What car to replace a Citroen C3 Picasso?

[white_goodman]

My parents are looking for a new/nearly new replacement for their Citroen C3 Picasso and I'm not sure what to suggest to them. They have been lifelong Citroen fans but are not keen on the look of the new models and the closest modern equivalent (C3 Aircross) has that high window line that a lot of modern cars seem to have so lacks the visibility/airiness of the C3 Picasso.

The nice thing about the Picasso is that it's a small car with a small footprint but very roomy inside/practical. Their other car is a 2019 Mazda 2, which just feels like a small car in comparison. They have become Mazda fans in recent years with the Mazda 2 being their 2nd Mazda (after an MX5) but I'm not sure if a CX30 is the right car for them.

So, compact but practical, good visibility and great on fuel. The Picasso with the 1.2 Puretech engine has been really good on fuel but has had a few reliability issues over the years, so I'm not confident about recommending a Citroen/Peugeot/Vauxhall to them, as it would probably have that engine (they wouldn't want a diesel) and I think the reliability of PSA petrol engines in recent years has dropped off (my Peugeot-engined R56 MINI Cooper also had quite a few reliability issues). Not sure on manual vs. automatic to be honest. The Picasso is a manual and the Mazda an automatic, so they could go either way!

My first thought is a Renault Captur/Dacia Duster. They were put off Renault by a very unreliable Renault 21 that they owned in the early 90s but my gut tells me that a petrol, manual Captur/Duster would probably be a better bet reliability-wise than a PSA petrol vehicle these days. Although I've heard that the mk2 Captur isn't quite as good as the mk1?

I don't think that they're really Nissan people but I might also suggest a mk2 Nissan Juke or Qashqai. The Qashqai is possibly a little bigger than they really need but by my understanding they're pretty decent cars and the current ePower version is pretty intriguing with the promise of diesel-like fuel economy.

No personal experience of the brand but I personally have a bit of a VAG bias (have owned a mk7 Golf for the last 5 years and it has been great) but I think the SEAT Arona is quite a neat-looking little car and would be a pretty good bet with the 1.0 TSI engine with either the manual or DSG transmission? VW/Skoda equivalents are available but I think the Arona is the nicer-looking car.

So a compact but practical car with good visibility and good fuel economy to replace a C3 Picasso and not too low, as they're into their mid-70s at this point. What would you recommend?

[GeniusOfLove]

Honda Jazz is worth a look, there is a very good reason pensioners love them. The new model is a bit more conventional but the older ones are very well packaged.

Also look at the Mercedes B class, another oldie favourite.

If they plan to keep it long term I wouldn't recommend modern VAG tat to my ex in laws, let alone my own parents

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Saturday 3rd August 00:27

[white_goodman]

GeniusOfLove said:

Honda Jazz is worth a look, there is a very good reason pensioners love them. The new model is a bit more conventional but the older ones are very well packaged.

Also look at the Mercedes B class, another oldie favourite.

If they plan to keep it long term I wouldn't recommend modern VAG tat to my ex in laws, let alone my own parents

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Saturday 3rd August 00:27

Good shout. Yeah, I've suggested a Jazz to them before, as I think they're very good cars but they're in denial and think that the Jazz is an old person's car (their Picasso is "silk cut" purple)! They have a bit of inverse snobbery over "premium" brands too!

Wasn't sure where VAG were at right now. We recently bought my wife a new car and I quite fancied a Tiguan but the 2020.R-line model that we looked at looked very nice but rung a few alarm bells quality-wise, so we bought a Mazda CX5 instead.

My 2016 mk7 Golf has been a fantastic car though, objectively the best car that I've owned (if not my favourite) but I think that the mk7 might have been "peak" VW. Had a look at a mk8 Golf and I don't think that I'd bother but can't comment on.the current SEAT/Skoda stuff.

[clockworks]

I replaced a 2014 C3 Picasso with a C3 Aircross.

The Aircross feels much more "modern" to drive - less clunky/heavy, quieter, much more refined. It does feel a bit more "closed in", but I soon got used to that.
Have they actually driven one?

The C3P was a unique design, shame that Citroen didn't bring out an updated version.

[ACCYSTAN]

Honda Jazz is the stand out, the current jazz with its hybrid system is fantastic on the fuel, can see over 70mpg on a run

After the Jazz, I would consider a Vauxhall crossland.
Yes it’s a stellantis product but it’s now well proven, easy to work on, you will have the latest version of the 1.2 puretech and they are on offer pre reg at significant discounts.

[macron]

Budget

Really need a budget.

[LunarOne]

macron said:

Budget

Really need a budget.

I'm not looking forward to the next budget at all!!

[jagb]

ACCYSTAN said:

Honda Jazz is the stand out, the current jazz with its hybrid system is fantastic on the fuel, can see over 70mpg on a run

After the Jazz, I would consider a Vauxhall crossland.
Yes it’s a stellantis product but it’s now well proven, easy to work on, you will have the latest version of the 1.2 puretech and they are on offer pre reg at significant discounts.

