Citroen C3 Picasso – when you want to stand out on the road for only 450 thousand rubles

For a long time ideal by car for a Russian driver, a sedan was considered. Of course, many dreamed of a large SUV, but such are not only expensive, but also have an immodest fuel "appetite". Plus, in terms of maintenance, a full-fledged "jeep" is never budget-friendly.


The mass appearance of crossovers in the early 2000s became a solution to the problem for many. Automakers realized that this class would quickly reach the top of sales. But, at about the same time, numerous compact vans began to appear.

This class was clearly copied from the Japanese, but the cars were made much larger, taking into account the preferences of European buyers. One of these models was the Citroen C3 Picasso. Not exactly luxurious, but quite versatile, and it stands out on the road.


The model was produced in only one generation - from 2008 to 2017, having undergone one full restyling. They are currently asking for 3 to 295 thousand rubles for the Citroen C950 Picasso in Russia. There are more than 150 copies on sale, finding something suitable in condition and budget will not be difficult. The main thing is that the soul comes to terms with the appearance of the Citroen ...

Features

Citroen was hesitant to produce crossovers for a long time. And it was wary of compact vans. So much so that the C3 Picasso appeared only in 2008. To be on the safe side, they did not develop a new platform for the model. They used the same one as for the regular C3 - by that time, this was already a ten-year-old PF1.

Only the Citroen C3 Picasso became, perhaps, the most versatile car on this "cart". It had a number of advantages:

✅ Ground clearance of 174 mm
✅ Huge luggage opening, allowing you to transport large-sized cargo
✅ Transformable interior

In general, for modest money you could get a full-fledged family car. By the way, in 2009, when official sales started in Russia, they asked only about 3 thousand rubles for the basic C500 Picasso. For the "top" version they wanted 200 more.


In 2016, the car was officially removed from sale in Russia. The model never became popular. On the one hand, this is good – it is not particularly valued on the secondary market.

Body

Citroen is famous for its anti-corrosion treatment even in EU countries, and they rarely bother with these issues there. Most Citroen C3 Picasso cars on the secondary market do not have problems with rust.


But heavy front doors can sag - this is not very pleasant. Moreover, in the most neglected cases they even tear off the paint from the thresholds.


You can find body parts at car dismantlers, but it is not always possible to do it quickly. In extreme cases, you will have to look in Belarus - local businessmen there have long established a business of delivering parts from EU countries.

But this does not mean that it is worth buying a car that has been in an accident and is waiting for repairs. The Citroen C3 Picasso is not considered a valuable model, so the investment is unlikely to pay off. And it will not be possible to restore the body at the factory level even at a service station, not to mention a garage workshop.

But the interior is spacious for its class. The materials are good, the fit of the panels is flawless. The rear seat is also pleasingly transformable, moving forward, backward, or even folded.

Engines

There are only two engines that are found under the hoods of the Citroen C3 Picasso - these are the ones that are found in Russia. They are petrol and naturally aspirated, with a volume of 1,4 and 1,6 liters. There is also a diesel, but these are rare for sale. For example, there is not a single similar example on the used market now.

Despite the lack of turbines and modest volume, the Citroen C3 Picasso engines are specific. They belong to the Prince family. When these power units first appeared, they were praised for their low fuel consumption, traction, and minimal noise level during operation.


But after 40 thousand kilometers of running problems began. The engines suffer from:

✅ Oil consumption
✅ Piston ring sticking
✅ High operating temperature
✅ Poor lubrication system

As if that were not enough, the timing chain resource was also about 80 thousand kilometers. The Prince family engines are frankly "capricious". Therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis is recommended before buying a car.

It is better to pay than to get into major repairs later. Moreover, the Citroen C3 Picasso has long been a budget car, and not everyone repairs it well. As a rule, at the first serious problems, the engines are repaired "quickly" and sold. They say, let the new owner figure it out himself.


As for engine power, the 1,4-liter units develop 95 hp, and the 1,6 produces 115 "horses". Nothing to attract attention, approximately at the level of AVTOVAZ. Only there are many times more problems, and the cost of repairs is downright depressing.

In general, the Prince engines are the main argument for refusing to buy a Citroen C3 Picasso. They are more or less reliable only if they are serviced regularly. The latter means promptly eliminating all defects, including the slightest oil leaks through gaskets and seals.

Gear boxes

The Citroen C3 Picasso has only two types of gearboxes – mechanical and robotic. The former are known under the BE4 index. Widespread and popular, they were also installed on heavier models of the French manufacturer.

Accordingly, with proper maintenance, there will be no problems with the 5-speed manual transmission. When inspecting a car you like, it is worth paying attention to standard points, such as the absence of leaks through the seals, the condition of the gearshift, noise when switching and the ease of this process.


Naturally, if the transmission "flies out" or does not want to activate, this hints that even a reliable 5-speed manual transmission was "sentenced" by the previous owner. It is better to refuse to buy such a specimen immediately - it was clearly not looked after.


But the complexity of the design, multiplied by years and lack of maintenance, make buying a Citroen C3 Picasso with a "robot" a risky business. It is expensive to repair - there is a French dual-mass flywheel. And the hydraulic drive with a pump and a hydraulic accumulator. Therefore, the "robot" is usually not repaired, but replaced with a contract unit.

Other technical features

The Citroen C3 Picasso suspensions, as befits a car on the PF1 platform, are simple. MacPherson in the front, beam in the back. Of course, the latter should be checked to see if it is bent, but otherwise the car pleases with a large number of parts, both original and analogs in different price categories.

The car has disc brakes all around. The only special feature worth noting is the handbrake, which is not a drum brake but acts on the rear calipers. Everything is budget-friendly and reliable, unless it's rotted, of course.


The steering is easy to use, but only until it breaks. After that, everything becomes a pain, since the power steering is electric, and the motor is located on the rack and cannot be changed separately.

Is it worth buying a Citroen C3 Picasso? Only after a thorough diagnostics of the engine and steering rack. And it is better to stay away from the models with a "robot".

It is recommended to buy cars with minimal mileage. Preferably from "first hand". There are not many of them, but sometimes they come across.