Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDi Review

The Citroën Picasso made a massive 300,000 sales in the UK last year. The Xsara Picasso people carrier has been a work of art for the French maker's profit margins.

The new seven-seater Citroën Picasso, due in next January, slots alongside the existing car but is based upon the C4 - Citroen's family hatch. As part of its cunning plan to offer people carriers of every size, Citroen's 'seven-up' Picasso will plug the gap between the original, six-seater model and ungainly eight-seater minibus C8. People carriers make good practical sense and they cater for the family's needs.

The C4 Picasso shows a model that isn't just well designed but has been put together with obsessive care. Cheap plastics are banished; all the textiles and man-made coverings feel expensive and solid and the colour schemes and patterns are subtle and chic. Clever design reinforces this feel-good mood: spindlier roof support pillars let in far more light and boost visibility, the gearstick sprouts from the dash (or, if you opt for the automatic, is operated from the steering column so allowing an extra central storage bin) and the rear tailgate has a dual-opening feature, so you can flip up the glass to load shopping if someone's boxed you in. Handbrakes are also ditched as pointless clutter - replaced by an electronic device operated by a dashboard switch.

There's even a light in the boot that doubles up as a rechargeable torch the topmodel parking radar gadget which will measure a space and tell you if you can safely park in it. Diesel, of course, is key to the model's success, taking the majority of expected sales. For now, the choice will be between a 1.6-litre with 110bhp or a 138bhp 2.0-litre (the petrol options being a 127bhp 1.8-litre or a 143bhp 2.0-litre. A short spin in the range quickly sorts the petrol vs diesel running order.

And for mpg, the bigger diesel gives an affordable 46.3mpg. Diesel drivers also have more point-and-shoot fun. The two-litre car comes fitted with a paddleshift six-speed automatic box (it'll be an option on the 1.6), making the petrol a poor relation - its auto is a workaday four-speed design. All models will have many control buttons positioned on the static steering hub - proof that French eccentricity is alive and kicking. But despite its size, this Picasso displays a near- Germanic calm when shown a twisty road (especially if you go for the top line Exclusive, which features air suspension). It's certainly unlikely the jelly-free ride in any model will trigger a passenger mutiny.

There's also a convex 'spy' mirror to keep an eye on rear occupants, but chances are they'll be a happy crew, given that there's plenty of leg and elbow room even in the rear-most seats - all of which can be adjusted to fold flat.

Key Features of the Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDi

Engine:Common-rail 2.0-litre, fourcylinder
turbodiesel-rail
Max Power: 138bhp at 4,000rpm
Max Torque: 199 lb ft at 2,000rpm
Combined Consumption: 46.3mpg
CO2 Emissions (tax band): 159g/km
0-62mph: 12.4secs
Max speed: 121mph

Similar Models to the Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDi

Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 CDTi, VW Touran 2.0 TDI SE 7-ST

Diesel Estates & MPVs - Further Information

If you require any further information or would like some assistance with deciding upon which diesel Estate or MPV would best be suited to you or your business then please contact us at sales@denburydiesels.co.uk