The Citroën C3 Picasso is a car produced by the French motor company
Citroën
Citroën () is a French automobile brand. The "Automobiles Citroën" manufacturing company was founded in March 1919 by André Citroën. Citroën is owned by Stellantis since 2021 and previously was part of the PSA Group after Peugeot acquired ...
from 2008–2017. It has a five-door
mini MPV design and was first unveiled at the
2008 Paris Motor Show as a
concept car
A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
named "Drooneel". The Picasso is the
mini MPV version of the
Citroën C3 and the successor of the
Citroën Xsara Picasso, and was designed to compete with the
Opel Meriva,
Nissan Note,
Renault Modus
The Renault Modus is a mini MPV produced by the French manufacturer Renault from August 2004 to December 2012, in Valladolid, Spain. The production version is very similar to the concept car of the same name, which was presented at the 2004 Genev ...
and
Ford Fusion.
The C3 Picasso was assembled in December 2007 at the
PSA Trnava Plant in west Slovakia, which Citroën announced from France in July 2008 would be the sole manufacturer of the model. Citroën presented the finished product to the Slovak press and public on 25 September before it was unveiled to the world in October at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The Trnava Plant by then was expected to be building 28 cars per hour as the C3 Picasso went on sale in France in February 2009 for . The company began to sell the car in other European markets in March 2009.
The C3 Picasso has been manufactured and sold in Brazil from 2010 to 2015. It gave birth to a SUV-styled
Citroën C3 Aircross (then Citroën Aircross), manufactured in this country from 2010 to 2020.
When launched in Spain in 2009, only three trims were available: LX, SX, or Exclusive. The LX was the most basic and least expensive model, with a VTi engine, priced at , while the Exclusive model was most expensive with a HDi ''Airdream'' engine at . The C3 Picasso was launched in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2009, where it went on sale for for the 1.4-litre VTi, the most basic model with , while the most expensive was the 'Exclusive' with a 1.6-litre HDi engine and at .
A
redesigned version of the car was shown at the
2012 Paris Motor Show
The Mondial de l'Automobile de Paris 2012, known in English as the 2012 Paris Motor Show, took place from 29 September to 14 October 2012 at Paris Expo.
Introductions Production cars
* Audi A3 Sportback
* Audi RS5 Cabriolet
* BMW 1 Series 3DR
...
on 27 September 2012 and was on sale in Europe by November.
Models
*Exclusive is consistently the most expensive trim for each market, with the biggest choice of engines and features. It is the only model to feature roof rails and a folding front passenger seat, making the storage space into the whole interior of the car except the driver's seat. Extras for the trim include: tinted windows, rear parking sensors, automatic windscreen wipers, a leather and chrome interior, pollen filter, and dual-zone automatic climate control, which allows for two varying temperature settings simultaneously in the vehicle.
Limited and Special Edition
*90th Anniversary; the release of the Limited Edition 90th Anniversary C3 Picasso in August 2009 was the UK's third limited edition model. It was created to commemorate 90 years of Citroën and has similar features to the Exclusive trim, sold at the same price and features the ''MyWay'' SatNav system, leather upholstery, and a commemorative badge on the dashboard emblazoned with the wording "90 Years". As bonus, it came equipped with of extras and was released in an advertising campaign of Anniversary trims for other Citroën models at the same time as the launch of the Limited Edition Millennium trim in France. The model was limited to 150 cars in the UK, of which only one has been sold and registered for use.
*Blackcherry is a
limited edition
The terms special edition, limited edition, and variants such as deluxe edition, or collector's edition, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints, r ...
trim, available in the UK since November 2010 and based on the VTR+. It was sold with the 1.6-litre High-pressure Direct Injection (HDi) diesel engine.
It was discontinued and replaced with the Code Red and Code White in January 2012, which have the same engine.
*Rossignol; first collection launched in November 2010, second in November 2011.
*Millennium; several trims were released in France under the Millennium moniker, including the: C1, C4, C4 Picasso, C5 and C5 Tourer. The model has 16-inch (41 cm) alloy wheels, the ''MyWay'' SatNav system and radio with built-in
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is limit ...
and dual-zone automatic climate control. The car was available in a metallic or pearlescent finish.
