2013 Citroen C4 Picasso 2.0L BlueHDi 6MT FWD (150 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Citroen introduced the second generation of the C4 Picasso in 2013, building a minivan on top of the PSA Group’s EMP2 modular platform, trying to convince customers that MPVs were worth it.

While more and more customers started to look for crossovers and MPVs, Citroen kept its idea that MPVs were excellent family haulers. In a way, they were right, but so were the customers who could choose something more suitable for their needs. They understood that most of the time, they didn’t need that ample room and considered that higher ground clearance and a large enough trunk could help them better when shopping, camping, or cross-country trips. That was just one of the reasons why this segment shrunk. In this segment, Renault was the only automaker who managed to get a bigger chunk of the market, while Citroen tried to catch up. Furthermore, several automakers in the segment could provide similar vehicles based on compact-sized or scalable platforms.

The car’s front sported a new design with slim LED daytime running lights placed above the headlights, which were installed in the bumper. Lower, in the apron, customers had the option to equip the C4 Picasso with a set of fog lamps that flanked the broad, hexagonal-shaped grille. For the 2013 model, the C4 Picasso offered customers a vehicle with an impressively large glass area. Apart from the panoramic windshield, the car featured a set of triangular windows between the A-pillars and the front doors, which was somehow unusual. Still, that was a good thing since it improved the driver’s visibility. At the back, the automaker installed an additional set of windows behind the rear doors, which, together with the rear glass area from the tailgate, raised the total number of windows to ten. For a European car, that was a lot.

But those inside the cabin could enjoy the excellent view of the exterior. At the front, Citroen installed higher seats to give occupants better visibility to the outside. The dashboard sported rounded shapes and a center-mounted instrument cluster that could be seen by those seated in the back. Underneath it, on the center stack, the French automaker offered the option for an advanced infotainment system that featured navigation but fitted the base models just with a CD stereo. The driver was separated by their side passengers by a center console that housed the gear stick. The C4 Picasso couldn’t be crossed from side to side at the front. In the back, the automaker placed three individual seats that could recline and slide according to passengers’ desires.

Under the hood, Citroen offered customers a wide choice of turbocharged diesel and gasoline engines. Most versions came fitted as standard with five-speed manual gearboxes, while selected versions were available with a six-speed automatic. The automaker kept the C4 on the market until 2022, when it pulled the plug on it, replacing the MPV with the C5 Aircross crossover SUV.