MOTORING


Citroen leads the space race


Was there ever a link between Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and Citroen’s modernist (in the 00s) Picasso MPV? Apart from, perhaps, the French carmaker trying to suggest that the futuristic (in the 00s) motor was somehow grander than it really was, there appears to be none, apart from the fact that it was built in Spain. It is appropriate, therefore, that the latest iteration of this popular car no longer carries the grandiose tag. Motoring writer Nick Jones has been finding out if rebranding the Picasso as the Spacetourer has made any difference.


Pablo Picasso was an innovative Spanish artist whose work you either ‘got’ or didn’t ‘get’. The same could be said for the


design of the Citroen Xsara Picasso when it hit UK roads in 1999. The ‘bubble’-like shape was different from anything else available at the time. Based on the Xsara chassis, the


taller dimensions and rounded roofline meant interior space was maximised, making it a popular choice for families. It wasn’t a great drive, but that


seemed to be an acceptable compromise for those wanting the extra room. When the Xsara finally ended its


production run in 2006, the Picasso branding transferred to the marque’s better C4 and then C3 platforms, where it has sat ever since. Until now. Nowadays, the MPV versions of


the smaller cars have been redubbed, more accurately, Spacetourers and they come in five-seat, seven-seat and nine-seat variants.


80 business network March 2019 And as might be deduced from


the name, space is in abundance thanks to Citroen’s design team’s skill, both in terms of storage space and the way the cabin is put together. Five adults can be


accommodated comfortably and the doors open really wide, allowing easy access. In the boot, the 540-litres of


space with the rear seats in place is among the best in class. It rises to over 1,850-litres with


the seats folded flat and the lip is low, making loading heavy objects easier. On the road, the seating position


is upright but comfortable and offers a good view of the road ahead as well as the surrounding area.


Most of the driver and


infotainment functions centre around a seven-inch touchscreen mounted centrally in the dash, along with the main instrument binnacle, which takes a little while to get used to if you’ve only ever


had it in your eye-line in front of the steering wheel. The screen itself can be a tad


tricky to operate, particularly when on the move, but it’s a case of practice making perfect. Trim levels start with the Touch,


followed by Feel and then the range-topping Flair. There are a raft of optional extras but what you might want to add could already be included as standard in the next trim level, so buy carefully. Under the bonnet, my test car


had a zippy 1.2-litre petrol engine that churns out nearly 130bhp (a 110bhp version is also available, but why would you?) making it sprightly around town and comfortable on motorway cruises. There are also three 1.6-litre


diesel options that might feel sprightlier and be marginally more economical (they offer 100bhp, 120bhp or 150bhp) but the petrol version sounds great too so is my pick of the bunch. Ride and comfort is important as it’s up against some strong


FACTFILE


MODEL Citroen C4 Spacetourer 1.2 PureTech


PRICE OTR From £21,725


PERFORMANCE Top speed: 128mph 0-60 mph: 10.1 seconds Power: 130bhpr


CO2 EMISSIONS 115g/km


COMBINED MPG 55.4 mpg


competition in this sector. It doesn’t disappoint. But be careful with your wheel


choice. While the 18in wheels fill the arches better and give the car a more muscular look, the 16in ones offer the better ride quality. Beside its rivals – and


competition is fierce in this sector of the market – the Spacetourer is a worthy contender.


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