Used Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 2014-2018 review

Pity the poor family man, weighed down by the burden of transporting his growing brood, yet yearning to make as good an impression on passers-by as he did when he was young and carefree.

The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso might be seen by some as the answer to this particular desire, as it combines seven seats with a body that goes against the MPV norm by being both stylish and pleasant to look at.

The first-generation version was large and swoopy, and combined exceptional practicality with reasonable driving manners. This second-gen model upped the looks factor and was much nicer to drive.

It’s also extremely practical: it can be a five-seater with a cavernous boot or a seven-seater with a good-sized one. On top of that, all models are well equipped and there was a range of options available when new that could make the job of transporting your family that bit easier.

The engines in the Grand C4 Picasso line-up are strong, including three diesels – two 1.6-litre units in differing states of tune and a more powerful 2.0-litre one – and a 1.2-litre petrol that’s both punchy and smooth.

There are three well-equipped trim options. Even the entry-level Touch offers air-con, electric windows and a 7.0in touchscreen, while the next step up, Feel, has a huge 12.0in driver display, sat-nav and rear parking sensors. Top-spec Flair is great, too, but it was pricey new.

On the road, the Grand C4 Picasso rides and handles well for a car of this size and is reasonably refined. The light steering makes easy work of parking and low-speed manoeuvres. It’s also rather numb, though, so it doesn’t inspire confidence on faster roads.

The supple suspension deals with big bumps pretty well, so you won’t wince every time you encounter a speed bump. Unfortunately, patchy, eroded surfaces unsettle the car a little too easily, especially at low speeds, meaning a trip through town isn’t as comfortable as it might be.

The Grand C4 Picasso has long been one of our favourite MPVs and prices on the used car market are now looking particularly attractive, so anyone keen to add a touch of panache to their family motoring could do a lot worse than checking one out. Despite its practicality, it shouldn't cost a fortune to run.

Potential buyers should note that in 2018 the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso became the Grand C4 Spacetourer. There were some mild revisions to the engine range, equipment lists and safety kit, bringing the MPV range into line with Citroën's top model, the nine-seat Spacetourer.

If you're interested in finding a used Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

The Grand C4 Picasso undercuts most of its main rivals on price when new, so it’s not surprising that it’s good value on the used car forecourts. Pick up a high mileage or Cat D one for as little as £5000. However, £7000-£10,000 seems like the starting point for a Grand C4 Picasso with under 100,000 miles, getting you a good, clean car with an average mileage, bought from a trade seller.

Up the money to between £10,000 and £12,000 and you should see a good 2017 or even 2018 car, with a full service history, maybe one of the higher specs, from an independent dealer. Spend £12,000-£14,000 and you’ll be looking at low-mileage 2018 or 2019 cars, again from franchised dealers. This will net you the last of the Grand C4 Picassos and the first of the Grand C4 Spacetourers.

MPG

The 1.2 petrol unit is a nice engine that is smooth and punchy, even in a car of this size, but not surprisingly it’s the least economical. Fuel consumption is 56.5mpg according to the older NEDC tests and 46.9mpg under the newer, more realistic WLTP tests. The diesels come in three shades – two 1.6-litre versions – the 100 and the 120 – a one 2.0-litre 150 model. Of these, we prefer the 1.6 120, which offers the best blend of economy and oomph, as well as being refined enough to not let in too much diesel clatter. Its average claimed consumption figure of 70.6mpg is not far off the lesser-powered engine’s 74.3mpg, although it can’t match the CO2 emissions figure of 99g/km, which, for cars registered before April 2017, means it’s exempt from road tax.

Car tax

Cars registered before April 2017 will have their tax determined by CO2 emissions, while examples registered after April 2017 will pay the current annual VED at the flat rate of £155 per year.

Servicing

The Grand C4 Picasso/Spacetourer should be serviced annually or every 10,000 miles. A Citroën service plan starts from £11 per month, or £400 up front, on newer models. If your Grand C4 Picasso is more than three years old, you can opt for a fixed-price service plan. That offers an interim service and MOT for £175 and a full service with MOT for £285.

All the engines on offer in the Grand C4 Picasso acquit themselves well, but it’s the 1.6-litre diesel in the 120 output that we prefer for its blend of economy and performance.

It’s smooth and gutsy, even with seven people on board, and yet it’s still economical. We’d stick with the standard six-speed manual gearbox – the semi-automatic 'box is just too jerky. In the later post-2018 Spacetourer version we'd look for the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 engine.

Of the three trims on offer, entry-level Touch has all you could need, including air-con, electric windows and the 7.0in touchscreen. The next level up, Feel, is our favourite, with the 12.0in driver display, sat-nav and rear parking sensors. Top-spec Flair is great, too, but it’s pricey new, which might translate into unnecessary expense on the used car forecourt.

Our favourite Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 BlueHDi 120 Feel

The Grand C4 Picasso is admirably spacious, but there are some that are even bigger. The Ford Galaxy is an extremely practical and thoroughly capable people carrier, easily up to the task of transporting seven occupants smartly from one location to the next. In fact, it's so good that it’s almost the de facto choice for taxis on the airport run.

The Seat Alhambra matches the Galaxy for size, both inside and out, with a simple engine range of one petrol and one diesel, plus a choice of handsomely kitted trims. It rides and handles well, especially for a car of this type and size, and its space and practicality are superb.

Also consider the Volkswagen Sharan, which shares much with the Alhambra, although it is a little more pricey new, which is bound to affect used values.

The VW Touran is not as large as the other MPVs here, but it’s a classy product that is well made and great to drive. There’s room for seven, even if the rearmost two passengers won’t have as much room to lounge as they would in the others.

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