Citroen C4 Grand Picasso review 2020

Model review

The Citroen C4 Grand Picasso is a seven-seat MPV and the bigger brother to the smaller, five-seat C4 Picasso. The first generation was revealed at the 2006 Paris Motor Show and launched in the same year. The original C4 Grand Picasso was in production until March 2013 – when the second iteration of the model arrived.

For the second-generation car, Citroen renamed the model the Grand C4 Picasso. It’s still essentially a continuation of what the first one established though – sticking firmly in the seven-seat MPV segment.

In 2018, the model was renamed once again, however, not for the third generation but still during the second’s tenor – which is ongoing as of this being written. It’s now called the Grand C4 SpaceTourer.

Current model

As you can probably tell, Citroen’s mid-sized MPV likes to change names. But for this review, we’re going to be focusing on the first iteration of the model – the C4 Grand Picasso which ran from 2006 until 2013.

A short journey in the C4 Grand Picasso is enough to demonstrate its focus on comfort rather than driving enjoyment, though that’s not necessarily a negative point to make when talking about an MPV.

Its soft suspension does well to soak up bumps and imperfections in the road, making it a comfortable cruiser. Its light steering is great for plodding around town, but doesn’t fill you with confidence on a twisty road. For an MPV which is also a little more fun to drive, the Ford S-Max may be a more appealing option.

Value for money

It’s worth noting that new Grand C4 Spacetourers can be had from £26,355, but that being said, a used C4 Grand Picasso can be picked up for much less. Examples go for as little as around £500. For one in very good condition with relatively low miles-on-the-clock, however, expect to pay a little more – upwards of around £2,500 to be exact, so not bad by any means. There are some great bargains to be had and a lot of C4 Grand Picassos to choose from on the used market.

Looks and image

MPVs are rarely beautiful cars – they tend to focus more on practicality than anything else. With this in mind, within the realms of its segment, the C4 Grand Picasso isn’t a terrible looking car. It does enough to look a tad funky and stand out, which will be enough for most MPV buyers. Yes, it’s no Aston Martin, but that’s far from the point. In the styling department, the model does just fine for the segment in our opinion.

Space and practicality

Although looks aren’t a priority in the MPV market, space and practicality certainly is and, in this area, it excels. A massive 672 litres of boot space (with the rear-most seats folded down) is on offer, which will more than cater for the family holiday. As well as this, legroom and headroom is generous throughout. Even the third row of seats should be able to take adults – although don’t expect tons and tons of space.

Although looks aren’t a priority in the MPV market, space and practicality certainly is and, in this area, it excels. A massive 672 litres of boot space (with the rear-most seats folded down) is on offer, which will more than cater for the family holiday. As well as this, legroom and headroom is generous throughout. Even the third row of seats should be able to take adults – although don’t expect tons and tons of space.

Engines

The C4 Grand Picasso is more suited to having a diesel powerplant under the bonnet, as it will provide enough performance to satisfy most MPV buyers, as well as cheap running costs. The 1.6-litre HDi diesel, for example, offers smooth power delivery and is relatively refined. It works well with the available automatic gearbox to make a great motorway and long-distance cruiser.

Running costs

Going for the engine mentioned previously – the 1.6-litre diesel – will get buyers relatively affordable running costs, especially considering the model’s age. The unit is said to return around 54.3mpg and emit 135g/km of CO2. Even by today’s standards, these figures are very good.

Things to look out for

Unfortunately, it seems the C4 Grand Picasso has got itself quite the reputation for not being very reliable. Common issues to note include the overall electrics and faults with the EGS auto gearbox. That’s not to say the model is a bad buy – pick the right example and look after it, and the MPV shouldn’t prove too much of a pain. If something does go wrong, replacement parts generally aren’t too pricey either.

Rivals

Despite the MPV market not being as booming as it once was, the C4 Grand Picasso still has a fair few cars to contend with. Models such as the Kia Carens, Ford S-Max and Volkswagen Touran are all keen to take the spotlight off the Citroen. The C4 Grand Picasso is massively capable and practical though, which makes it a car that definitely should be considered when looking within the MPV class.

Depreciation

The C4 Grand Picasso has already gone through its fair share of depreciation on the used market, which means buyers looking to pick one up needn’t worry about it losing a significant amount more of its value. Keep it in good condition and don’t put excessive amounts of miles on it, and buyers can expect the model to hold its value well and shouldn’t prove a big surprise when it comes to how much you can get for it selling it on.