Citroën C4 Picasso

The all-new Citroën C4 Picasso will come as no surprise to anyone who saw the Thechnospace concept at last month's Geneva motor show as it's essentially identical, bar some color and trim details.

This five-seat, C-segment MPV/minivan is shorter than the car it replaces by 40mm at 4,430mm, meaning it's closer to the old Xsara Picasso in size. It is a little wider than the old C4 at 1,830mm and its wheelbase spans an extra 55mm at 2,785mm, which Citroën says means it boast more interior and luggage space than before.

Fréderic Soubirou's exterior has shifted another step away from a true monospace, with a more pronounced front volume – "a more assertive engine compartment" in Citroënspeak. This is faced with a DRG that is bound to prove controversial. Similar in concept to the new Jeep Cherokee, the C4 Picasso features a pair of discreet, low-mounted headlamps that play a supporting act to the higher-set DRLs that, in this case, hang from the chrome strip that bleeds out of the double chevrons.

The interest continues around the side with a DLO framed by an extra-thick chrome surround that – through some careful use of piano black plastic – gives the impression the C-pillar is rather more raked than it is and visually separates the front quarter light. The rear features an Audi-style full-width tailgate that adds to the forward-leaning emphasis of the tail and encompasses the 3D-effect lamps recently introduced on the DS3.

Inside the basic layout has been carried over, with a dominant pod housing fully digital displays (now a single, 12-inch screen), with provisions in the center of the dash for a large storage bin. The only real change to the architecture is the shifting of the HVAC controls from under the outer air outlets to be incorporated into the central infotainment touchscreen. However, while the layout is familiar, the execution is new, with an asymmetric IP that creates a dark ‘driving zone', while a more colorful area denotes passenger space. The car also features over five square meters of glazing.

Color and trim is also more upmarket, with plenty of metallic accents and more unusual materials such as laser-engraved accents on door pulls and sparkle-effect plastics on the IP and door cars. Top Lounge Pack models also feature ‘Relax' seating that turns the front passenger seat into a recliner, with a built-in leg rest and headrests that offer maximum neck support. The colorway used on the front seats is designed to be reminiscent of a bench seat.

The confusing aspect is, with an obvious move upmarket and the use of motifs such as the 'Décrocher contrôle' shoulder and those 3D rear lamps, why is this part of the Citroën C-line rather than DS?

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