*Code Red/Code White was released in January 2012. The limited edition C3 Picasso Code Red and Code White replaced the Blackcherry in the UK.
The Code has the same engine as the Blackcherry and has been finely tuned for a marginally increased
fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide () emissions. It features obsidian black bumpers and 17-inch (43 cm) Polar White or Cherry Red "clover" alloy wheels, and can be equipped with extra features, which include roof bars, curtain airbags, cruise control and a speed limiter. Body colours exclusive to the trim are Belle Ile Blue, Shark Grey and Cherry Red.
*Passion Bleus was released in France to celebrate the
2012 European Football Championship
The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2012 or simply Euro 2012, was the 14th European Championship for men's national football teams organised by UEFA. The final tournament, held between 8 June and 1 ...
. The name is a tribute to the
France national football team
The France national football team (french: Équipe de France de football) represents France in men's international football matches. It is governed by the French Football Federation (FFF; ), the governing body for football in France. It is ...
, which Citroën supports as a partner of the
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation ( FFF; french: Fédération Française de Football) is the governing body of football in France. It also includes the overseas departments (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion), the over ...
. The advertising campaign for the Passion Bleus involved French footballers,
rallying
Rally is a wide-ranging form of motorsport with various competitive motoring elements such as speed tests (often called ''rally racing),'' navigation tests, or the ability to reach waypoints or a destination at a prescribed time or average speed. ...
champion
Sébastien Loeb, and an online
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin ...
game "Le Pilote et le Bleu" (The Pilot and Blue). Other Citroën vehicles to receive a Passion Bleus trim were the: C1, C3, C4, C4 Picasso, and the Berlingo Multispace.
*Music Touch was launched in January 2013 in France. Created through a partnership with
Samsung
The Samsung Group (or simply Samsung) ( ko, 삼성 ) is a South Korean multinational manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most of them united under the ...
and
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
, the C3 Picasso Music Touch comes with a free white
Samsung Galaxy Tab 16 GB. The obvious styling differences are the additional chrome trims and mirror covers, and white pearlescent paint. The Music Touch special series was also added to the C4 Picasso, C4 Aircross and Berlingo Multispace vehicles.
Design and features

All C3 Picasso models have an
anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a safety anti- skid braking system used on aircraft and on land vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. ABS operates by preventing the wheels from locking up during braking, thereby maintai ...
(ABS),
Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), child locks,
remote central locking
Remote may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Remote'' (1993 film), a 1993 movie
* ''Remote'' (2004 film), a Tamil-language action drama film
* ''Remote'' (album), a 1988 album by Hue & Cry
* Remote (band), ambient chillout band
* ' ...
and two front airbags.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), once an option, is now included across the range.
The vehicle is only available as a 5-seater, but with all models the three rear seats can be folded flat to increase the
boot capacity from or including the hidden compartment to store the parcel shelf, up to a maximum of . The Exclusive model features a folding front passenger seat to increase the storage space further.
All models in the range have a "Mistral Maxi Taylor" woven cloth interior; according to Citroën, top European engineers and designers including
Donato Coco
Donato Coco is an Italian car designer born in Foggia, Italy in 1956. He is known for designing automobiles for Citroën, but even more well-known for designing some of Ferrari's recent cars.
Coco was Lotus Head of Design from 2009 to November 20 ...
and
Jean-Pierre Ploué were involved in designing the vehicle.
Optional accessories are available for the range, including an aluminium roof rack capable of carrying and kerbside lights in the door mirrors. Also available are: and alloy wheels with a choice of two patterns, chrome mouldings for the bumpers and doors, front fog lamps and cruise control, rear parking sensors, automatic lights (standard on some variants), and a
speed limitation devicewhich are commonly used for safety reasons or to reduce fuel bills.
A seatbelt reminder, which can be added to the passenger and rear seats, is fitted to the driver's seat as standard.
