Grand C4 Picasso Exclusive+ HDi 150

The company has never been afraid to think outside the box or to take risks – a necessity when creating vehicles that are capable of setting new benchmarks in their sector. Such is the case with the new Grand C4 Picasso, a Tardis-like MPV.

The French company describes it as a car “full of superlatives for its class”.

From the outside, it’s easy to immediately identify one of the features that the company is referring to. A huge panoramic windscreen stretches from the bonnet and ends above the driver’s head, while the expanse of glass continues around the side to large front quarter windows, interrupted only by slim A-pillars that serve to eliminate the blind spot associated with most MPVs.

The abundance of glass combines with the quality finish to the cabin and sleek aerodynamic lines of the seven-seater to make it a stylish carrier.

Inside, there’s an uncluttered look and feel to the cabin. The uncluttered interior was designed with a loft-style feel in mind.This has in part been achieved by a centrally located digital information display and by removing the handbrake and replacing it with a dash-mounted automatic electric parking brake. A gear lever, with a paddle shift gear change and mode selector stalk is situated behind the steering wheel. Although it takes a little while to become familiar with such an unusual layout, it soon becomes evident that Citroen has designed a car completely geared around the driver, with many of the usual buttons and controls incorporated into the C4’s fixed controls in the centre of the steering wheel.

Needless to say the driver’s field of vision is probably the best you will find anywhere. The windscreen doubles visibility from the front seat and increases vertical visibility from 35 degrees (as found in a conventional MPV) to 70 degrees, giving the impression of goldfish bowl visibility.

Light has played a key role in the construction and design. There are up to 32 different light sources onboard, ranging from strip lighting in the doors, headlining and dash, to the door bins which automatically illuminate when a hand is placed inside them. At night, white LED lighting on the ceiling, backlit storage spaces, trays on the front seat backs, and inner door handles further enhances the sense of well-being by creating a cosy and intimate ambience.

And in addition to this array of lighting is the glass roof, which only serves to emphasise the space inside the cabin.

The three rows of individual seats can accommodate passengers comfortably, although you will need to be on the small side and quite lithe to find your place in the back row, with generous levels of elbow and legroom available throughout the cabin. But it’s without passengers that the Grand C4 comes into its own thanks to the reconfiguration options of the rear two rows of seats. All five seats can be folded down to create a flat load surface quickly and easily, simply by pulling on release straps. The centre seats are ingeniously designed to operate like moveable cinema seats and flip up against the backrest to slide forward giving plenty of room to step into the rear.

Fortunately, the seating system doesn’t compromise on boot space either. With five seats in use, 576 litres of boot space is still available although this extends to 1,951 litres when the second row of seats is folded away. Additional storage can be found throughout the cabin, thanks to a plethora of cubby holes and compartments including a 5.4-litre cool box in the centre of the dashboard, underfloor storage space in the boot and two illuminated dash top compartments.

So far, so marvellous. and the electronic gearbox adds to the sense of serenity in addition to increasing fuel economy and reducingCO2 emissions. No, you won’t get an engaging driving experience, but that’s not the point of this car. And there is always the option of a five-speed manual gearbox for those who find an auto frustrating.

Variable assistance power steering returns decent levels of feedback whether manoeuvring at high or low speeds and the pneumatic rear suspension, another first in the compact MPV sector, maintains a constant ride height which in turn equates to a more comfortable ride.

Available in four specifications, from the entry-level LX to the top-of-the-range Exclusive+, all Grand C4 Picassos have safety as a priority. All models have ABS with EBA, EBD, ESP and traction control, seven airbags, a hill start assist function and cruise control and speed limiter. Automatic activation of hazard warning lights in the event of sudden braking is also fitted across the range.

The Exclusive model benefits from rear parking sensors and a variety of other features, such as rain sensitive windscreen wipers, a heat reflecting windscreen, aircraft style trays at the rear of the front seats complete with individual reading lights, an extremely useful “child surveillance mirror” that sits below the rear view mirror.A boot pack, standard with the Exclusive trim, provides further practical options such as an opening tailgate window, while a parking pack includes folding door mirrors.

Ticking more boxes will give the driver additional options such as a lane departure warning system, front parking sensors, a parking space “gap” measurement system (for parallel parking), Xenon dual function directional headlamps, a satellite NaviDrive system, Bluetooth and an entertainment pack that adds a Phillips Hi-Fi system and a DVD integrated system with two independent tilt adjustable flat screen built into the back of the front row seats with wireless headsets.

In many ways, this is the best MPV on the market – the most versatile and the most elegant product offering in the seven-seat segment. Carefully considered and packed full of little luxuries (I particularly liked the wraparound headrest), it is not only extremely practical but also full of pleasant surprises.

Grand C4 Picasso Exclusive+ HDi

150 Price: £27,885 (range from £19,200)

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Performance: 0 to 62mph in 10.2 seconds; top speed 128mph

Fuel economy:61.4mpg combined

CO2 emissions:120 g/km