Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 DCi Exclusive Road test -

By Steve Orme on Jul 27, 09 12:56 PM

Whatever happens in America sooner or later finds its way over here. Just ask Gordon Brown.
The same cannot be said of Japan. Apart from an obsession with Wii-ing and portable music. Japanese culture has not really exported. For instance they are almost nuptially passionate about seafood while, to the best of my knowlege, very few people in Britain have ever married a fish.

In particular the Japanese have a love of disgusting fish. Cod fermented in rice wine for six months is a sashimi delight, bettered for culinary pervertedness only by the Icelanders with their three-month buried shark.
Highlight of the Japanese piscine menu is anything which can kill you. Particularly a fish called fugu.
This creature, by virtue of its diet, is so toxic that it must be cleaned in a washing machine. Can you image that? "Is my tea ready, love?" "Nearly, husband san, it's on the spin cycle"
Fugu comes out of the sea looking something like a wet shoebox but has the ability to puff up into a ball with its fins sticking out. Marvellous. One minute a fish, the next a taxi with its doors open.
It is, needless to say, very expensive. Diners pay handsomely for the honour of a warrior's death between soup and the main course, something unlikely to become popular here so long as we have the donner kebab.
The same cannot be said of Japanese cubist car culture. Born out of a need to be able to find scarce parking spaces as well as get poisoned dinner guests to hospital quickly, the styling cue is a small field ambulance. And numbers are growing.
Now the French, who have no dangerous culinary traditions beyond cheese, have caught the bug. Please, for today's petit dejurier, I give you the Citroen C3 Picasso.
Citroen seems determined to be known as an MPV specialist and this is the smallest addition to its range and much more polished than the Xsara or Berlingo. In fact, as well as introducing a shape some will find as hard to swallow as a dogfish, the Picasso does away with the need to take out and store seats when you want a van. The rear bench simply folds into the floor.
In fact the interior is a million miles away from the expected Citroen feel. Take a look and pinch yourself. The swim up river that started with the C5 continues here with soft touch plastics and quality instruments.
Equipment isn't bad either. The £14,800 1.6 HDi Exclusive comes with the expected electrical and safety package and also has a comprehensive storage system that includes fold away rear tables and underfloor compartments.
Performance? Come on, don't be daft, the top end is 114mph and reaching 62mph takes 11.2 seconds. Light steering won't please keen drivers but then if you have bought this expecting a family car that quickens the pulse I predict matrimonial disharmony. It will, however, help ease urban life.
On the motorway it soon becomes clear that the diesel needs a sixth gear and by the time you reach the legal limit, Citroen may have fitted one.
So what do you buy a C3 Picasso for? Well comfort for a start and economy. Tax is band C, £120 and combined consumption can be as good as 68mpg. Soft suspension eases out the creases of British roads but don't go throwing it into corners unless you want the kids chicken nuggets returned all over the back seat.
Then, of course, there's the practicality. Mases of capacity, clever use of storage, a fold flat front seat and even a rechargable torch in the boot. It's Certainly more practical than eating poison fish for tea.