The chassis platform used for the C3 Picasso is a modified version of that in the
Citroën C3 and the
Peugeot 207, giving it a comparable wheelbase. The reuse of automobile platforms is commonplace, especially for Citroën because the Trnava plant builds the Peugeot 207 and the C3 Picasso. The parent company
PSA Peugeot Citroën
The PSA Group (), legally known as Peugeot S.A. (Peugeot Société Anonyme, trading as Groupe PSA; formerly known as PSA Peugeot Citroën from 1991 to 2016) was a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive ma ...
pools resources and manufacturing for some vehicles, and sometimes
rebadges vehicles, combining design teams between two or more brands to create a shared product.
Citroën placed a contractual obligation on the manufacturers to use
green materials for the C3 Picasso range. These comprise ≥11% of the of polymers on the vehicle, including the mudguards, parcel shelf and boot carpet.
Citroën recommends the vehicle is serviced at least every two years, or at every for petrol models and for the HDi diesel models.
Engines
When equipped with the 1.6-litre VTi engine, the C3 Picasso Exclusive and VTR+ models are capable of a top speed of in 10.6 seconds and . This 1.6-litre and a smaller 1.4-litre VTi petrol engine, were developed by PSA Peugeot Citroën and
BMW, along with a 1.6 L diesel engine and the two 1.6 L HDi ''Airdream'' engines. Every model came with a 5-speed manual gearbox until 2011, when 6-speed manual and automatic (EGS6) manual versions were introduced, along with an eco-friendly
start-stop system
A vehicle start-stop system or stop-start system automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. This is most advant ...
and
regenerative braking
Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows down a moving vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed. In this mechanism, the electric traction m ...
technology in certain models, notably the Exclusive and Tendance models for the German market.
According to Citroën, these two new features reduce emissions significantly and their introduction coincided with the release of a higher specification ''Airdream'' engine, the
European emission standards (Euro 5) carbon dioxide emissions limits were lowered and the addition of
low-rolling resistance tyres
Low rolling resistance tires are designed to reduce the energy loss as a tire rolls, decreasing the required rolling effort — and in the case of automotive applications, improving vehicle fuel efficiency as approximately 5–15% of the fuel ...
were added to the entire range. The tyres are specially designed to minimize wasted energy when the tyre rolls and have been estimated by the
California Energy Commission to save 1.5–4.5% of fuel in a typical car.
At first, Citroën decided not to offer their new automatic EGS6 gearbox version in the UK due to the unfavourable exchange rate and costs, although this changed after a small number were privately imported for insurance classification purposes. The EGS6 gearbox became an option for the 1.6 L VTi engine models shortly after.
Starting with June 2015 production, Citroën replaced the older petrol engines with a 1.2-litre Pure Tech 110 motor. This new 3 cylinder 110 hp engine is paired with 5 speed manual transmission. CO2 emissions are 115g/km. A 73 kW BlueHDi 100 diesel coupled to a 5 speed manual transmission replaced the earlier offerings. The EGS6 automatic transmission is no longer available.
The complete vehicle lineup includes multiple models and engine configurations, all with different specifications and tuning:
Safety
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) tested a C3 Picasso Confort model with standard equipment, including: a single forward airbag for each front seat, a
speed limitation device, but no ESC. The vehicle was scored on the basis of: child and adult injury, including
whiplash risk from the seating, a pedestrian front impact rating, safety equipment and clear labels detailing how to disable some features. The results of the front end tests were mixed, with the bumper scoring all available points, but the vehicle was penalised for the lack of protection and the potential damage caused if a pedestrian is struck by the bonnet. Protection inside the car was scored highly for almost every seat, and for adult and child protection; it lost points for its use of forward-facing restraints, which can be fatal in an accident if an infant is hit by an airbag. The C3 Picasso was also penalised for offering very poor whiplash protection in the driver's seatscoring nothing in two of the three tests and then losing points for the position of the unadjusted restraint. Overall, the vehicle scored four of five stars, less than most vehicles the Euro NCAP compares it with, which were released around the same time.
