Faults:

Engine management fault requiring new unit, plus replacement of part of the fuel system.

Electric window switches work randomly.

Boot interior panel detaches.

3rd row seat fold mechanism jammed.

Turbo wastegate sticks, causing loss of all engine power.

General Comments:

This car was bought to replace a much loved Ford Galaxy, but hasn't inspired the same loyalty and frequently succumbs to catastrophic faults.

Interior space is very good, with a light and airy cabin, clever seat folding mechanisms and some really good design features, such as the column-mounted gear-change and dash-mounted electronic handbrake, meaning no obstructions between the front seats.

Compared to the Galaxy however, all of the interior materials feel cheap and brittle, and some of the (plastic) exterior panels bend disconcertingly if leant on.

The EGS gearbox is handy for traffic and being lazy, but is slow to change gear at low speed and takes some getting used to. The gearbox suits the car, as the soft suspension and weight means spirited driving is joyless anyway.

Headlights are brilliant and there is a fair amount of storage around the cabin, but the glove box and dash-top compartments are oddly shaped and difficult to fit large items in.

The large windscreen gives great visibility, and the clever slide and fold sunshades prevent glare on sunny days.

Fuel economy has been great, around 50 MPG in a mix of commuting, trips into town and longer runs to the coast.

Faults:

The biggest criticism I have of our C4 Picasso is the quality of the interior trim - which has not worn its 31000 miles particularly well.. the steering wheel is well worn, the soft touch plastics are discolouring & the seat cloth is bobbling.

The boot struts are beginning to fail at 3 years old.

The car seems to be starting to consume bulbs on a regular basis at 3 years old. I'm worried that this could be what appears to be the usual french electrics issues starting to come through

The Michelin Primacy tyres fitted by the factory did not inspire much confidence, & generated a lot of road noise. We changed them for Goodyear EfficientGrip, & it really did transform the ride & handling of the car.

General Comments:

One of the easiest new car ownership experiences we have had. Definitely the best French built car we have had. The car has required nothing other than standard servicing and consumables (tyres, bulbs etc) during the 3 years we have had the C4 Picasso.

The Citroen dealer network are generally very consistent in terms of professionalism & presentation, which is unusual for a "normal" car brand.

The C4 Picasso offers a lot to people who need space, storage & a level of interior flexibility. It's a great choice as a family car. There are cubby holes everywhere, 12v power points everywhere, all 3 rear seats are independently adjustable/removable, and the boot is capacious

The 1.6HDI 110bhp engine isn't going to win any drag races, but it is very economical, we average 58 MPG, and it performs adequately in normal driving conditions. As it has got older, we have found that the engine noise has become more pronounced.

The car handles well, and it can be fun to drive on B roads, despite its size, weight & propensity for body roll.

The manual 5 speed gearbox we have on our car is the best option for this car/engine. The semi auto that many versions come with is too slow to respond to driver inputs, & makes the car lurch forward during gear changes, and can even bog down if you ask too much of it too soon.