I would probably also vouch for the crossland for an older person - drives exactly like an astra despite being built like a Wagon R, visibility is excellent, although it can be a bit hard to tell exactly where the corners are. Very poor base spec though - I don't know whether they are mandatory yet, but the 21 plate I got as a hire car a few weeks back didn't even have parking sensors - the only car I've had from Enterprise without them in the last 50 or so rentals!

It may have been the specific one i was driving, but it also had one of the wors't feeling transmissions I have experienced - throw from 1st to 2nd was easily twice as long as it should be. Reverse is where 6th usually would be, which would be fine except theres no lock out for it whatsoever, so extremely easy to try to grind it into reverse doing 70 on the motorway when you are used to 6 speeds.

Its also one of the more lethargic feeling cars power wise available today, nowhere near as bad as a 500 Hybrid, but noticably worse than other Vauxhall offerings.

It did only get a 4/10 rating on my hire car spreadsheet, but that was mostly down to me not wanting to be seen driving it (for reference, the benchmarks are 0/10 21MY Fiat 500 Hybrid, 5/10 21MY Astra, 10/10 24MY XC60 T6)

Edited by jagb on Saturday 3rd August 16:19

Edited by jagb on Saturday 3rd August 16:20

[ZX10R NIN]

Hyundai Bayon Ultimate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...

Hybrid

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404269...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407181...

Kia Stonic:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...

[Ecosseven]

Plenty 'b' segment crossovers but not many MPV's. Some suggestions include:-

Vauxhall Crossland
Skoda kamiq
VW t-cross
VW Taigo
Renault Captur
Dacia duster
Nissan Juke
Seat Arona
Ford Puma
Peugeot 2008
MG SZ
Suzuki Vitara
Suzuki S-Cross
Kia Stonic
Toyota Yaris Cross
Honda Jazz

[the-photographer]

Yaris or Yaris Cross

[white_goodman]

ZX10R NIN said:

Hyundai Bayon Ultimate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...

Hybrid

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404269...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407181...

Kia Stonic:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...

Thanks. I haven't really kept up with Hyundai/Kia products and didn't realise the Bayon even existed but it looks like a decent shout.

What of the Renaults/Nissans/Dacias that I suggested (suggested as I know that they have a dealership fairly local to them)?

Vauxhall will be a hard sell I think. They have never been Vauxhall fans but even when they looked at the latest Citroens/Peugeots (which they have liked in the past) and suggested a Vauxhall because it's the same underneath with a bit more of a conservative presentation, they still didn't seem keen. In fact, in 40+ years, they have only owned a handful of brands (Citroen, Peugeot, VW, Fiat, Renault, Mazda and one Ford) and not all of those experiences were positive (Renault) but they don't seem that keen on trying new brands.

Hadn't thought of Suzuki but they have always been pretty decent little cars, reliable and good value for money. Vitara is less 4x4 and more crossovery now? How about the Ignis? Is that still a really practical little car or is it quite small now?

Budget up to 20k I suppose. I didn't give one, as they could certainly afford more but prefer to live modestly.

Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th August 15:05

[ACCYSTAN]

Ignis is big inside, will seat 4 adults in comfort, 3 in the back like most small hatchbacks is a bit cramped.

Not as big inside as a Jazz thou although it is considerably cheaper and just as reliable.

Ignis is more suited to 80% city driving / 20% motorways, Jazz is suited to both

[ZX10R NIN]

white_goodman said:

Thanks. I haven't really kept up with Hyundai/Kia products and didn't realise the Bayon even existed but it looks like a decent shout.

What of the Renaults/Nissans/Dacias that I suggested (suggested as I know that they have a dealership fairly local to them)?

Vauxhall will be a hard sell I think. They have never been Vauxhall fans but even when they looked at the latest Citroens/Peugeots (which they have liked in the past) and suggested a Vauxhall because it's the same underneath with a bit more of a conservative presentation, they still didn't seem keen. In fact, in 40+ years, they have only owned a handful of brands (Citroen, Peugeot, VW, Fiat, Renault, Mazda and one Ford) and not all of those experiences were positive (Renault) but they don't seem that keen on trying new brands.

Hadn't thought of Suzuki but they have always been pretty decent little cars, reliable and good value for money. Vitara is less 4x4 and more crossovery now? How about the Ignis? Is that still a really practical little car or is it quite small now?

Budget up to 20k I suppose. I didn't give one, as they could certainly afford more but prefer to live modestly.

Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th August 15:05

The Kia would get the nod over the Renault/Nissan/Dacia options.

Your parents will get an ex demo auto 120 (less than 5k) with the full 5 year warranty too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408062...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406060...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 6th August 20:02

[ZX10R NIN]

I forgot to say that the Bayon & Stonic are the same car but you get a 7 year warranty on the Kia Stonic:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406130...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406301...

[ChrisH72]

I think it's that Kona and Stonic which are the same car. The Bayon is a raised i20.

My neighbours have an Ignis. It's okay but looks very small and pretty basic inside.

My dad (83 now) has had his C3 Picasso Platinum for 9 years now and won't change it for anything. He likes that it's a small car with a big car feel and has everything on it. Goes okay with the 1.2 turbo engine too.