Recalls and ''Watchdog'' investigation
On 20 June 2010, 611 C3 Picassos built between January and March 2010 were recalled due to incorrectly routed fuel pipes, which were believed to have been in contact with the heat shield. This fault may have caused chafing and may lead to a fuel leak. The models were built between January and March 2010 and were sold in the UK.
On 24 August 2010, all 13,234 Picassos sold in the UK
were recalled because the windscreen trim could deteriorate, and could eventually detach, leading to a loose-fitting windscreen.
In May 2011, all 24,091 C3 Picassos in the UK were recalled for a safety modification, following complaints and an investigation by BBC consumer affairs programme ''
Watchdog'' into brakes that could be activated on the passenger side of the right-hand drive vehicles.
The problem occurred because of the way the vehicles were modified for right-hand-drive. The investigation showed that although the brake pedal had been moved to the right, it was still connected to a mechanism on the passenger side. This was covered by felt carpet and meant that both the front passenger and driver could activate the brakes. A further investigation by ''Watchdog'' later found the same problem in other Citroën models and some vehicles produced by Renault and Peugeot, some of which were registered in 2002. All three manufacturers worked with the
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to identify the severity of the problem but no vehicles were found to be affected enough to issue recalls.
8,815 Picassos built between January and May 2011 for the UK market were recalled on 2 September 2011 when it was discovered that the battery cable was too short and could cause gearbox failures and in turn stall the engine. The faulty earth return cable was replaced. Despite the recalls, the vehicle continued to sell well in the UK and has won numerous awards.
Reviews

Critics praised the Citroën C3 Picasso in reviews for its ergonomics,
Bauhaus
The Staatliches Bauhaus (), commonly known as the Bauhaus (), was a German art school operational from 1919 to 1933 that combined crafts and the fine arts.Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 4th edn., 2 ...
-inspired styling, ease of use and the amount of space offered. Many reviewers criticised the interior, which they said felt "cheap". The quality and reliability of the petrol engines was also criticised by most reviewers as "sluggish" and struggling to carry the weight of the vehicle, although the diesel engines feedback was more positive as they are able to cope much better and run smoother. Reviewers' comments about the tight turning radius of the vehicle were favourable. The combination of the panoramic three-part windscreen, thin door pillars and high seats, which together increase the visibility of the roadled one reviewer to compare it with a greenhouse.
The car has three monitors on the dashboard, the first monitors the status of important components, while the second controls the sound system, and the last is a rev counter, digital speedometer and the fuel gauge. ''
CNET'' described the speed gauge monitor as clear and "close to the driver's natural line of sight", but criticized the other two monitors for being unreadable and possibly dangerous if used by the driver while the car is moving. Some reviewers complained about the vehicle's soundproofing, which could not adequately conceal the screech of the wind. The engine at high speed received mixed reviews, while a number of reviewers reported a fault with the screenwash bottle, which can freeze in cold weather and blow a fuse when used. The reviewer for
European Car of the Year
The European Car of the Year ("ECOTY") award is an international Car of the Year award established in 1964, by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organising companies of the award are '' Auto'' ( ...
2010 called the nominated C3 Picasso fuel efficient, but said it had "dull steering".
Awards
UK publication ''
Top Gear Magazine'' awarded the C3 Picasso "Family Car of the Year" in 2008, stating "This is what a 21st century family car should look like". Michael Harvey, the Editorial Director of the magazine admitted they had taken a chance as the model was not available in the United Kingdom until the following year.
In 2009 when the car was finally launched the awards increased, first with "Best MPV" at ''What Diesels Car of the Year Awards, "Scottish MPV of the Year" at the
Scottish Car of the Year Awards
Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including:
*Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland
*Scottish English
*Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...
, "Best Supermini MPV of the year" at "Auto Express New Car Awards" and finally "Design of the Year" at the
Fleet World Honours
Fleet may refer to:
Vehicles
*Fishing fleet
*Naval fleet
*Fleet vehicles, a pool of motor vehicles
*Fleet Aircraft, the aircraft manufacturing company
Places
Canada
*Fleet, Alberta, Canada, a hamlet
England
* The Fleet Lagoon, at Chesil Beach, ...
