Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
OUR PICK 1.6 BlueHDi Selection (2016/16, 41k miles, £9,650)
“The Picasso offers more practicality, comfort and value for money than just about any large SUV”
BEFORE you rush off and buy a sevenseat SUV, have you considered a more conventional people carrier instead? After all, a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (renamed the Grand C4 SpaceTourer from 2018) offers more practicality, comfort and value for money than just about any large SUV. That’s why it’s our winner in the MPV category once again – and it’s been a consistent winner in the Auto Express New Car Awards as well. It’s a brilliant family car, and as a used model it looks like a real bargain.
Even seven adults can travel in the Grand C4 Picasso, because the rearmost seats are roomy and easy to access. While they are smaller, they’re better than those of virtually any SUV rival. The middle-row seats slide forwards and backwards independently, making the Picasso impressively versatile. There’s loads of legroom, too.
Thanks to the endless number of storage spots, adults and children alike will find plenty of trinket space. Extra distraction can be aided by the 12V sockets in the front and middle rows; just pop in a USB adapter.
Fold down the rearmost seats and set the second row to its most forward position, and there’s a very impressive 793 litres of boot space. This makes the Picasso great for trips to the tip, or carrying bikes and buggies. There’s also a van-like 2,181-litre capacity if you fold down all the seats, and the low, flat floor makes loading up is easy.
The interior is smart and pleasant, but it’s the ride comfort that we like best about the Citroen. There’s plenty of body roll in bends, but it’s a very smooth car overall. Also, the 1.6-litre diesel is quiet and frugal. With a tidy five-year-old example available for under £10,000, it’s a lot of space for the cash.