CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5
CarGurus user rating: 4.4 out of 5
Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 43.3%
Overall CarGurus rating:* 4.2 out of 5
Available Listings: Around 130
Average Price: Around £4,500

Citroën C3 Picasso (2009-2017) Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Good looking for a mini-MPV	Reliability can be an issue, especially with the diesels
Spacious and versatile interior	You'll be lucky to get near the official economy figures
Comfortable to travel in, easy to drive	The EGS gearbox is jerky

Quick Summary

The Citroën C3 Picasso (2009-2017) is a distinctive mini-MPV that maximises interior volume through its tall, van-like body whilst maintaining a supermini-sized footprint. It offers class-leading cabin and boot space, with the boot larger than a Volkswagen Golf and up to 500 litres available with the sliding rear seat pushed forward. The high-mounted seats provide excellent headroom and legroom, whilst the flexible seating arrangement—with a 60/40 split bench that slides fore and aft and rear seats that fold flat—makes it exceptionally versatile. Front passenger seat backrests can also fold flat on some models to accommodate items up to 2.41 metres long.

Citroën prioritised comfort and ease of driving over dynamic handling, resulting in a soft ride and light steering that make urban driving and parking effortless. The petrol engine range includes a 95bhp 1.4-litre (insipid), a 120bhp 1.6-litre (better choice), and a later 110bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged Puretech. Diesel options are 1.6-litre HDi turbodiesels with 90bhp or 110bhp. Servicing intervals are reasonable, and running costs are generally modest, though real-world fuel economy often disappoints compared to official figures. The C3 Picasso proves that family cars can be stylish and characterful whilst remaining practical and versatile.

Best for: Families seeking space and practicality with style, those prioritising comfort and ease of driving, and buyers wanting a versatile vehicle for retirement or leisure use.

Not ideal for: Those seeking dynamic handling or sports car-like performance, buyers concerned about diesel reliability, or those expecting official fuel economy figures to be achievable.


Comparison vs Key Rivals



The Verdict

You should buy the C3 Picasso if: You're seeking a spacious and versatile family car with style and character, prioritising comfort and ease of driving, or wanting a practical vehicle for retirement or leisure use.

Consider alternatives if: You require dynamic handling and sports car-like performance, are concerned about diesel reliability, or expect to achieve official fuel economy figures in real-world driving.

Competitive Position: The Citroën C3 Picasso is a masterpiece of packaging, offering supermini-sized footprint with class-leading space and versatility. Whilst the Ford B-Max edges ahead on expert rating and overall CarGurus score, the C3 Picasso offers superior value with 43.3% good/great deals available. It outperforms the Nissan Note on all metrics and matches the Peugeot 3008 on expert rating, though the 3008 scores higher on user ratings. The C3 Picasso's distinctive styling, comfortable ride, and exceptional practicality make it an excellent choice for families prioritising space and ease of use over dynamic performance. However, potential buyers should be aware of reliability concerns, particularly with diesel models, and the gap between official and real-world fuel economy.

Read our full Citroën C3 Picasso Review

*The Overall CarGurus rating: that informs these recommendations is based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from May 2026, CarGurus expert reviews, and CarGurus user reviews.

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