Citroen Xsara Picasso reviews

I do rather like the Xsara Picasso - this is my third, having the lost the 1st to another driver not wanting to stop at a T-Junction and ramming mine, the 2nd one I bought because I was running out of time on the hire car and lasted a while - went to Italy and back - then exchanged it for no. 3 as it needed too much doing and the cost outweighed the value so am still happy and wish I could have had this car when my daughter was little - putting the pram in the boot would have been a lot easier for one - it has plenty of storage for sure and, so far, a sturdy engine - I tend to keep my cars for a long time where possible, the longest 10 years - an old series 3 bmw - loved that car - and love this one too - my daughter loves it cos she can watch her dvds by placing the player on the tray/table behind the front seats - handy for the MacDonald cups too - plus the space and how many toys she can get into the back..... Its good on the back too - my hubby and I both appreciate that. It's not one of the newer models and am not sure I would purchase the new one - but would need to test drive to see if it would be suitlable....

It's not the most exciting car I have owned, but it has been boringly reliable over the 12 years I have owned it (since new)- no major components have failed, and it has never broken down. Performance, handling and roadholding are adequate, whereas comfort, space and practicality are pretty damn good, and the driving position is commanding with good all round visibility. My main reason for buying it were the flexibility and sheer load carrying capability. It has done 5 years taking offspring and their ever increasing belongings on the six times a year journeys to and from university (being able to remove some or all of the rear seats is very useful). It has also served as a useful load lugger on twice weekly visits to cash and carry's for the last 12 years. I have treated it badly - I have never washed it, and the inside is pretty disgusting, but it has rewarded me with 12 years of reliable motoring. Two Criticisms - the turning circle is not great, and the heating/ventilation/aircon struggle at times due to the large expanse of glass.

If you have the sort of life that involves taking offspring to and from universities, one or more dogs on walks and all-too-frequent trips to the city dump, a Picasso is just the job. Edging slowly to its 10th birthday, ours has served the family well and without protest. With the rear seats down, the boot is cavernous enough to accommodate a smaller car. I swear it has an echo. On the minus side, don't expect anything you could confidently describe as 'performance'. I've been out-accelerated by artics and if I WERE to travel in excess of 70mph (hypothetically, of course, on a private road and all that) I feel certain that the car would begin to shake alarmingly once I reached, say 76mph. Also, there's a serious condensation problem that requires the aircon to be switched on whenever the air is a bit damp which, living in England, means all the time.

I bought the car so that 5 adults could be transported in comfort and safety. The Picasso fullfils this criterion well. It is also very useful for large loads even without folding flat or removing the rear seats. I like the ability to move the centre rear seat forward so that the person using it has plenty of elbow room. Over several years the fuel economy has varied between 43 mpg and 57 mpg depending on season and number of Dad's taxi runs into the local town. As an older driver I very much like the high sitting position and the ability to see over walls and hedges in the countryside. This is coupled with ease of access and plenty of headroom for someone who weighs 17 stone and is 5 feet 10 inches tall.

I have to admit that my dads nickname for this make of car was 'Citriole' [cucumber] but after having driven the Citroen Xsara Picasso for a number of years now find it to be a great car and wish I'd had this car ten years ago when my daughter was born as it would have made things a lot easier such as transporting the pram, bags, shopping and my back. There are a couple of things that need to be added for comfort but that goes for most cars in relation to the female form but think we're getting there. I drove to Italy and back 3 years ago, not in this car, but same type/model and we thoroughly enjoyed the journey - it was a pleasure to drive and we covered over 3,000 miles return trip.

It was inexpensive to buy (when 5 years old) and is cheap to run, circa 38mpg. So far, it has cost me only insurance (not expensive), MOTs, 2 new tyres, replacement wiper blades and a pair of head-light bulbs. It is extremely practical from 5 good size seats and a generous boot to two seats and cavernous space. I like the higher driving position and it cruises comfortably on motorways. Dislikes: Seats are OK but not as comfortable as my previous car and the ride is on the firm side but I can live with these. Downside: the digital speedo cannot be seen in bright sunlight and/or when wearing sunglasses. This is one serious design flaw.

Bought my Picasso 12 years ago as new and 170,000 miles later we are still together. In that time it has been, and continues to be a great workhorse - lapping up the task of transporting the kids to university and back (now the 7th yr). Mechanically it has been great overall - although an ECU failure at 100,000 put it off the road for 3 weeks whilst a replacement ECU was sourced. I find it very comfortable, responsive when accelerating and consistently get 60 mpg (70+ on a good run). Yes, it isn't the sexiest looking car to grace the road, but when I've looked around in case I need to replace it, I just can't find anything to match it.

My Xsara Picasso has covered over 170,000 miles and apart from the usual maintenance costs, the most expensive being a new clutch at 160,000 miles, it remains a reliable cost effective car and still averages better than 55mph. It carries 5 easily and has ISO fix points on all passenger seats. The car has lots of room and is very versatile- even the three rear seats are removable individually or can be folded down or tumbled. The car is cheap to run, easy to maintain and comfortable but it is a little boring to drive. It does everything you need from a family car with little fuss or bother - I'd buy another if I was going to change...

