Family favourite

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso keeps the balance between the needs of family motoring and driving pleasure. Simon Davis reports

Only a particularly keen eye would be able to tell the difference between the new Grand C4 Picasso and 2013’s secondgeneration model. Its exterior retains the familiar shape of the old car, but features a number of subtle tweaks that help keep it looking fresh. As you would expect from a car designed purely for carting vast numbers of children to and from school and sports practice, it can be specified with a raft of safety systems.

Looks and image

Large MPVs aren’t the best looking cars on the road. However, the Grand C4 Picasso is definitely one of the better-looking people movers available. Changes include a redesigned front end, 3D-effect rear lights, rear chevrons finished in gloss black with chrome surrounds, and 18-inch alloy wheels. They add up to a marked improvement over the older car.

Space and practicality

This is the Grand C4 Picasso’s piece de resistance. A sevenseat layout means you’ll be popular with other parents on the school run, and should help prevent any squabbles on longer journeys. The middle row of seats can fold down flat to increase boot space, and can also slide back and forth to allow for more legroom in the third row. The two third row seats fold down into the boot floor, allowing for an extra 645 litres of storage space when the second row of seats are in their forward-most position.

Behind the wheel

The Grand C4 Picasso isn’t a small car but masks its size well. Thanks to plenty of forward visibility out of the large windscreen and a raised driving position, you don’t really feel like you’re behind the wheel of a big people mover. At low speeds, the steering is quick enough to allow you to manoeuvre into tight spaces, and features like a rear parking camera mean you shouldn’t bump into any obstructions. The four-cylinder diesel engine is unobtrusive and refined, and any bumps on the road are dealt with by the supple suspension set-up.

Value for money

In terms of bang for your buck, the Grand C4 Picasso in Flair trim makes a good case for itself. It comes with a wealth of handy features as standard, including the new 3D Citroen Nav system. This incorporates mapping data from TomTom that can be displayed through either the seven-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash, or the 12-inch display on the upper dash. Other features include parking sensors, cruise control, dual-zone air conditioning, DAB radio and Bluetooth and USB connectivity.