger side is the same. But that's not all. In the area of the legs there is another glove compartment. And a niche with cup holders leaves the center console. Its depth is surprising. Here you can put not only a bottle of Coca-Cola, but also a wallet or mobile phone.
The steering wheel on the Citroen is double-headed, and it rotates separately from the central part. This is a bit surprising, but you quickly get used to such an innovation, reviews say. Also on the steering wheel there are many buttons.
What is still surprising in a compact van is the level of equipment in the basic configuration. Citroen Grand C4 Picasso from the factory is equipped with the following options:
- Climate control.
- Rain and light sensor.
- On-board computer.
- Parktronic.
- High-quality audio system.
- Power windows on all doors.
- Electric mirrors.
In many cars, you can find an air freshener dispenser. It is installed in the front panel of the passenger compartment.
Owner reviews say that the car uses very high quality and comfortable seats. An individual folding armrest is provided for the driver and passenger. Also below is a deep niche for things. Armchairs have pronounced lateral support. The second row consists of three separate chairs, which are equipped with individual head restraints and can be separately regulated. In the trunk area you can find the third row of seats. These are rather compact chairs without lateral supports. However, there are also head restraints. Due to the high roof, the rear passengers do not rest their heads against the ceiling. By the way, the car Citroen C4 Grand Picasso is completely flat floor. There is no familiar tunnel for the driveshaft or exhaust, which further adds free space.
Now about the shortcomings. The owners of the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso are faced with such a problem as the inoperability of the heated front seats. Also, over time, buttons on the center console and door handles peel off. Sun visors rattle and slide down the pits. Blowing the second row of seats is not regulated on the deflectors.
Trunk
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso has a very voluminous trunk. In a five-seater version, its volume is about 643 liters. In addition, there are many niches and boxes on the sides.
And under the raised floor there is a spare wheel. If you fold the second row of seats, a flat floor is formed. The volume of such a cargo area is as much as 2180 liters.
Power part
Consider the specifications of the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso. The base for the car is a 120 horsepower gasoline engine. Its working volume is 1.6 liters. A 150- and 156-horsepower engine is also available for the buyer. What is noteworthy, the working volume of both units is identical and is 1.6 liters.
Also in the lineup are engines of 1.8 and 2 liters. Their power is 125 and 140 horsepower, respectively. As for diesel engines, the base is a 109 horsepower turbocharged engine. In more expensive trim levels, a 112-horsepower engine is available. Again, the volumes of the power plants are identical and amount to 1.6 liters. The difference is only in the characteristics of the turbocharger.
Two-liter diesel engines are more common. There are only three of them. Their power is 136, 149 and 163 horsepower, respectively.
Which motor to choose?
Operating experience shows that the most reliable and trouble-free are 1.8 and 2 liter gasoline engines. These engines do not have variable valve timing systems and are not equipped with newfangled injection and a turbine. Yes, with these engines, Picasso will not shine with good accelerating dynamics (about 13.3 seconds to a hundred), but in terms of maintenance and repair, these units are the simplest and cheapest.
As for the 1.6-liter engines, they were developed jointly with BMW. The VTi system and the timing chain drive are used here. Basically, owners make complaints about the tensioners and the chain itself. The latter is stretched ahead of schedule, because of which interruptions in ignition begin and fuel consumption increases.
Box
As a transmission, a mechanic or an automatic machine can be used. The latter was equipped with a two-liter gasoline and two-liter diesel engine. As an option, the manufacturer could put the automatic transmission on a weaker motor. But this box had the designation SMR and was characterized by smooth gear shifting. Therefore, it is not worth using it on weak engines.
Note that the "Citroen" mechanics has problems with the clutch. It wears out after 70 thousand kilometers (sometimes earlier, depending on driving style). The release bearing also wears out. He often becomes unusable from the "cork" driving mode.
Motor Issues
Do Citroen Grand S4 Picasso owners face power problems? Owners say that a 1.6-liter diesel engine line often fails. The reason for this is the lubricant supply line to the compressor. Over time, this line loses its tightness. The turbine is experiencing oil starvation. Also, these motors use a plastic dipstick to control the oil level. He often breaks off. Removing the remains is very difficult. And if this is not done, parts of the probe will constantly remind of themselves.
Another nuance is the particulate filter that is installed in the exhaust system. It is available on all diesel engines. Burning soot here is not done by increasing the portion of fuel, but by using the Eolys additive package. Replacement of this filter is required at a mileage of 160 thousand kilometers. The issue price is 30 thousand rubles. In view of this, many cut out the filter and put a "trick".
Chassis
The suspension on this car is completely independent, with disc brakes. On some versions, air cylinders are on the back. The suspension has a lot of levers that poorly withstand the Russian pits.
Replacement of silent blocks is required already at a mileage of 80 thousand kilometers. The only plus is softness. The car literally floats on the road.
To summarize
So, we found out what the "Citroen Grand C4 Picasso" is. This is an extraordinary car with an attractive appearance, a spacious interior and a lot of problems on the technical side. If you plan to purchase a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, you should consider only the mechanics and a 1.8- or 2-liter gasoline engine. This is the only way to protect yourself from unforeseen investments. Due to the mass of complex systems, they are trying to get rid of these machines, so the price of the Picasso is quite affordable. But you need to choose carefully so that this compact van does not form a hole in your family budget.