Many will be familiar with this highly versatile people carrier which formerly carried the Picasso badging for more than a decade.
However, two years ago, the French automaker dropped the Picasso badging and adopted the new SpaceTourer name.
Features and tech
The exterior has a distinctive European chiselled profile, with a panoramic windscreen and low-sloping hood fronted by chrome trim, bi-xenon headlamps and a familiar Citroen double chevron logo.
For a more premium look, chrome trim surrounds the front fog lamps, and the rear has 3D-effect lights.
Regarding safety, occupants get ample protection with six airbags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) while baby seats can be plugged via three ISOFIX location points on the second row.
To reduce collision risk and damage, there’s also the camera-based Active Safety Brake system which performs automatic emergency braking at speeds of up to 30kph if the system detects an imminent collision.
For infotainment, there’s a 7.0-inch touchscreen armed with Android Auto, Apple Carplay and Mirrorlink connectivity options.
There’s just one 12V socket and a USB port, though, to charge our mobile devices and this is something that needs to be improved on, in an age where practically everyone has a smart device.
Nice features that provide convenience include keyless entry and push-start engine ignition, automatic wipers and headlights, and a hands-free motorised tailgate with height memory (activated by moving your foot below the bumper).
To help you park safely, there are front and rear parking sensors as well as a reverse camera.
Interior and practicality
Stepping into the car, you notice there is plenty of light penetration and reduced blind spots thanks to the huge windscreen and side glass panels.
There’s no sunroof here but we hardly noticed its absence.
Of course, there will be times when you want less sunlight in the car, and this is when you can extend the retractable front covers/panels at the top of the windscreen.
The dark-themed interior feels airy and spacious, and there’s a high quality ambience with chrome door handles, polished surfaces, as well as decent plastic and fabric covers.
The interior is abundantly roomy and well-designed for optimum elbow and leg room, and comes with various compartments to keep small items.
There’s a space-saving automatic electric parking brake, and if you need more room for those outstation trips, the second and third row seats can be folded to expand rear cargo volume from 632 to a massive 2,181 litres.
Both second and third row passengers enjoy reading lights and rear air-conditioning vents with fan control.
The second row passengers can also take advantage of two tray tables with reading lights, affixed on the front seatbacks.
Drive
There is no lack of muscle here with a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injected 167ps/240Nm engine which is pleasingly torquey, as maximum torque is achieved from a low 1,400 rpm.
The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth, and the electric power steering feels direct and responsive.
We took the car on a drive from Klang to Sekinchan via some B-roads, which were rather bumpy and poorly maintained on some stretches, and the suspension soaked up the road irregularities quite well.
Running on Michelin Primacy 3 tyres sized 205/55 R17, we found good ride comfort.
You won’t find an instument cluster right in front of you, as driving data is shown via a large 12-inch panoramic HD colour screen housed on the top centre dashboard.
There’s no traditional gear stick here either - instead, you get a lever behind the steering wheel to select driving modes.
We liked the mixed fabric-leather seats which were firm and supportive, and the powered massage function on both front seats can be somewhat addictive.
While Citroen claims the Grand C4 SpaceTourer can deliver 5.8 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, the car’s trip computer showed fuel consumption of 9.1 litres per 100km after we had driven 516km over a few days.
According to the digital fuel gauge, we still had about a quarter tank of petrol left and the remaining travel range is 195km before refuelling.
Verdict
Despite its size, it’s not difficult to manoeuvre the car through narrow streets in commercial areas.
The engineers and designers behind the Grand C4 SpaceTourer are to be commended for its practical interior design and layout with fold-flat rear seats, comforts for rear occupants, heaps of leg and shoulder room, and abundant storage spaces.
This is a top quality seven-seater family car with a modern, digital infotainment system and stylish looks, as well as a highly responsive powertrain, which feels nice to drive and delivers a very comfortable ride.
SPECIFICATIONS
Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer
Engine: 1,598cc turbo high pressure (THP), direct injection
Maximum power: 167PS at 6,000rpm
Maximum torque: 240Nm from 1,400rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Features: Bi-xenon headlamps, 3D effect rear lights, mixed fabric/leather seats, electric parking brake, panoramic windscreen, hands-free motorised tailgate, 17-inch Boa alloy wheels, keyless entry and push-start ignition, automatic electric folding mirrors, automatic dual-zone air-conditioning, rear air-vents for both rows, second row work table, second row rear sunshade, child monitoring mirror, height and reach
adjustable leather steering wheel, three 12V power sockets and one USB port, 12-inch panoramic HD colour screen and 7-inch touchscreen with MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, six speakers enhanced by Arkamys, reverse camera
Safety features: Six airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (EBA), electronic stability programme (ESP), programmable cruise control and speed limiter, three ISOFIX child-seat mounts on second row, Coffee break alert, Active Safety Brake, speed limit recognition system
Price (on-the-road without insurance): RM149,888
After-sales: 5-year warranty or 120,000km (whichever is first), 24-hour roadside assistance, SkyLounge by Naza at SkyPark Terminal
