Having written so positively about the 5-seat Citroen C4 Picasso last week, writes Brian Byrne, what's to say more about the Grand Picasso 7-seat variant in its latest generation?
Well, that it's more, without losing anything of the really good bits of the smaller one.
It's longer, and the styling of the rear makes it look much more the MPV that it is than does the more hatchback design of the smaller vehicle. But there's still a sense of flair, in the detail of the rear lights for instance. Showing that in the 7-seat game, you don't need to be dull.
The extra seats fold easily and completely when not needed. Which is just as well, because when they're in use, there's really very little cargo capacity left. But for those who might have drawn the seats in the lottery for the long journey, they're quite decent. With the extra wheelbase available in this latest platform, it means the middle row can be moved forward enough to allow everyone adequate leg room.
The interior of the Grand C4 Picasso follows that of its shorter sibling (pictured above at the recent Irish launch). The same fine dashboard, bright and informative instrument displays, and lots of glass ... especially if the buyer chooses the long panoramic roof. The finish is at a very high rung on the quality ladder.
The shorter car has already drawn widespread favourable comment for its handling and ride comfort. I'd have been happy to have forgiven the longer one for not having as good a handling performance.
Except that it doesn't need any such forgiveness. In a couple of quite long distance days through the mountains and valleys near Salzburg, the suspension dynamics of this new platform even in the longer car proved themselves well up to being pushed around.
Of course, the cars for the launch were as usual top end, so there were different treatments in leather, a Lounge pack on one which included a leg rest and back massager, and maximum entertainment and information connectivity.
They also had the latest and most efficient engine which will be available in the car when it gets here in January. Labeled BlueHDI because it uses AdBlue injection to the exhaust system as a cleaner-up, the 150hp unit is streamlined in power delivery and offers very low CO2 emissions for its power at 110g/km and 120g/km with 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions respectively. Both gearboxes are newly-developed and the automatic is as smooth a shifter as you could ask for.
The 150hp engine will represent only about 5 percent of sales in Ireland, with the eminently capable 115hp going to be by far the powertrain of choice in the 7-seater.
Looking back at the 5-seat C4 Picasso, Citroen are expecting conquest customers from the likes of Volkswagen and Ford, who may well opt for the 90hp engine available in the smaller car, but existing Picasso owners making a change are expected to stay with the 115hp.
In the previous generations of both cars, the sales split between 5- and 7-seat variants has been 30:70, but that could shift to 40:60 if the conquest capability of the smaller one proves valid.
Whichever, the C4 Picasso is the biggest selling model in Citroen Ireland's portfolio, at in excess of a fifth of total units this year. The C4 hatchback, last year's top model, comes a close second. So growth for the player in the Irish market is significantly dependent on the two new Picasso cars.
Although the absolute figures are quite different, Citroen Ireland's performance so far in both maintaining market share and slipping less than a percentage point in a 10 percent downturn sales arena is an achievement that hard-hit majors like Toyota and Ford would dearly love to have emulated.
The Citroen space may be small, but it is populated with loyal customers. If we get any growth in the market at all, the brand is now getting the kind of product with which it can build on that loyalty. And on the interested glances from owners of other brand MPVs and crossovers.
The Grand C4 Picasso can be pre-ordered now for January delivery. The starting price is €27,895, while the Exclusive grade e-HDI manual at €31,295 is likely to be the best seller.
