Auto Trader Ten Point Test: Citroen Xsara Picasso

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 76%

The Citroen Xsara Picasso has been on sale longer than any other model in Citroen's range. It’s the most popular MPV on the UK's roads, thanks to a combination of practicality and affordability.

But countless MPVs have surfaced since the Xsara Picasso was launched back in 2000, so can it still cut the mustard against better equipped, but more expensive opposition?

Read on for our full review of the Citroen Xsara Picasso, or click the links below to skip to a section.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor | Rivals

1. Looks
Citroen's current range is stylish and quirky in equal measure, but the Xsara Picasso has begun to show its age. It’s a slightly bulbous looking car, but it is built to do a job – maximise interior space, and be as easy as possible to live with. It seems silver is the most popular colour, but our top-of-the-range 'Exclusive' test car is finished in a smart navy blue hue, complemented with chrome bits and a set of wheel trims which can almost pass for alloy wheels.

7/10

2. Looks inside
The bulbous theme continues inside, where it works far better. The dashboard is dominated by a clear cluster of digital instruments, displaying speed in huge digits, and other information including the radio station and trip information when selected via a button on the end of the windscreen wiper stalk. The centre console is an oasis of silver in a sea of two-tone greys, but is easy on the eye and provides a home for the dash-mounted gearstick. Our test car has a full-length sunroof, which emphasises the feeling of airiness around the cabin.

7/10

3. Practicality
The Xsara Picasso has an impressive total of thirty separate storage spaces around the cabin, although we found the two cubbyholes on top of the dash, the most useful: they're ideal for storing a mobile phone. Passengers in the rear can use the two compartments in the floor, while there's a drawer under the drivers' seat for further oddments. The three rear seats slide back and forth independently, allowing an increase in rear legroom or boot space (the load bed can stretch to 2.35 metres). A 'Modubox' – a removable, collapsible and wheeled trolley – is standard on all models, and it's perfect for keeping small items of luggage from rolling around in the boot.

9/10

4. Ride and Handling
Even on broken and bumpy roads, the Xsara Picasso's soft suspension soaks up the majority of imperfections, leaving the occupants feeling relaxed. Road noise was minimal, too. The trade-off is a large amount of bodyroll, which made cornering at moderate-to-fast speeds a leap of faith.

7/10

5. Performance
Despite a relatively small diesel engine under the bonnet, our 1.6HDi-equipped test car feels remarkably swift. It will despatch the requisite 0-62mph dash in just 10.8 seconds, before heading towards a top speed of 114mph. Less impressive is the five-speed manual gearbox, which has too much play and means fishing for a gear can be like stirring porridge. On several occasions the test drivers selected the wrong gear, leading to an embarrassing stall.

8/10

6. Running Costs
Although the list price is a weighty £17,000 for our top-of-the-range test car, Citroen have a continual programme of consumer offers, so private buyers shouldn't pay much more than £11,000. Entry-level models can be had for less than £9,000; making it about the best value MPV on the market. Our test car returns an average of 43.5mpg on a mixture of roads, which is very credible, if less than the official figure of 55mpg. Insurance is low at group 7E, and emissions of 136g/km place it in tax Band C. New buyers will receive a three year/60,000 mile warranty, with service intervals at a sensible 12,500 miles.

9/10

7. Reliability
The cabin feels well put together, and even the tables which fold out behind the front seats should put up with abuse from enthusiastic youngsters. However, electronic foibles have long been a criticism of some French cars, and an intermittent – and then continual – fault with the cruise control bore this out. Our 14,000 mile test car also has a propensity for screeching belts in damp weather and the juddery clutch showing signs of wear.

6/10

8. Safety
The Citroen Xsara Picasso scores four stars for occupant protection and two for pedestrians in the EuroNCAP crash tests, which is impressive given the age and price of the car. Our 'Exclusive' test car has ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist (which helps to employ the brake sufficiently to maximise the effect of the ABS) and a skid-reducing electronic stability programme. Airbags can be found in front and to the sides of both driver and passenger, as well as a pair of curtain airbags to prevent injury to flailing limbs.

7/10

9. Equipment
Given our test car can be had for a little over £11,000, climate control, a six-CD autochanger, cruise control and front electric windows is very impressive. The full-length electric sunroof is well worth the £260 extra, as is the electric pack which adds rear electric windows and electrically folding mirrors for £400.

8/10

10. X-Factor
Cheap, cheerful, practical are some of the words to describe the Xsara Picasso. It might face opposition from the budget brands from Korea, but for all round ability, its difficult to fault.

8/10

Rivals
You might also want to consider:
Vauxhall Zafira
Ford Galaxy
Kia Carens

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