.
The vehicle was nominated for
European Car of the Year
The European Car of the Year ("ECOTY") award is an international Car of the Year award established in 1964, by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organising companies of the award are '' Auto'' ( ...
in 2010, but received the lowest overall score of any candidate, finishing last, in seventh place.
The
''JD Power'' survey in 2011 announced the C3 Picasso as the best MPV on the market, with a satisfaction rating of 83.1% and five stars overall, but with the lowest rating given to the exterior quality at three stars. Many reviewers had complained of poor fitting and the finish used on the exterior.
Advertising
"DOG"; was created by
H Suresnes
H, or h, is the eighth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''aitch'' (pronounced , plural ''aitches''), or region ...
advertising agency in France and released in June 2010. The advertisement shows a dog made up of various items, including a purse, swimming goggles, blow-dryer and shoes, wandering around the streets to the English-language song "Somebody Come And Play" by
Joseph G Raposo. In the last scene the dog is invited into the boot of a C3 Picasso by a family leaving for a holiday; the dog fits into the car with enough space to seat everyone comfortably.
Another advertisement for the vehicle range was "Ghostbusters Reloaded", which was produced by
Euro RSCG Paris. It shows three futuristic
Ghostbusters
''Ghostbusters'' is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed and produced by Ivan Reitman, and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, ...
in a C3 Picasso battling a monster in the style of the ''Ghostbuters'' character
Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The monster is the size of a tall building and is made up of items including bicycles, suitcases and tyres. As the monster is defeated, it disassembles and the items fit into the boot of the Picasso. The music used is a remix of the
Ray Parker Ghostbusters theme tune performed by the
Street Life DJs
A street is a public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, ...
. The advertisement's strapline is; "The New Citroën C3 Picasso: The Spacebox".
2012 facelift
The facelift of the Citroën C3 Picasso appeared first at the
2012 Paris Motor Show
The Mondial de l'Automobile de Paris 2012, known in English as the 2012 Paris Motor Show, took place from 29 September to 14 October 2012 at Paris Expo.
Introductions Production cars
* Audi A3 Sportback
* Audi RS5 Cabriolet
* BMW 1 Series 3DR
...
on 27 September. The new ''eMyWay'' SatNav system, located on the central console, is more functional than the previous model, allowing connection to a reversing camera (available as an extra), which displays on the console screen. LED daytime running lamps and fog lamps with built-in cornering lamps, which illuminate the roadside, are also non-standard features on the facelifted C3 Picasso. In addition, Citroën has added two new exterior paint colour options; "Pearlescent white" and "Ink blue" to the vehicle. The front grille now features Citroën's new branding, joining the two chrome chevron badge in the form of a crown.
The Spanish market launch took place in November 2012 with four trim choices, the least expensive being the Attraction with a VTi engine at and the most expensive being the Exclusive with a HDi engine at .
The UK launch took place in December 2012.
2017 successor
In September 2010, Citroën do Brasil launched the Citroën C3 Aircross in Brazil and Argentina. The car is a C3 Picasso-based
mini SUV
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definit ...
with styling differences including: raised suspension, chrome roof bars and mirror covers, side skirts, and a rear spare tyre.
A successor for the C3 Picasso was previewed at the
Geneva Motor Show
The Geneva International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by t ...
in March as the C-Aircross Concept. The
Citroën C3 Aircross, as it became called, launched in late 2017, introducing with it the new Citroën SUV designation. ''
Auto Express'' reported the vehicle is taking design cues from the C-Aircross Concept, and will make the transition from MPV to an SUV design.
Worldwide sales and production figures
657,807 C3 Picasso have been produced in Trnava plant.
See also
*
List of Citroën vehicles
References
External links
Official UK C3 Picasso websiteOfficial international Citroën websiteThe scale and numbers involved in the productionProduction photographs from start to finish
{{DEFAULTSORT:Citroen C3 Picasso
2010s cars
C3
Euro NCAP small MPVs
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Mini MPVs
Compact MPVs
Cars introduced in 2008