I bought this car new, nearly 10 years ago and it has been a good allround family vehicle/workhorse. fuel economy is good at a consistent 49.6 miles per gallon and has achieved 53/54mpg on long distance runs especially on the continent when fully loaded. The seating configuration is good and comfortably seats 5 with plenty of leg room in the back and the level access to the boot is great for loading. No drag or lack of performance when carrying 4 or 5 people with luggage. I like the height adjustable driving seat and the high driving position which adds to the all round visibility.

Id been told about this car so was glad to find one with the panoramic sun roof. Has low mileage for its age. Its genuine. The mpg is good and compares favourably with the merc Aclass A170. Advertised on the AA Cars with cruise control.... It does not have it. Which is a disappointment but didnt put me off buying it. Looking at it clearly at home its had a rear shunt at some time. Repaired well. There is a contant knock on gear change and exceleration. I will get in touch with the garage and see if their 30day warrenty will cover it.

Have had my car for almost 7 yrs and completed 100,000 miles in that time Other than routine servicing, brakes & tyres etc I have incurred no other maintenance costs. Am still on the original clutch! My car is reliable, fuel efficient and practical & robust! When a deer jumped onto my car (landing across the bonnet) from a height of approx 12 feet, the damage was minimal- needed a new bonnet and wing but the car remained drive able. I think about upgrading my car occassionaly but cannot justify it simply as my car still ticks the right boxes!

A box on wheels that wobbles about in the wind, has really poor cornering, poor visibility parking in tight spaces - front and back. In heavy rain the noise inside is unlike any other car I've ever driven, and the fans are very poor at keeping the windows demisted. The combination of the two is very distracting when driving. Poor rear windscreen heater - very slow response. 0-60 in about a million years - and that's not trying to be a boy racer. Lots of space. Cheap and nasty and the sooner I can move back to a Skoda/VW the better.

Had my Picasso now for over 10 years. The car has been consistently reliable, practical and reasonably economical. Now on 138,000 miles but still getting around 45 mpg on average. The car is cavernous in terms of space, becoming a van when needed with the back seats easily removable, making a large completely flat space. I would have another one straight away but as now living in a very hilly area with the roads becoming steadily worse will probably go for a small 4 x 4 purely for practical reasons. Picasso??? Get one!!!

Upon purchasing the car the 1st thing I noticed was how close the pedals were together esp the accelerator to brake. Even now I occasionally go to press the brake whilst part of my foot is still on the other. You sit bolt upright as opposed to a saloon car, the drivers seat esp does not go back far enough ( Im 6ft 4" ) The power steering is also very poor. On a plus point it is very reliable and i prefer the elevated position, I certainly wouldn't consider buying another one as not very good with fuel consumption

An ugly little people carrier (does that mean the people or the car ?!) But what a useful vehicle. Aged parents find it easy to get in and out of, + its load carrying capacity is great, with individual seats folded or removed. Great MPG and picks up really well (in a straight line) so good for overtaking. Suspension sloppy, so ride can be "boat-like" if you try to corner too fast. When the time comes to renew, will keep it + relegate it to 2nd vehicle in family to be used as a "van" for all my DIY activities

A good all rounder with excellent economy and low insurance/road tax. One or two little problems beginning to appear (wheel bearings, suspension) but due to age and poor roads locally this is to be expected. Will probably change cars within the next 12 months and go for a petrol car as our needs have changed and petrol cars available give a good all round comparable economy. This is the third Citroen we have had (C5 and Xsara Picasso ) and we have found them excellent value for money when buying used cars.

The running costs and fuel efficiency are worse than we expected when we bought it. |In every other sense it has done exactly what we want from it. It is large enough to carry treenagers and friends, luggage, including sports and camping gear. The car has been utterly reliable and for a small diesel engine its performance is better than I would have thought. My wife and I have different drining styles ( she's faster!) but it suits us both for practical purposes. We obviously weren't looking for a rally car.

What can I say fantastic car! I bought my picasso August 2012 it had 84k on the clock now it has 123k In the time I have kept it the only thing that unfortunately went on it was the clutch but I expected that of its age and mileage however 1 day in the garage and £300 later the work horse was back. From then onwards no problems only normal wear and tear items such as brakes and stuff that you would expect with a any car. I would definitely buy a picasso again a very practical and reliable car

I bought my car as a used vehicle, about one year old, after renting a similar one on holiday in France and finding it very good to drive, roomy (I used it to transport furniture, etc, for our cottage)and economical. I've since driven it all over the UK and from Newcastle to Bordeaux on three occasions as well as local driving every day and been very happy with its performance. It may be rather boring and middle-of-the-road but its reliable, comfortable and virtually trouble free.

This is a good family car, roomy, comfortable, large boot for carrying loads. Its economical and averages 50mpg but does better on long motorway runs and continental touring. The seat heights are especially good for older people or those with a back problem and the drivers seat can be raised and has an adjustable lumbar support. Good all round visibility and seat configuration. When fully loaded with people and luggage there is no lack of performance even after almost 10 years.