Citroen C8 MPV review (2003-2007)

Citroen has built up a tremendous reputation for MPVs, topping the charts in the compact MPV market with the Picasso, and offering one of the best 'budget' MPVs in the form of the Berlingo Multispace. Until the introduction of the C8 its offering in the full-sized MPV category simply couldn't compete with the best of the competition. With the C8 Citroen now has a convincing range topper for those family buyers needing more space. It's an important model for Citroen, with the MPV market growing it now has a model that'll be appealing to those Picasso buyers looking to trade up to something bigger. Inside the C8 offers either seven individual seats, or in eight-seat format, a rear three-seat bench, with electrically operated sliding rear doors on all but the entry-level model. All the seats offer slide and tilt adjustment, the outer middle seats fitted with ISOFIX child seat mountings; all come equipped with three-point belts. Specification is high across the range, safety equipment on all models including six airbags and ABS with EBD.

Sharing its range of engines with numerous models from the PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) group, there are two petrol and two diesel engines on offer. Of them it's the 2.2-litre HDI diesel powerplant that suits the C8 best, with consumption almost equal to the smaller 2.0-litre HDI, but offering a useful increase in power. Only the 2.2-litre HDI and the 160bhp petrol engine cope convincingly with the C8s bulk, the other engines needing working hard to produce decent performance. Easy to drive, comfortable and neatly styled inside and out, the instruments being a real feature, Citroen finally has a range-topping MPV that competes with the best of the competition. Keep an eye out for offers on it too, Citroen regularly promoting their range with fantastic discounts.