Sunday 15 June 2014

Diesel turbocharged Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, sure or not?!


First question...a Direct Turbo Injection Diesel engine for our Euro-2M compliant fuel?  Even without the particulate filter, owner could be taking a big bet on how reliable this engine could be over the years of usage on our road.  Honestly, I will not put my RM190k on it although the "Technospace" MPV looks incredibly nice and tune for the Star War's movie.  With limited units, first batch buyers could be the guinea pigs on this 2.0-litre e-HDi powerplant.  I doubt it has been extensively tested with our diesel, and might not even be tuned for it.  It is good news that it uses the standard torque converter 6-speed transmission, instead of the EGS (with automated clutch) tranny.  With this combination, the Grand C4 Picasso produces 148hp and 370Nm at a mere 2000rpm.  That is a lot of torque to pull the fully loaded MPV!  Of course, diesel is usually selected in other country as towing a caravan at the rear is common, but not here in Malaysia.


Second question...is this Grand C4 Picasso any better than the Peugeot 5008, which is price at RM30k lower, with the popular 1.6-litre turbocharged Prince engine?  Putting the look aside, the 5008 could be a better choice that allow one to have RM30k to spare to maintain the car, though Peugeot and Citroen would not provide any good residue value.  My 2003 Citroen C3 that could now fetch only about RM8k-10k, which is worse than a similar year Kancil, could really be a deterrent to own another Citroen.  I would think the Grand C4 Picasso, once with a name registered on it, will have its value drop to RM120k immediately! Anyway, a Citroen owner should not care about residue value, we simply love the double chevron, and the ability of it turning heads, even with an uncle driving this MPV!


Third question...are those electronics item in this Grand C4 Picasso reliable?  Citroen is known to be in the forefront of adopting the latest technology, and this MPV is no exception.  Everything in it is electronics, with a 12-inch display replacing the analog cluster, and a 7-inch touch display for other controls, which include navigation system!  As usual, the steering wheel is full of buttons and dials for all your settings and configurations.  It is also equipped with a paddle shift that allow one to drive like a F1-driver.  I would think this could be omitted, as the diesel engine is good enough to pull the car along without much issue, as compare to the Peugeot 5008 petrol unit.  The dash mounted transmission stick is unique, yet flimsy.  It is so thin and could be knock off easily.  The leather like beige dash interior lighten the MPV even more, especially it already has a panoramic roof and large A-pillar windows and weirdo Nappa leather seats that are partly black and amber.


Fourth question...is the Grand C4 Picasso a full size MPV?  Yes and no.  It is a 7-seater, though the third-row seat is only meant for small size children.  The good thing is when all 5 back seats are folded flat, it becomes a mini "lorry" for all you stuff...especially good to make your trip to Ikea.  All seats are individual adjustable, thus this MPV could really be an enjoyable ride for 5 adults.  Did I mention massage function for the front seats?!


Fifth question...and the last, is the Grand C4 Picasso worth RM190k?  This really depend on how you see it, some will think paying additional for the extraordinary look is on top of their criteria, while some think getting the most gadgets in the car is their priority.  The MPV definitely has its handsome futuristic look, and it has all kind of safety features that enable it to score 5-star Euro NCAP rating.  Besides those common all round 6-airbag, ABS, traction and dynamic stability control, it is also equipped with Park Assist that auto park the car, blind spot monitoring system, lane departure warning system that vibrate the seat belt when it detect the crossing of road lines, auto dipping headlight, auto dipping wing mirror in reverse.  Apa lagi u mau!  Eh...more affordable pricing...and petrol version...please!


This Grand C4 Picasso is wearing 18" wheels, which could be overkill for its economy, but when it runs on diesel, it provides 4.6-litres of consumption per 100km in combined cycle, thus larger wheel size is all fine here.  The "python" rim remind me of those exhaust fan in our public toilet instead, though this looks higher class!  So if you saw what you like here, head toward the dealer and book one, limited units are available for fast delivery now.  Let's further discuss the reliability of it later when some owners start throwing disgusting view on other forums.  Good luck, Citroen, we still want some affordable model like the C3, C1, Berlingo, and maybe the C3 Picasso.