Used Citroen C3 Picasso for sale: everything you need to know

The Citroen C3 Picasso is a slightly quirky, tall and upright family-friendly used car buy that features lots of practicality, no matter which edition you’re looking for.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the Citroen C3 Picasso is the space factor, which is why it’s a popular choice with families or those who need to move people and their stuff from once place to another. It’s certainly more appealing than similarly quirky rivals like the Berlingo Multispace or the Peugeot Bipper Teepee, with an interior that’s just as unusual as the exterior design.

In terms of space, which is likely to be the biggest reason you’ll have for wanting a Citroen C3 Picasso, there’s more than enough for most needs. The clever interior works to great effect too, with a double boot floor that allows the car to be adapted for different loads.

As you’d expect from a Citroen, the C3 Picasso is also big on comfort levels, with a deliciously spongy ride that can handle the worst the roads throws at it without issue. The driving position is upright and the views out of all the windows are good too, which makes the Citroen C3 Picasso an easy car to drive.

While the car might not offer anything surprising in the performance department, engine choices are acceptable enough with either petrol or diesel variants available on the used car market. Pick a diesel and you will, of course, be rewarded with impressive fuel economy too, while you and the family will arrive at your destination rested and relaxed thanks to the Citroen’s comfy seating setup.

If you’re looking for a slightly less unusual way to carry people, the Ford B-Max might appeal. Meanwhile, the likes of the Citroen C3 Picasso, the Berlingo Multispace and the Peugeot Bipper Teepee retain appeal for anyone who wants something, well, a little bit different.

Should you buy a Citroen C3 Picasso?

The Citroen C3 Picasso has lots going for it, just as long as you can live with its funky exterior styling, which is a theme that continues onto the inside of this cavernous car.

There’s no doubt that the Citroen C3 Picasso has plenty going for it. The upright saloon is certainly easy to drive, in either petrol or diesel variant, while the visibility from inside is excellent too.

The other big bonus with buying a used Citroen C3 Picasso is the room you get inside. There’s an interior with lots of appeal thanks to oodles of storage, a versatile boot space and plenty of comfort on offer from the typically cozy Citroen seating. The Citroen C3 Picasso is also quite refined too, offering a quiet driving experience when you’re on longer runs.

Anyone with a family and lots of their stuff to lug around will therefore find a used Citroen C3 Picasso should work well for them. Select one of the diesel engines and you’ll also be rewarded with pleasing economy too.

In fact, aside from some reliability niggles for some, most owners find the Citroen C3 Picasso an easy car to live with. Just as long as you can warm to those distinctive looks of course.

A Citroen C3 Picasso not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.

What’s the best used Citroen C3 Picasso model to buy?

If you’ve got a family to move around, then the Citroen C3 Picasso makes a lot of sense. Aside from its funky styling, the saloon-meets-MPV design works to great effect, with plenty of room and comfort to be found inside. Core trim levels are simple to fathom and there’s not a huge difference between one or the other, save for additional trimmings although facelifted models from 2013 onwards come with a few more bells and whistles.

However, the big difference will be in the type of engine you choose. Heading down the petrol route is reasonable enough if you’re just pootling around and doing school runs, even if the smaller petrol engines do feel rather lacklustre and need to be pushed to get any real response.

A better bet is the diesel option, which offers more torque and better fuel economy. If you’re on a longer run you’ll appreciate the feeling of more power, while costs at the pump will be lower too. The Citroen C3 Picasso has rivals though, with perhaps the Ford B-Max being better and more conventional in the looks department. Alternatively, the Vauxhall Meriva is an affordable alternative. Those needing less space, but similar practicality could also investigate the Honda Jazz too.

Used Citroen C3 Picasso fuel economy and performance

• Citroen C3 Picasso 1.2L petrol: This is a popular choice with used buyers and while the 109bhp isn’t huge and can feel underpowered at times, it’s enough to get the funky saloon from 0-62mph in 12.2 seconds. A smaller engine and less power means the car works harder though, so expect around 40.9mpg.
• Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6L petrol: This is a more powerful engine thanks to 120bhp, which you might find comes in handy if you’re doing longer hauls with the family. Even so, a 0-62mph time of 10.2 seconds isn’t exactly dazzling. Expect 60+mpg fuel economy though.
• Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6L diesel: After 2013 the 90bhp HDi 110 diesel unit got given a bit more power and evolved into the HDi 115, which makes it a good bet if you want a Picasso with more pep to play with. There’s better economy too, with upwards of 60mpg achievable.

What used Citroen C3 Picasso trim levels are available?

Citroen went the same route as its engine options for the C3 Picasso, with just a couple of trims to choose from – the Edition or Platinum.

• The Citroen C3 Picasso Edition features a reasonable enough specification helping to lift the look of the car thanks to 16-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, foglights, rear parking sensors and distinctive roof bars. Other standard kit includes the likes of electric adjustable door mirrors, 12-V power socket, trip computer, a leather steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity and air con.
• The Citroen C3 Picasso Platinum has some additional cosmetic touches that help raise it above the Edition level quite successfully. The panoramic sunroof works to great effect, making a light interior even more uplifting. There are additional everyday extras too, such as automatic lights, rain-sensing wipers and heated door mirrors.

Used Citroen C3 Picasso dimensions and boot size

The Citroen C3 Picasso’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4078mm
• Width: 2050mm
• Height: 1670mm
• Ground clearance: 180mm

The Citroen C3 Picasso’s boot size is:

• 385 litres
• 1506 litres with rear seats folded down

Used Citroen C3 Picasso road tax

Road tax for the Citroen C3 Picasso is largely dependent on the used model you’re considering, but pricing will range from £135 at the lower end through to £190 for petrol cars. Diesel variants win the day though, starting from just £30 annually and even then only rising to £115 at the top end of the model spectrum.

How much is it to insure a Citroen C3 Picasso?

The Citroen C3 Picasso is a relatively cheap car to insure, with models sitting between 14 and 16. You’ll find the petrol models sit in the lower end of the insurance group range, while diesels fall into group 16. However, a rival like the Ford B-Max should be even cheaper to cover.