Citroën C3 Picasso (2009 - 2017) 1.6 BlueHDi Platinum 5d Owner Review

This car lacks the true versatility of an MPV, it will seat 5 passengers but ask it to store small items and you will come unstuck, the highly criticised glovebox is truely minute due to the French not doing any more real right hand cars on the production line, the door pockets are similarly very small, on my model the passenger seat gets a storage drawer, dont jump for joy though, it will only fit the service book its so shallow, staying with storage they have generously provided a double floored boot which is the only decent place for keeping the car uncluttered, sadly the floor is not load bearing so forget the trip to fetch a couple of bags of sand and cement for that weekend job, beneath the second floor is the wheelwell, containing the pathetic space saver with its barely legal depth of thread, on previous diesels it was possible to install a full size spare wheel in the well, but this model being the 'super clean' blue engine has an extra additive tank fitted below the well so the option of upgrading to a proper spare has gone, similarly where the heck do you stow a punctured tyre if you have to use the spare, Citroen do not think of this. The engine feels underpowered, meaning lots of gear changing and engine revving in hilly regions, but for all that it still gives good fuel returns of 50 plus in mixed driving. Footroom is restricted for the driver but passengers get plenty knee clearance in all the seats. As a driver I am conscious of both road and mechanical noise, road surface can mean a halt to in-car conversation for a while, could this be linked to the low-profile tyres, vision is good for all and the panoramic glass roof gives lots of light in the car, can do without the fitted auto-lights and auto-wipers, instead would like automatic window closing linked to central locking as done on the c4 picasso. Would i recommend this car? difficult, if like myself you are retired, all your DIY jobs are completed and the car is purely for pleasure, cheap road tax, reasonable insurance costs and plenty to the gallon......yes, but a growing family would be another story, I can recommend the larger and much more versatile C4 Picasso range