Citroen C4 SpaceTourer (2013–2019) review

The Citroen C4 SpaceTourer sounds new, but it's just a new name for the C4 Picasso. It's still a great family car that delivers space, style, comfort, low running costs and a brilliantly thought-out interior. The 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel is the engine to go for, as it delivers a winning blend of performance and efficiency, and Flair trim offers luxury car kit. 

The C4 SpaceTourer is a fine example of Citroen doing MPVs well. It’s one of the most spacious and economical mid-sized people carriers on the market, and it’s also an interesting looking car with a futuristic interior. Thanks to a small facelifts in 2016 and again in 2018 (when the SpaceTourer name was added) it still feels fresh, with a new look and the latest in-car tech.

• Best people carriers and MPVs on the market

The BlueHDi 100 diesel is the most efficient model in the range, claiming 74.3mpg fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 99g/km. The Citroen is also impeccably refined and comfortable, so if you take all of that into account, it does everything a family car should do well. 

Also available is the seven-seat Grand C4 SpaceTourer, which will appeal to larger families who need more space. 

The Citroen C4 SpaceTourer is a leader in the MPV class. No other people carrier can deliver the same kind of practical touches as the C4 Picasso, whether you choose the standard five-seat model or the extended seven-seat Grand C4 SpaceTourer.

Citroen used the Picasso name from its people carriers since 1999, before it was dropped in 2018. The original Xsara Picasso delivered practicality and a modicum of style, while the C4 Picasso that arrived in 2006 stepped that up a level. But it was the second generation that arrived in 2013 that really set the bar for style in the MPV class. But there's much more to the newly christened C4 SpaceTourer than simply space-age looks, as it has a huge amount of practicality, too. That's why it has won the Auto Express best MPV award every year since it was launched.

The C4 SpaceTourer was given a mild update in 2016 to keep it at the front of the MPV class. Citroen offers the car in three trims - Touch Edition, Feel and Flair - and all models get dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, touchscreen infotainment, cruise control and individual rear seats that all fold completely flat.

Feel models add sat-nav, a panoramic windscreen and larger alloy wheels, while the top-spec Flair gets an electric tailgate, tinted rear windows and a massage seat function, among other goodies. The Grand C4 SpaceTourer gets the same trims as the five-seat model.

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The petrol engine range consists of a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo with either 110hp or 130hp, although only the entry-level Touch Edition gets the lower power output. The diesel range comprises 1.6 and 2.0 BlueHDi units. The 1.6 BlueHDi has either 100hp or 120hp, although again the former is only offered in Touch Edition trim. The 2.0 BlueHDi is a 150hp engine. All engines bar the 110hp PureTech appear in the Grand C4 SpaceTourer.

The lower powered BlueHDi is the only engine to come with a five-speed gearbox, the rest of the range features a six-speed manual as standard. However, Citroen's EAT6 automatic is available on the higher powered 1.2 PureTech and 1.6 and 2.0 BlueHDis, although not in all trim levels. The auto doesn't have too much of an impact on emissions when compared to the manual, either.

Rivals for the Citroen C4 SpaceTourer are wide-ranging in the MPV sector. It's a direct opponent for the latest Renault Scenic, plus the Ford C-MAX, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, Volkswagen Touran and at a stretch the Mercedes B-Class. Then there are the small seven-seat MPVs with occasional rear seats, such as the Kia Carens, Ford Grand C-MAX, BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and Toyota Verso.

The larger Grand C4 SpaceTourer challenges models such as the Renault Grand Scenic, Ford S-MAX/Galaxy duo, SEAT Alhambra, VW Sharan and Vauxhall Zafira Tourer.

For an alternative review of the latest Citroen C4 Picasso MPV visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk