Citroen C3 Picasso 1.4 VTi VT 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The engine produces 95 bhp and 100 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Picasso up to a top speed of 111 mph. The engine is fine around town but the Picasso is a heavy car and, on the open road, the engine struggles to lug all that weight around.

Acceleration is fairly average for a vehicle of this size and class and the car reaches 0-62 mph in 12.2 seconds. There is plenty of grip on offer but the Picasso leans heavily in the bends thanks to its soft, typically French suspension.

Noise from the wind and road is audible but not excessive and the engine is fairly quiet too, meaning there is little noise disruption within the cabin.

The C3 Picasso is a good looking car, but inside this model is relatively sparse. Standard features in this basic trim level include power steering, central locking, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system with MP3 connectivity.

To get other features buyers will either need to pay for specific services or update to a higher trim level. For the basic model, stability control costs £370 with air conditioning priced at £660 whilst climate control is not available as an option. Cruise control costs £580 but parking sensors, leather seats and Bluetooth connectivity are all unavailable.

A high roofline means that there is plenty of space within the cabin. The seats are adjustable which helps to fit everyone in comfortably and the boot capacity is more than generous with 385 litres available when the seats are up and 1,506 litres available when they are folded down.

The wraparound windscreen ensures that there is good visibility for the driver, helping to make the car feel safer and more secure. Both the driver's seat and the steering column can be adjusted and this means that there is plenty of ways for drivers to make themselves comfortable before setting off. The layout of instruments is fairly organised and uncluttered, making operations easy to handle.

Driver and passenger airbags are fitted as standard but unfortunately this basic model lacks the option for front side airbags. An immobiliser is also fitted to protect the vehicle from theft but there is no alarm.

Overall the 1.4 VTi VT scored a four star rating in the NCAP safety tests and also benefits from a three year warranty for 60,000 miles.

Priced at £13,200 this is the cheapest C3 Picasso model in the range but this is reflected by the poor range of options available on the interior. Insurance premiums will be fairly reasonable under insurance bracket 10.

The engine is not particularly efficient, however and achieves 44.1 mpg. This is fairly reasonable for a small MPV but fails to live up to some of the specifications of other Citroen models and the 1.6 HDi Exclusive diesel C3 Picasso offers much better value for money. Green credentials are also fairly poor with the car emitting 145g/km of CO2 and incurring relatively high road tax costs under band F.

For those eager to get themselves into a Citroen C3 Picasso this is by far the cheapest way to do it but the better economy offered by larger models means buyers with more cash to spare may see them as a better long term investment although it is worth noting that resale values are not strong for this model.