Seven-seater MPVs are never going to be at the forefront of attractive car design. But the latest-generation Grand C4 Picasso has done a great job of appealing aesthetically, while also offering comfort and practicality.

Thanks to its new-found looks, the Grand C4 Picasso now means those looking for a family car don’t have to choose between a people carrier that is practical and one that looks the part.

With rivals including the Ford S-MAX, Kia Carens, SEAT Alhambra and Peugeot 5008, there’s plenty of alternatives in the sector, so how does the Grand C4 Picasso fare in the race?

Performance

We tested the 1.6-litre 113bhp diesel, but there’s also some 2.0-litre diesel options as well as some petrol units. 

While the 2.0-litre Blue HDi 150 is swifter, achieving 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds, we’d opt for our test engine, which does the sprint in 12.1 seconds; it’s cheaper, more frugal and quieter and still has decent pull to get going with seven people on board. It’s also notably faster than the equivalent S-MAX, the 1.6 TDCI 113bhp version, which manages it in 13 seconds.

The six-speed manual gearbox is a little too scratchy, and you find yourself regularly having to change down from third to second in urban situations, but once you’re used to that, it does the job and is certainly the preference over Citroen’s jerky semi-auto ETG ‘box.

Ride and Handling

Steering is light, which is great for manoeuvring, but it’s also vague when turning into bends. There is plenty of grip though, but it’s teamed with plenty of body roll too.

Anyone buying a seven-seater will have little intention of chucking it around corners, but the driving dynamics aren’t bad, and are a hundred times better than its predecessor. Steering is light, which is great for manoeuvring, but it’s also vague when turning into bends. There is plenty of grip though, but it’s teamed with plenty of body roll too. It’s a comfortable ride, however, which is important for a MPV, with well-judged suspension soaking up uneven road surfaces. When it comes to smaller bumps though, the Grand C4 Picasso becomes a tad unsettled and jittery.

Interior and Equipment

The front passenger seat of the Grand C4 Picasso can fold flat and slide under dashboard to allow for longer objects to be hauled in.

Inside the Grand C4 Picasso is comfortable and calming, with a simplistic, smart design. Minimal buttons mean that the majority of functions are controlled through the touchscreen, which makes things harder work than necessary. There’s loads of cubby holes throughout the car though, including in the third row, making sure everyone feels included, including 12V sockets to keep everyone’s gadgets going. Entry-level models have aircon, Bluetooth and a USB socket, while our near top-of-the-range Exclusive trim adds touches such as sat nav and a reversing camera. Space in the car is incredibly versatile: the wheelbase is longer than before which creates more leg room in row two, and these seats all slide independently, allowing you to vary legroom in row two and three as you wish. The two outer seats in row two also flip up, much like a cinema seat, and slide forward allowing easy access to the row three – something which is traditionally a struggle. A few shopping bags can fit in the rear with all the seats up, but all of the seats fold flat easily, so if you want a cavernous, van-like space, then that’s an option too. There’s 165 to 2181 litres of space, versus 285 to 2,000 litres in a S-MAX.

Cost

The 1.6-litre diesel is one of the stronger choices, with CO2 emissions of 105g/km and official fuel consumption of 70.6mpg.

All the diesels are economical, but the 1.6-litre diesel is one of the stronger choices, with CO2 emissions of 105g/km and official fuel consumption of 70.6mpg. The great fuel economy here will favour those who plan on long distance weekend-away driving. There is also a sub-100g, road-tax free option too, the e-HDI 90 unit, but you’ll need to opt for that underwhelming ETG gearbox. The Grand C4 Picasso is considerably cheaper than its Ford S-MAX competition, so keep this in mind when looking at what kit you get at entry level.

Our Verdict

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is a worthy seven-seat contender, with good looks, low running costs and practicality. If you can put up with average driving dynamics, it’ll make a great large family car. ‘Family car’ is the key term here. It has massively flexible storage and seating credentials, its interior materials are durable and overall comfort is great. Costs are also impressively low, meaning you can save when buying an even save at the pumps thanks to its efficient engine options.