CANBERRA: Citroen’s 2015 C4 Picasso has arrived in Australia, priced from $40,990 plus on-road costs.
Arriving as a five-seater ‘hatch/people-mover’, the C4 Picasso joins the larger Grand C4 Picasso in Citroen’s passenger car range.
The C4 Picasso is 172mm shorter than the Grand C4 Picasso, with a 55mm shorter wheelbase and 24mm lower height.
Citroen’s newest offering also severs as an alternative to the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and Mercedes-Benz B-Class – provided the owner requires five seats or less.
Power comes from a 1.6 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 121kW and 240Nm (and requiring 95RON or higher premium unleaded), matched to an all-new six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifters.
The 0-100km/h sprint is dealt with in 9.3 seconds, and the engine features stop/start technology to aid a fuel consumption listing of 5.6 l/100km.
Exterior features include a 360-degree ‘bird’s eye view’ camera and ‘sixth’ windows across its sloping front end; just behind the windscreen.
A panoramic glass roof with an electric sunblind is standard, along with 17-inch alloy wheels and automatic folding mirrors that ‘dip’ when reversing.
Citroen says the baby Picasso is not an SUV, nor a people-mover, nor an MPV, but expects its enlarged hatch styling and practicality to appeal to family buyers.
Benefits from this body shape can be seen on the inside, with the C4 Picasso boasting an airy cabin with 16 storage compartments (totalling 40 litres) and a segment-leading 537 litres of boot space with rear seats in place – rising to 1,851 litres with the seats folded.
There’s a 12-inch high-definition display screen mounted above a seven-inch touchscreen, with the latter controlling most of the cabin’s electronic features.
Other features include satellite navigation, park-assist, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, DAB+ digital radio and an electronic park-brake.
While the C4 Picasso launches as a single variant – the Exclusive – a range of options are available for buyers to up-spec and personalise their purchase.
A $2000 Drive Assist Pack brings lane departure warning, smart beam headlights, active cruise control and anti-collision warning, while the seats can be ordered in a part-leather pack for $2500 or full-leather for $5000 – both of which include the ‘Lounge Pack’.
“The C4 Picasso arrives at a time when this segment is growing, but it is a very strong proposition in terms of vehicle features, warranty, service and support,” Citroen Australia General Manager, John Startari, said.
“[It] has been specified to offer everything the family will need as standard equipment – we believe it will appeal to a wide variety of Australian buyers looking for a modern, flexible and innovative vehicle that is great to look at and easy to live with.”
The 2015 Citroen C4 Picasso is available now, backed by a class-leading six-year warranty with six years roadside assistance and capped-price servicing.
