As I'm sure that there are not only guys and girls with a craving for sportscars and concepts who come around here, I'll take a little sidestep to review.....wait for it.....a people carrier!
The C4 Picasso has recently been facelifted, and I must say it's still one of the most stylish MPV's around, on par with the racy Ford S-Max. With its streamlined shape and balanced design it is neither simple nor extravagant, and especially in black it looks pretty good for a people carrier. Too bad I got to drive a silver one.
Just as the exterior, the interior looks nice and balanced. You can choose between a variety of colors, here most parts are white, but for a little extra money Citroën can get you any color you like. A really fun, (but confusing at first) feature is the steering wheel, of which the center stays upright when you turn the ring. One other thing that is really cool is the fact that it comes with a fridge in the center of the dashboard! Unfortunately, that is only the case if you have the version with the automatic EGS gearbox. EGS is a new name for an already outdated system called SensoDrive of which we all know that it sucks, so if you can, try and get the manual one. There's enough room for a portable cooler anyway. The seven seats are both pretty comfortable and ideal for children's parties. Fold five of them down and there's plenty of booze-room for adult's parties. One last thing about the interior: the panorama windshield is downright awesome.
Now let's get behind that funky steering wheel! The way this car feels remembers me of the old Citroëns, it drives like you're sailing it over calm water. Although there's no air-suspension anymore, the ride is buttery smooth. You won't feel the slightest bump, every unevenness is filtered out. That can be nice if that's what you like, but it's definitely not suitable for taking quick corners! For all the commuters and school-moms, I think it's all right. If you're a wannabe racing-driver (like me) you could better try the Ford S-Max, which comes with turbo engines and a sports-chassis. As I said, the C4's automatic gearbox isn't all that good. Every time the car changes gear there is a loss of power, and the front dives down. If you're in rambling traffic this can cause a bumpy ride. Just stick with manual (pun intended) and you'll be good!
If I were a school-mom I'd be a very happy school-mom with this car. It's stylish, features plenty of good options, some unique elements and first and foremost: lots of space. The foldable seats are very handy, and because of the large glass surfaces it feels even more spacious than it is. But, since I'm not a school-mom but a wannabe racing-driver I prefer the S-Max. Conclusion:
- Usual family/commuting usage? Have it.
- You prefer to push the pedal a little more than the rest? Try considering an S-Max.
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