It has a five-door mini MPV design and was first unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show as a concept car named "Drooneel".

[11] The C3 Picasso was assembled in December 2007 at the PSA Trnava Plant in Slovakia, which Citroën announced from France in July 2008 would be the sole manufacturer of the model.

Citroën presented the finished product to the Slovak press and public on 25 September before it was unveiled to the world in October at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

[38][39] Optional accessories are available for the range, including an aluminium roof rack capable of carrying 60 kg (132 lb) and kerbside lights in the door mirrors.

Also available are: 16-inch (41 cm) and 17-inch (43 cm) alloy wheels with a choice of two patterns, chrome mouldings for the bumpers and doors, front fog lamps and cruise control, rear parking sensors, automatic lights (standard on some variants), and a speed limitation device – which are commonly used for safety reasons or to reduce fuel bills.

[45] When equipped with the 1.6-litre VTi engine, the C3 Picasso Exclusive and VTR+ models are capable of a top speed of 188 km/h (117 mph) in 10.6 seconds and 89 kW; 122 PS (120 bhp).

[51][52] At first, Citroën decided not to offer their new automatic EGS6 gearbox version in the UK due to the unfavourable exchange rate and costs, although this changed after a small number were privately imported for insurance classification purposes.

[35][54][55] The complete vehicle lineup includes multiple models and engine configurations, all with different specifications and tuning: The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) tested a C3 Picasso Confort 90 bhp (67 kW; 91 PS) model with standard equipment, including: a single forward airbag for each front seat, a speed limitation device, but no ESC.

The vehicle was scored on the basis of: child and adult injury, including whiplash risk from the seating, a pedestrian front impact rating, safety equipment and clear labels detailing how to disable some features.

The results of the front end tests were mixed, with the bumper scoring all available points, but the vehicle was penalised for the lack of protection and the potential damage caused if a pedestrian is struck by the bonnet.

The C3 Picasso was also penalised for offering very poor whiplash protection in the driver's seat – scoring nothing in two of the three tests and then losing points for the position of the unadjusted restraint.

[118] On 20 June 2010, 611 C3 Picassos built between January and March 2010 were recalled due to incorrectly routed fuel pipes, which were believed to have been in contact with the heat shield.

[119][120] In May 2011, all 24,091 C3 Picassos in the UK were recalled for a safety modification,[121] following complaints and an investigation by BBC consumer affairs programme Watchdog into brakes that could be activated on the passenger side of the right-hand drive vehicles.

[126] 8,815 Picassos built between January and May 2011 for the UK market were recalled on 2 September 2011 when it was discovered that the battery cable was too short and could cause gearbox failures and in turn stall the engine.

[49] Critics praised the Citroën C3 Picasso in reviews for its ergonomics, Bauhaus-inspired styling,[128] ease of use and the amount of space offered.

The combination of the panoramic three-part windscreen, thin door pillars and high seats, which together increase the visibility of the road – led one reviewer to compare it with a greenhouse.

The advertisement shows a dog made up of various items, including a purse, swimming goggles, blow-dryer and shoes, wandering around the streets to the English-language song "Somebody Come And Play" by Joseph G Raposo.

[145] In addition, Citroën has added two new exterior paint colour options; "Pearlescent white" and "Ink blue" to the vehicle.

The car is a C3 Picasso-based mini SUV with styling differences including: raised suspension, chrome roof bars and mirror covers, side skirts, and a rear spare tyre.