The five seater C4 Picasso was officially unveiled early in January 2007,[5] launched in February,[3] and was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Both vehicles featured a large panoramic windscreen and thin door pillars, to enhance the driver's field of vision, eliminate blind spots, and increase the amount of light inside the front cabin.

The Grand C4 Picasso was slightly larger than its nearest seven seat MPV competitors, like the Mazda5 and Opel/Vauxhall Zafira, and smaller than earlier large MPVs such as the Citroën Evasion and Opel Sintra.

The first generation C4 Picasso to be tested by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) was a LHD model from 2006.

[10] Between October 2010 to September 2011, the MOT test pass rate for the C4 Picasso was 71.2%, compared to the 56.8% average for all Citroën vehicles.

[11] The second generation C4 Picasso was unveiled in March 2013, as the Citroën Technospace concept at the Geneva Motor Show.

The passenger front seat also folds flat, enabling the vehicle to transport objects up to 2.5 metres in length.

[20][21][22] Depending on country, the available features and equipment vary accordingly, Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) above the headlamps are standard in all EU markets.

The vehicle also boasts a wide array of features including: Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA), Intelligent Traction Control (ITC), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

The C4 Picasso gained a back-up rear view camera, and an optional 360 degree panoramic vision system which consists of four wide angle cameras fitted in the front, the rear door, and the side mirrors to eliminate blind spots and aid parking.

The ETG/automatic gearbox also brings with it an optional air conditioned storage compartment (fridge) including can holders, between the driver's and the front passenger's seat, where the manual transmission lever would usually be.

Modifications to prevent engine wear during the shut off phase and from constant restarts include an improved turbocharger lubrication system as well as reinforcements to the injection pump, crankshaft bearings, and dual-mass flywheel.